The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-06
BY MICHAEL j. PORTER.
Copyright, 1871, by the Associated
Literary PreSS.)

Copyright, 1911, by the Associated
Literary Press-)
Gideon Rush noticed the girl before
they reached Chicago, though he was
a shy. hard working young man who
had really noticed few women in his
day.
But even Gideon could be pardoned
for looking again at the "schoolma am
girl" as he quantity nicknamed her.
None but school teacher would
have that air and that pencil. Anc
she was so young and so good to look
at that Gideon was reminded OF lit
tie girls who played at various games
| like keeping house. and going visit
ing. and teaching school She was a
school teacher, and yet the title WASH
distinctive enough. 1t did not classify
| her. She was all girl. too---young
and sweet and happy. So school
ma'am girl it was,
Gideon, who was going out to Ore
gon to grow apples. saw that tht
schoolma' am girl had ticket mucf
like his own. a green one as Ions
as his arm.
Was she going West. too. maybe &c
Oregon? But no; THAI WAS impos-
sihIe. He would lose her at Chicago
where she would change To one of the
other hundred trains that shuttleo
away In every direction.
1t was dark when they rumbled into
the bedlam called Chicago. she
seemed SO little and alone and grave
some Of her bright cheerfulness had
de partad---that Gideon said a regret
full farewell with his eyes. And she
answ cred the same way.
Gideon hurried into the stick mid
summer night, because everyone else
was hurrying; found q modest res
taurant in the glare and ciatter; hur'
ried through meal and trotted back
to the great station as the uniform
ed man at the gate was bawling his
train.
He found his tourist sleeper. Halt
way down the aisle he paused, de-
despite the pushing procession behind
him, his eyes wide open and his heart
humping; for there. eonforta by
disposed In her seat. was the school
ma'am girl.
Next morning Gideon and the
school ma am girl had spoken to eaeh
other almost before they knew IL
BY noon they had decided to MAKE
common cause against the frishuhl
charges of the dining-car with their
united lunch boxes. BY evening
life. and confided that he had twenty
two hundred dollars with whlch TO
buy an apple-orchard.
The schoolma am girl was equally
frank She told him that her real
name was Serena Blythe. but that
all her friends called her Bun.
She had come into n heritage OF school
teaching in New England town at
sixteen. She had expected to stay
there always. But her fathers health
had made a change imperative. and
he and her mother had gone West the
previous year. Now they had made
home In northern California ana
had written her to come.
Together Gideon and the school
ma'am girl discovered that Gilesburg,
Oregon. and Edensville. California,
were really not far apart.
why, we shall be neighbors" said
Gideon. II can run over after sup
per most any evening" They both
laughed at this slender joke; but it did
seem cheering that the two little
slack dots were separated only by a
few score miles OF mountain ranges
and rivers.
"Edensville Is growing wonderfully,
said the schoolma'am girl, with new
but genuine Western enthusiasm for
her own town. Mama says its hair
as large again as when they moved
there Papa has all the work he can
do; he is carpenter. you know, ana
carpenters are scarce-so Is capital.
A man with some money is sure to
make a success You could do well
there
Il can do well at Gilesburg," re-
turned Gideon. sturdily loyal The
finest apples in the State are raised
in that district. It's good snip
ing-point, too"
But see here. what mama says
about a young man from home, who
has only been in Edensville two
years." She unfolded letter and
read: "Abram Hewitt is doing splen-
didly. He is the only money-lender
in town, and Is one of the rleh men
now. He is building beautiful home
and Is very helpful to Your father
and me. You would not know him
for the same Abram. He inquiries
every day when you--" She broke
off abruptly.
Gideon WINGED inwardly. Il wouldn't
do as a money lender, no replied;
too much sympathy for The other
fellow. I've had to borrow, myself.
Constraint fell with that and Gid
con went to the smoking compart-
ment and sat himself down, gloomily,
in a corner.
"Of course" he chided; II might
have known some rich man would
want her. I'm surprised she ever got
away from New England without be-
ing married" With that he watched
q vague and delightful dream which
had come into his life In the past
forty eight hours fade as the light
of evening faded on the distant noun
tains.
The rich Mr.. Hewitt stalked into
their conversation and spread himself
around like a wet blanket frequently
after that Gideon tried to avoid him,
ond so did the schoolma' am girl. But
he was evidently character not ac-
customed to being ignored. II was
patent to Gideon he had nominated
himself to be the husband OF little