Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-08-01
JOHN NORTH
BY ANITA DAY DOWNING.

dismissed John North with phrase.
Hes always talking about what
he's going to be doing five years from
now, and he always wears sensible
clothes. ! can't be bothered with
him."
She turned with what she meant to
be an imitation of Mary Pickford's
pout, and began babbling pretty moth
1ngs to group Of girls in the corner
OF the auditorium. 1t was just after
the graduating exercises, md parents
and pupils. with a fair sprinkling of
anxious looking teachers, were chat.
tering in clusters. With his back to
the wall, q little apart from my group.
stood John North: HsasTss sa4GAa~--.
He was tall, rather raw-boned
youth, dressed in blue serge that was
plainly expected to give yeomun serv-
Ice rather than to express smartness.
His face. little older than the 9TH
ers, showed n thoughtfulness that in
vited ones interest. He stood look
Ing little sadly, little regretfully,
at the Kaleidoscope picture before
him. 1t was the last day Of four
years Of struggle, Of determination, Of
hard work.
Just ms he knew that he had gained
more than the other fortunate youths
and girls that surrounded him. so he
knew that perhaps he had missed
something. something he would never
know. He glanced ut his hands, large,
capable, scanned with the hard work
hn1 III
down ut his heavy shoes that contrast
ed oddly with the patent feathers Of
the other boys.
Then, as though drawn irresistibly,
his eyes sought and found the delicate,
daintily clad figure Of Alma Byers, as
unconsciously coquettish as q daffo-
dill.
Something caught in his throat. and
his face flushed holly over the unac-
customed stiff white collar.
He started involuntarily toward her,
but with one of those unaccOuntable
silences that fell unexpectedly, her
voice, pitched high to overcome the
loud hum Of the room, rang out, and
he heard the speech that condemned
him to the limbo Of her disdain.
Then the utterly unexpected hap
pened.
The silent, restrained John North,
known as the class "clam," and alter
nately scOrned and envied for his long
hours of study, and his high marks in
scholarship-the very epitome Of retir-
Ing Neutrality-suspicious. North strobe
swiftly to the astonished and cha
grined Alma Byers, and with utter dis
regard of the people-filled room, took
her by the shoulders. and turned her,
not too gently, suddenly to face with
him.
Listen, Alma," he said after q
pause that brought the whole room to
attention. II want to say something
to you, and there is no better time nor
opportunity than right now. You peo-
pie have been kind to me, in a sort of
tolerant fashion. never could afford
the parties and frills, and l know II
was relief to all Of you that I never
tried. You all are little sorry for
me. But ! want to tell you some
thing. l have long start ahead Of
every one Of you. have what is 60
Ing to take you four or five years to
learn. And that Is that you never get
anything that is worth having without
hustling for it, and you've got to build
every day for the day after and the
day after that"
He dropped his hand from Alma's
shoulders and drew folder from his
pocket. He opened it so that everyone
could see the blue War Savings stamps
that almost filed 1t.
do you see those stamps?" he ques-
toned. "They are the keynote Of my
whole plan. They are the foundation
Of the structure I'm building for my
self. They are growing steadily, sure
ly, and in five years they will be
stake ready to start on. They have
cost me self-denial. They have cost
pang or two Of vanity, but they are
solid, and the United States govern
ment Is behind them, and that means
that the government is behind me. You
folks may smile now. Wait unit! !
cash In. five years from now. I will
have worked my way through college.
I will have definite end Of success
In view"
AiS '"ih "Sh'ii " A'iIu, ullo tOOh
her by the shoulders again, more ten.
derby, more reyerenty.
~ will cash in on my love for you.
too" he said gently. "You are going
to love me before the five years are up.
You may think you aren't, but every
day, every week, every month, I'll add
a little to your regard, n little memory
Of tenderness, Of thought for your COM
fort, of consideration for your happi-
ness. You may think Of others, but
always In the back Of your heart will
be the image of me, growing, growing,
until ,rhon I porno N fol-, 1.n,, yn,,r