The St. Johns herald., 1922-08-17
CHAPTER VII


 He never saw her again. She sent him picture postal" from Oconomo- woe, Wisconsin, which his father dis engaged from the family mail, one morning at breakfast, and considerate- Iy handed to him without audible com ment. Upon 1t was written, "Oh, you Ramseyl" This was the last of Milla.
 Just before school opened, in the autumn, Sadie Clews made some reve- IatiOns. "Milla did like you," said Sadie. "After that time you jumped in the creek to save her she liked you better than any boy in town, and I guess If 1t wasn't for her counsin Mit up in Chicago she would of liked you the best anywhere. guess she did, anyway, because she hadn't seen him for about year then.
 ''WelI, that afternoon she went away was over there and took in everything that was goin' on, only she made me promise on my word of honor 1 wouldn't even tell Albert They didn't get any wire from the uncle about the touring car; it was her cou- sin Milt that jumped on the train and came down and fixed it all up for Milla to go on the trip, and every thing. You see, Ramsey, she was turned back couple of times in school before she came in our class and I don't know how old she is and she don't look old yet, but Pm pretty sure she's at least eighteen, and she might be over. I didn't think such a great deal of this Milt's looks myself, but he's anyway twenty-one years old, and got a good position, and all their fam fly seem to think he's just fine! It wasn't his father that took in the tour ing car on the debt, like she said she was writing you; it was Milt himself. He started out in business when he was only thirteen years old, and this trip he was gettln' up for his father and mother and Milla was the first vacation he ever took. Well, of course she wouldn't like my tellin' you, but can't see the harm of 1t, now every things all over."
 "An-alI over? You mean Milla's going to be-tO be married"
 "She already is," said Sadie. ''They got married at her Aunt Jess and Un- cle Purv's house, up in Chicago, last Thursday. Yes, sir; that quiet, little MiIla's a regular old married woman by this time. expect, Ramseyr
 When he got over the shock, which was not until the next day, one pre- dominating feeling remained: It was a gloomy pFide-a pride in his proven maturity. He was old enough, 1t ap- peared, to have. been the same thing as engaged to a person who was now a Married Woman. His manner thence forth showed an added trace of seri- ousness and self-consideration.
 Having recovered his eQuipoiSe and something more, he entirely forgot that moment of humble admiration he had felt for Dora Yocum on the day of his fattest prOstration. When he saw her sitting. in the classroom, smiling bright ly up at the teacher, the morning of the schools opening in the autumn, all his humility had '1engi since van- ished and she appeared3t0 him not otherwise than as. the7 scholar whose 2 complete proficiency had always been so, lrksOmea te- him. s r- Look at herI". he muttered to him. -self. Same ole Teachers .Peti"
 Now and then, as the days and sea- sons passed. and Dora's serene prog ress continued, never checked or even fawed. there stirred within him some Hngerings of the old determination