The diamond drill., 1922-02-24


He started out In business when he
was only thirteen years old. and this
trip he was gettin' up for his father
and mother and Mills was the first
vacation he ever took Well. OF course
she wouldn't like my tellIn' you, but
I can't see the harm OF II. now every
things all over"
"Ail-all overf You mean MiIa's
going 10 be--to he 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
Milla's q regular old married woman
by this time. expect. Ramsey
When he got over the shock. which
dominating feeling remained: IL was
a gloomy pride-a pride In his proven
maturity. He was old enough. II ap-
peared. to have been the same thing
as engaged 10 a person who was now
a Married Woman. His manner thence
forth showed an added trace Of seri-
BUSINESS 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
nattest 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 long since van
ished and she appeared TO him not
otherwise than as the scholar whose
complete proficiency had always been
so Irksome 10 him.
Look at herl" he muttered 10 him
self "Same ole Teachers Pet !"
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
lIngerings OF the old determination
10 "show" her; and he would conjure
up a dsy-dream of Dora In loud la
mentation. while he led the laughter
OF the spectators. But gradually his
feeling about her came to be merely
dull oppression. He was tired OF
having 10 look ut her Gas he stated
~ and he thanked the Lord that the
time wouldn't be so long now until
he'd be out of that ole school. and
then all he'd have TO do he'd just take
care never TO walk by her house. II
was easy enough to use some other
street when he had to 60 down town.
"The good ole class OF Nineteen
Fourteen is about gone" he said 10
Fred Mitchell. who was still his most
intimate friend when they reached the
senior year. "Yes, sir: It's held to-
gether a good many years, Fred, but
after June It'll be busted plum up,
and I hope Nobody starts move TO
have any reunions. There's good
many members OF the ole class that
I can stand and there's some | can't,
I but there's one | just WON'T II we
ever did call reunion. that ole Yo-
, cum girl would start in right away
and run the whole shebang, and that's
where rd feslgh, Yoh know, Fred
i the thing | think is the one biggest
benefit az graduating from this ole
/ school? It's never seein' Dora yocum
( again."
! This was again his theme as he sat
by the same friends side. In the rear
row OF the class at Commencement,
listening to the delivery OF the Vale
dIctory Thinks she's just sooblime
I don't She" he whispered morosely.
"She wouldn't trade with the PresI-
dent OF tile United States right now.
Never mind Just about a hnlfan-
hour more and that's The last o. you,
ole girl Yes. sir, Fred one thing we
can feel pretty good oyert this Is
where we get through with Dora Yo-
: cum :" -
Ramsey and Fred had arranged TO
room together at Greenfield, the seat
OF the state university. and they made
the short journey In company the fol-
' loving September They arrived hi
larious. anticipating pleasurable ex-
s,pgy. ss,,!gsp.. Y rs Xssts "'sr,sTSiiZ. ..s%sigZ.
with sophomores. class meetings. and
elections aud, also. they were not alb
soIutely without interest In the matter
! Of Girls. for the state university was
co-educationnl. and IL was but natural
, To expect In so broad a field all new
10 them. n possible vision OF something
| rather thrilling They whispered
cheerfuIIy Of al these things during
the process ~ matrIculatlon. and
signed the registrars hook on fresh
page but when Fred had written his
name under RamSey's and blotted II.
he took tile liberty of turning over the
leaf 10 examine some Of the auto
graphs OF their future classmates.
written on the other side. Then he ut.
tered an exclamation, more. droll than
dolorous. though II affected To be Who'll.
ly the latter; for the shock to Fred
was by no means so painful as II was
| 10 his friend