The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-03-30

lOt CHe NllIIu ltuSt VINO sat DeSlue MN,
but an iridescent. fragile creature who
| had become angelic.
He spent the rest Of the day daw-
ding helplessly about her; wherever
she went he was near. as near as pos
sible. but of no deliberate volitlon Of
nis own. Something seemed to tie him
to her, and N1illa was nothing 10th.
He seldom looked ut her directly, or
for longer than an instant, and more
rarely still did he speak to her except
as reply. What few remarks he
ventured upon his own initiative near
ly all concerned the landscape, which
he commended repeatedly in weak
voice. as "kind Of pretty" though once
he said he guessed there might be bugs
In the bark OF log on which they snt
and he became SO immoderately per-
sonal as to declare that If the bugs
had to get OH anybody he'd rather
they got on him than OH Mllla. She
said that was "just perfectly lovely"
Of him. asked where he got his sweet
nature and in other ways encouraged
him to continue the revelation, but
Ramsey was unable to get forward
with 1t, though he opened ana closed
his mouth great many times In the
effort to do so.
At five o'clock everybody was sum-
moned again to the rendezvous for a
ceremony preliminary to departure:
the class found itself In large circle,
standing. and sang "The Star SpangIed
Banner" Ordinarily, on such IN open
air and out-of-school occasion, Ramsey
would have Joined the chorus urruar-
iously with the utmost blatancy Of
which bis vocal apparatus was cnpa-
BILE; and most Of the other boys ex-
pressed their hum0r by drowning out
the serious efforts OF the girls; but
he sang feebly, not much more than
humming through his teeth. Standing
beside Milla. he was incapable of his
former nelegancies and his voice was
In semi-paralyzed condition, like the
rest Of him.
Opposite him, across the circle, Dora
Yocum stood little In advance OF
those near her, for OF course she led
| the singing. Her clear and earnest
voice was distnguishuble from all
others. and though she did not glance
toward Ramsey he had queer feeling
that she was assuming more superior
lty than ever, and that she was icily
scornful Of him and Milla. The old
resentment rose-he'd "Show" that girl
yet. some day!
When the song was over, cheers
were given for the class, "the good ole
class Of Nineteen Fourteen" the
school. the teachers. and for the pic
~
the picnickerS, carrying their baskets
and faded wild flowers and other SOU
venirs and burdens, moved toward the
big express wagons" which were to
take them back into the town Ram.
sry got his guitar case, and turned to
Mila.
"Well-g'by."
"Why. no." said Mila. "Anyway.
not yet. You can 90 back in the same
Wagon with me. It's going to stop at
the school and let us all out there,
and then YOU could walk home wet,
me If YOU felt like it,"
"Well-wrll. I'd be perfectly Will.
ing" Ramsey said. "Ony | heard wa
all had TO 20 back in whatever wagon
we came out in, ana didn't come in
Aiilla laughed and leaned toward him
little. 81 already tended to that"
she said contidrntially. 81 asked
Johnnie Fiske. that came out in nv
wagon. to go back in yours, so that
makes room for YOU"
"Wcll-thcn guess could do II :"
lie moved toward the wagon with her,
Il expect 1t don't make much diner
rnce one way or the other"
And you can carry my basket n
YOU want to-" she said, adding solicit.
ons'S' unless it's too heavy when you
already got your guitar case to carry
Ramsey"
This thought(ulncss OF hers almost
oVercame him: she seemed divine.
I'LL be glad to carry the basket
too he faltered Tit don't weigh
anything much"
We'll, let's hurry sos we can get
places together"
Ihen. as she mancuvered him
through the little crowd nbout tho
wagon. with SOFT push this way and
seht'e pun that, and hurried him up
me ihprofised steps and found a place
where there was room for them both
10 SIT. ramsey had another breathless
sensation heretofore unknown to him.
lie found hiWself taken under a dove.
IKE protcctorship; wonderful, mex.
presshle Being seemed to have become
his proprietor.
isn't this just perfectly lovely?"
she SAID cozily, close to his ear.
He swallowed. but found no words
for he had no thoughts; he was only
an incohercnt tumuit. This was his
| first love.