Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-02-23

q
ly writhed, and had evolved nothing
when Friday evening was upon him
and NIilla waiting for him to take her
to the "band concert" with "Alb and
Sade." He made shift to seek a short
interview with Albert, just before din
ner.
81 got pretty rotten headache, and
my stOmachs upset, too" he said,
dropping upon the PaXtons' fence. II
been gettin' worse every minute. You
and Sadie 60 by Milla's, Albert, and
tell her If I'm not there by ha'-pas'-
seven, tell her not to wait for me any
longer"
"How do you mean waltz" Albert
inquired. "You don't expect her to
come pokin' along with Sadie and me,
do you? She'll keep on sittin' there at
home just the same, because she
wouldn't have anything else to do, II
you don't come like she expects you to.
She hasn't got any way to stop wait
in"
At this, Ramsey moaned, without af-
fectation. 81 don't expect can, Al
bert" he said. "Td like to II could,
but the way 1t looks now, you tell her
I wouldn't be much surprised maybe /
was startin' in with typhoid fever or
pretty near anything at ALL" He
moved away, concluding feebly: Il
guess l better crawl on home, Albert,
while I'm still able to walk some. You
tell her the way 1t looks now I'm liable
to be right SICK"
And the next morning he woke to
the chafngs of remorse, picturing a
Milla somewhat restored in charm
waiting hopefully at the gate, even
after the half-past seven, and then, as
time passed and the sound of the dis
tant horns came family through the
darkness, going sadly to her room
perhaps weeping there. 1t was a pic
ture to wiring him with shame and pity,
but was followed by another which
electrified him, for out Of school he
did not lack imagination. What II
Albert had reported his illness too
vividly to Milla? Milla was so fond
What If, in her alarm, she should come
here to the house to inquire Of his
mother about him? What If she told
Mrs. Milholland they were engaged?
The next moment Ramsey was project
ing q conversation between his mother
and Milla in which the latter stated
that she and Ramsey were soon to be
married, that she regarded him as al
ready virtually her husband. and de-
manded to nurse him.
In a panic he fled from the house be-
fore breakfast, going out by way of a
side door, and he crossed back yards
and climbed back fences to reach AL
bert Paxton the more swiftly. This
creature, ladies' man almost profess
sionally, was found exercising with an
electric iron and pair Of flannel trou-
sers in a basement laundry, by way Of
stirring his appetite for the morning
meal.
"See here, Albert" his friend said
breathlessly. II got favor. I want
you to go over to Mila's-"
I'm goin' to finish pressin' these
trousers" Albert interrupted. 'Then
I've got my breakfast to eat"
"Well, you could do this first" said
Ramsey, hurriedly. ut wouldn't hurt
you to do me this little favor first.
You just slip over and see Milla for
me, If she's up yet, and If she Isn't,
you better wait around till she is, be-
cause l want you to tell her I'm
whole lot better this morning. Tell
her I'm pretty near practically all right
again, Albert, and I'll prob'ly write her
a note or something right soon-or in
a week or so, anyhow. You tell her"
"Well, you act pretty funny!" Albert
exclaimed, fumbling in the pockets of
his coat. "Why can't you go on over
and tell her yourself? But just as 1t
happens there wouldn't be any use
your goin' over there, or me, either"
why lOt?"
"Milla amt there" said Albert, still
searching the pockets Of his coat.
"When we went by her house last night
to tell her about your headache and
stomach and all, why, her mother told
us Milla'd gone up to Chicago yester-
day afternoon with her aunt, and said
she left q note for you, and she said II
you were sick l better take 1t and
give 1t to you. was goin' to bring 1t
over to your house after breakfast"
He found It. "Here!"
Ramsey thanked him feebly, and de-
parted In state of partial stupefac-
tion, brought on by glimpse Of the
disabilities of life. He had also, not
relief, but a sense Of vacancy and loss;
for Milla, out of his reach, once more
became mysteriously lovely.
Pausing in an alley, he read her
note.
"Dearie: Thought I ought to call
you up but over the phone Is just nix
for explanations as Mama and Aunt
Jess would hear everything and
thought / might seem cold to you not
saying anything sweet on account of
them listening and you would wonder
why / was so cold when telling you
good-by for vile maybe weeks. 1t Is
this wuy Uncle Purv wired Aunt Jess
he has just taken in big touring car
on a debt and his vacation starts to-
morrow so If they were going to take
trip they better start right way 80
Aunt Jess invited me. Now dearie l
have to pack and write this In hurry
ca ,,n,, will NOT he disannninted when