The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1922-03-08

ceremony preliminary TO departure;
the class found itself in a large circle,
standing, and sang THE Star Spangled
Banner" Ordinarily, on such an open
air and out-of-school occasion, Ramsey
would have Joined the chorus uproar-
iously with the utmost blatancy OF
which his vocal apparatus was capa-
Bile; and most OF the other boys ex-
pressed their humor 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 inelegancies 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 dstinguishable from all
others, and though she did not glance
toward Ramsey he had a queer feeling
that she was assuming more superior
ity than ever, and that she was Jelly
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
mic, thus officially concluded; and then
the picnickers, carrying their baskets
60
venirs and burdens, moved toward the
| big express wagons" which were TO
AXE them back into the town. Ram
sey got his guitar case, and turned to
Milla.
"Well-g'by."
"why, no." said Milla. Anyway,
ut yet. You can 60 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 with
me If you felt like it."
"Well-well, I'd he perfectly will
Ing" Ramsey said. "Only heard we
all had to go back in whatever wagon
we came out in, and didn't come in
the same one with you, So"
Nlilla laughed and leaned toward him
little. 81 already tended to that,
she said confidentially. 81 asked
Johnnie Fiske, that came out in my
wagon, to go back in yours, so that
makes room for you"
"Well-then guess l could do It, :
He moved toward the wagon with her
II expect 1t don't make much differ.
ence one way or the other"
"And you can carry my basket II
you want to-" she said, adding solicit
ously, "unless It's too heavy when yOy
already got your guitar case to carry
Ramsey"
This thoughtfulness of hers almost
overcame him; she seemed divine.
T-Tll be glad to carry the basket
too" he faltered. "It-it don't weigh
anything much"
"Well, let's hurry, SOS we can gel
places together"
through the little crowd about the
wagon, with a soft push this way anC
gentle pull that. and hurried him vi
the improvised steps and found place
where there was room for them bOtl
to sit. Ramsey had another breathles'
sensation heretofore unknown to him
He found himself taken under a dove
like protectOrship; wonderful, mex
pressible Being seemed to have become
his proprietor.
"Isn't this Just perfectly lOvclyT
she said cOzily, close to his ear.
He swallowed, but found no words
for he had no thoughts; he was only
an incoherent tumult. This was his
first love.
isn't 1t, Ramsey" she urged. The
coy voice had just the hint of re
proach. Don't you think it's just
perfectly lovely, Ramsey"
"Yes'm."
CONTINUED next week.