The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-03-10
CHAPTER VII

He never saw her again. She sent
him a picture postal from Oconomo-
voc, Wisconsin, which his father dis
engaged from the family mail, one
morning at breakfast, and considerable
ly handed to him without audible COM
ment. Upon it was written, "Oh, you
Ramsey" This was the last Of Milla.
Just before school opened, in the
autumn, Sadie Clews made some reve-
lations. "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 it wasn't for her counsin Milt
up in Chicago she would of liked you
the best anywhere. I guess she did,
anyway, because she hadn't seen him
for about year then.
swell, 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
wouldn't, even tell Albert. They
didn't get any wire from the uncle
about the touring car; 1t was her cou-
sin Milt that jumped on the train and
came down and nxed it all up for
Milla to go on the trip, and every
thing. You see, Ramsey, she was
turned back a couple of times in school
before she came in our class and
don't know how old she is and she
don't look old yet, but I'm 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 good position, and all their fam
lily seem to think he's just fine! 1t
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 gettin' 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 it, now every
things all over"
"All-all over? You mean Milla's
going to be-tO be married?"
"She already is" said Sadie. "They
got married at her Aunt Jess and IN
Gle Purv's house, up in Chicago, last
Thursday. Yes, sir; that quiet, little
Milla's regular old married woman
by this time, / expect, Ramsey"
When he got over the shock, which
was not until the next day, one pre-
dominating feeling remained: 1t was
gloomy pride-a pride in his proven
maturity. He was old enough, it ap-
peared, to have been the same thing
as engaged to person who was now
a Married Woman. His manner thence
forth showed an added trace of seri-
BUSINESS and Reconsideration.
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 long since van
ished and she appeared to him not
otherwise than as the scholar whose
complete proficiency had always been
so irksome to him.
'Look at her!" he muttered to him
self. "Same ole Teachers Petw
Now and then, as the days and sea-
sons passed, and Dora's serene prog
ress continued, never checked or even
fiawed. there stirred within him some
lingerings Of the old determination
to "show" her; and he would conjure
up a day-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
a dull oppression. He was tired of
having to look at her Gas he stated
it, and he thanked the Lord that the
time wouldn't be so long now. until
he'd be out of that ole school, and
theh all he'd have to do he'd just take
care never to walk by her house. it
wad easy enough to use some other
street when he had to go down town.
1.-THE good ole class of Nineteen