The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1922-03-22

WWSt iuShs gut uh aunt Coiuiu W
visit from Chicago, and she's crazy
about playing Five Hundred and
mama and papa said / hat to stay in
to make four to play II. She's liable
to be here three or four days, and /
guess / got to be around home pretty
much all the time she's here. It's the
worst luckl'
He was doleful, but ventured to be
literary. swell, what can't be helped
must be endured. I'll come around
when she's gone"
He moved as IL to depart but she
still retained his arm and did not pre-
pare to relinquish 1t.
well" he said.
swell what, Ramsey"
"Well-g'night."
She glanced up at the dark front
of the house. II guess the family's
gone to bed" she said absently.
II s'pose So"
"Well, good night, Ramsey" She
said this, but still did not release his
arm, and suddenly, in fluster, he felt
that the time he dreaded had come.
Somehow, without knowing where ex-
cept that 1t was somewhere upon what
seemed to be a blurred face too full
of obstructing features, he kissed her.
She turned instantly away in the
darkness, her hands over her cheeks;
and in a panic Ramsey wondered If he
hadn't make a dreadful mistake.
"S'cuse me r. he said. stumbling to-
ward the gate. "Wen, ! guess l got
to be gettin' along back home"
, He woke In the morning to a great
self-loathi.g; he had kissed a girl
Mingled with the loathing was a Curl
GUS pride in the very fact that caused
the loathing. but the pride did not last
long. He came downstairs morbid to
breakfast, and continued this mood
afterward. At noon Albert Paxton
brought him a note which Milla had
asked Sadie to ask Albert 10 give him.
"Dearie: i am just wondering II
you thought as much about something
SO sweet that happened last night as
! did you know what. l think II was
the sweetest thing. i send you one
with this note and l hope you viii
think II is a sweet one. i would give
you real one If you were here now
and ! hope you would think 1t was
sweeter still than the one put In this
note. II is the sweetest thing now you
are mine and am yours forever kiddo.
oh fpiHau NV
II will be all right. aunt Jess will be
gone back home by then so come early
and we will get SADIE and Alb to 60 to
the band Concert. Don't forget what
i said about my putting something
sweet in this note, and hope you will
think II is sweet one but not as
sweet as the real sweet one l would
like to-
At this point Ramsey impulsively
tore the note into small pieces. He
turned cold as his imagination pro-
jected a sketch of his mother in the
act Of reading this missive, and Of
her expression as she read the SEN
tence: ut is the sweetest thing now
you are mine and l am yours forever
kiddo." He wished that Milla hadn't
written "kiddo." She called him that.
sometimes, but in her warm little voice
the word seemed not at all what it did
in ink. He wished. too. that she hadn't
said she was his forever.
Suddenly he was seized with q hor-
ror of her.
Moisture broke out heavily upon
him; he felt a definite sickness, and,
wishing for death. went forth upon the
streets 10 walk and walk. He cared
not whittier, so that his feet took him
In any direction away from Milla,
since they were unable TO take him
away from himself-of whom he had
as great horror. Her loving face was
continually before him, and its sweet
ness made his flesh creep. Milla had
been too sweet.
When he met or passed people, II
seemed TO him that perhaps they were
able to recognize upon him somewhere
the marks Of his low quality.
"Sbfty Ole sloppy fooll" he nut
tered. addressing himself. "slushy
ole mushl -. Spoonerl" And
he added, "Yours forever. kiddop
Commissions seemed about to seize
him.
Turning corner with his head
down, he almost charged into Dora
Yocum.A She was homeward bound
from piano lesson, and carried O
rolled leather case OF sheet music
something he couldn't imagine Milla
carrying-and In her young girls
dress, which attempted to be nothing
else. she looked as wholesome us cold
spring water. Ramsey had always felt
that she despised him and now, all at
once, he thought that she was justified.
Leper that he had become. he was I'M
worthy 10 be even touching his cap to
her And as she nodded and went
briskly ON, he would have given any
thing TO turn and walk little way
with her. for II seemed 10 him that this
might f,nnigate his morals But he
lacked the courage. and, besides, he