The diamond drill., 1922-02-24

sweet in this note. and l hope you Will
/ think II IL sweet one but not as
sweet as the real sweet one would
like to-
At this point Ramsey impulsively
tore the note into small pieces. He
turned cold ms his imagination pro-
jected a sketch OF his mother In the
act OF reading this missiye. and OF
her expression as she read the SEN
tence: 1T Is the sweetest thing now
you are mine and l am yours forever
kiddo.v He wished that Milla. hadn't
written "klddo." She called him that,
sometimes, but In her warm little voice
the word seemed not at all what II 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
wishing for death. went forth upon the
streets 10 walk and walk. He cared
not whittier, So that his feet took him
In any Siirection away from Milla,
since they were unable TO take him
! away from himself-of whom he had
as great horror. Her loving face was
con dnually before him, and It's sweet
ness made his desh creep. Milla had
been too sweet.
When he met or passed people. IL
seemed to him that perhaps they were
able TO recognize upon him somewhere
the marks OF his low quality.
"Softyl ole sloppy foolw he NUT
tered. addressing himself. "Slushy
ole mush Spooner." And
he added, yours forever. kiddol"
Commissions seemed about TO seize
him.
Turning corner with his head
down, he almost charged into Dora
Yocum. She was homeward bound
from a piano lesson, and carried a
rolled leather case OF sheet music
something he couldn't imagine MllIa
I carrylng-and In her young girls
dress, which attempted 10 be nothing
else, she looked as wholesome as cold
spring water. Ramsey had always felt
that she desptsed him and now, all al
I
Leper that he had become, he was un.
worthy 10 be even touching his cap to
her And as she nodded and went
briskly on. he would have given any.
thing 10 turn and walk little way
with her. for Il seemed 10 him that this
might fumigate his morals. But he
lacked the courage, and, besides, he
considered himself unfit TO be seer
walking with her.
He had long afternoon OF an
guIshes, these becoming most violent
when he tried TO face the problem OF
his future course toward Milla. lie
did not face Il at all, in fact. but mere
ly writhed, and had evolved nothing
when Friday evening was upon hin
and Mllla waiting for him to take hei
I IN the "hand concert" with "Alb anC
SADIE lie made shift 10 seek a short
interview with Albert, Just before din
ner.
Il got pretty rotten headache, and
my stomach's upset too, he said
dropping upon the paxtons fence. 81
been gettin' worse every minute Yot
and Sadie 20 by MIlla's, Albert. and
tell her II I'm not there by ha'-pas'
seven. telI her not 10 wait for me any
longer"
How do you mean wa,f2" Albert
inquired You don't expect her e
come pokin along with Sadie and me
do you? She'll keep on slttin there al
home just the same. because sh,
wouldn't have anything else to do il
YOU don't come like She expects you 60
She hasn't got any way TO stop walt
ln'r
At this. Ramsey moaned. without NJ
fectatlon 81 don't expect | can. Al
bert" he said. I'D like 10 II | could
but the way IL looks now, you tell hel
wouldn't be much surprised maybe
was sturtin' IN with typhoid fever OF
pretty near 6nythlng nj hll' n,
moved away, concluding feebly: "l
guess ! better crawl on home. Albert
white I'm still nble To walk some. Yol
tell her the way II looks now I'm iabl,
TO be right sick" -
Gnd the next morning he woke I,
the chntings of remorse. picturing Z
Milla somewhat restored In charm
waiting hopefully at the gate, ever
litter the half-past seven. and then, a,
time passed and the sound OF the dis
J tant horns came family through IN,
darkness. going sadly to her ROOM
perhaps weeping there. II was pic
ture % wiring him with shame and pity
but was followed by another which
electrified him. for out OF school h'
did not lack imagination What 4
Albert had reported his illness ~,
wildly to Mllla? Mllla was so fond
What II. In her alarm. she should com,
here to the house 10 Inquire of hii
mother about hIml What II she tol,
Mrs. Mllhollnnd they were engaged
The next moment Ramsey was project
ing u conversation between his mothe
and Mllla In which the latter staies
that she and Ramsey were soon 10 b'
married. that she regarded him as nj
ready virtually her husband and dc