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

He had long afternoon OF an
cuisines, these becoming most violent
when he tried to face the problem Of
his future course toward Milla. He
did not face II at all, In fact. but mere
ly writhed, and had evolved nothing
when Friday evening was upon him
and Nilla waiting for him to take her
to the band concert" with "Alb and
sade." He made shift to seek short
interview with Albert, Just before din
ner.
II got pretty rotten headache, and
my stomach's upset, too" he said,
dropping upon the Psxtons' fence. II
been gettin' worse every minute. You
and Sadie go by Milla's, Albert, and
tell her II I'm not there by ha'-pas'-
seven, tell her not to wait for me any
longer"
How do you mean 'waIt'T' Albert
inquired. "You don't expect her to
come pokin' along with Sadie and me,
do your 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'r
At this, Ramsey moaned, without af-
fectation. 81 don't expect-I can, Al
bert" he said. I'D like to If / could.
but the way it looks now, you tell her
/ wouldn't be much surprised maybe l
was startin' in with typhoid fever or
pretty near anything at ALL" He
moved away, concluding feebly: II
guess better crawl on home, Albert,
while I'm still able 10 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 chafings 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
| IL
Albert had reported his illness too
| wildly to Milla? Milla was so fond
What IL, 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"i
The next moment Ramsey was project
ing 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
electro iron ard pair Of flannel trou-
sers in basement laundry, by way Of
stirring his appetite for the morning
meal.
"See here, Albert" his friend said
breathlessly. II got favor. l want
you to go over to Milla's-"
"l'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 10 do me this little favor first.
You just slip over and see Milla for
| hn en-
you better wait around till she is. be-
cause l want you to tell her I'm a
whole lot better this morning. Tell
her I'm pretty near practically all right
again, Albert, and I'll probly write her
note or something right soonAor In
a week or so, anyhow. You tell her"
swell, you act pretty funny!" Albert
exclaimed, fumbling in the pockets Of
his coat. "Why can't you 90 on over
and tell her yourself? But just as it
happens there wouldn't be any use
your goin' over there, or me, either"
"Why notT
"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 note for you, and she said II
you were sick l better take II and
give 1t to you. ! was goin' to bring ii
over to your house after breakfast"
He found it. "Herew
Ramsey thanked him feebly, and de-
parted in state of partial stupefac-
ton, brought on by glimpse Of the
disabilities Of life. He had also, not