The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1923-10-25
CHAPTER IX-continued.
"Yes," repeated Jim, "old friends.
We Ire, aren't we, Jennie?"

"YeS," repeated Jim, "Old friends.
/. We are, aren't we, Jennie?'
He reached over and possessed him.
self of her hand. She pulled it from
him gently, but he paid no attention
to the little muscular protest, and e X
aT1ined the hand critically. On the
back of the middle finger he pointed
out a scar-a very tiny scar.
"Do you remember how you got
that?" he asked.
Because Jim chung to the hand, their
heads were very close together as
she Joined in the examination.
"Why, I don't believe / do" said
she.
Il do" he replied. "We-yon and l
and Mary Forsythe were playing
mumble-peg, and you put your hand
on the grass just as l threw the knife
it cut you, and left that scar"
II remember, now!" said she.
How such things come back over the
memory. And did it leave a scar
when l pushed you toward the red-hot
stove In the schoolhouse one blizzardy
day, like this, and you peeled the skin
off your wrist where it struck the
stpve?"
Look at it," said he, barring his
long and bony wrist. fright there!"
And they were off on the trail that
leads back to childhood. They had
talked long, and intimately, when the
shadows of the early evening crept
into the corners of the room. Jennie
recalled the time when the tornado
narrowly missed the schoolhouse, and
frightened everybody in school nearly
to death.
Everybody but you, Jim," Jennie
remembered. "You looked out of the
window and told the teacher that the
was going north of us. and
would kill somebody else"
did II" asked Jim.
"Yes," said Jennie, land when the
teacher asked us to kneel and thank
God, you said, Why should we thank
God that somebody else is blowed
She was greatly shocked"
81 don't see to this day." Jim as
what answer there was to
my question"
In the gathering darkness Jim again
took Jennie's hand, but this time she
deprived him of it.
He was trembling like a leaf. Let
It be remembered in his favor that
this was the only girls hand he had
ever held.
"You can't find any more scars on
It," she said soberly.
LET me see how much 1t has
since | stuck the knife In
It." begged Jim.
Jennie held it up for inspection.
"It's longer, and slenderer, and
and even more beautiful"
'aid he, than the little hand | cut;
)ut 1t was then the most beautiful
land in the world to me-and still isl
II must light the lamps,' said the
county superintendent-elect rather
lustered, it must be confessed.
Mamma! Where are all the
natchesg"
Mrs. Woodruff and Mrs. Irwin came
and the lamplight reminded Jim's
that the COW was still TO milk.
md that the chickens might need at
The Woodruff sleigh came
o the door to carry them home; but
desired to breast the storm. He
that he needed the conflict. Mrs.
scolded him for his foolishness,
,ut he strobe off into the whirling
irift, throwing back a good-by for
general consumption, and q pathetic
smile to Jennie.
Hes as odd as Dicks hatband,"
aid Mrs. Woodruff, ''tramping off in
| storm like this"
Did you-line him up?' asked the
of Jennie.
The young lady started and bIushed.
had forgotten all about the poll
of the situation.
I'm afraid l didn't. papa" she
confessed.