Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-11-01

Jim had finished his supper, and
yearned for a long evening In his attic
den with his cheap literature. But as
the district schoolmaster he was to
some extent responsible for the pro-
lection of the school property, and
felt some of duty as to exhibit
ing an interest In public affairs.
II guess I'll have to go. mother he
replied regretfully. 81 want to see Mr..
Woodruff about borrowing his Bah
cock milk tester, and I'll go that way.
/ guess Til go on to the meeting"
He kissed his mother when he went
"a habit from which he never devil
sted. and another of those personal
peculiarlties which had marked him as
different from the other boys Of the
neighborhood. His mother urged his
overcoat upon him Ia vain-for Jlm's
overcoat was distinctly q bad one,
while his best suit, now worn every
day az a concession to his scholastic
position. still looked passably well
after several weeks of schoolroom
duty. 1t seemed more logical to as
sumo that the weather vas mIlder
than 1t really was, on that sharp Octo-
Der evening. and appear at his best,
albeit rather aware Of the cold. Jen-
ME was at home, and he was likely
to see and be seer Of her.
"You can borrow that tester" said
the colonel, land the cows that go
with 1t, II you can use EN-. They
sin't earning their keep here. But
how does the milk tester fit into the
curriculum of the SCHOOL, A decora-
tion?"
I'VE want to make a few tests Of
the COWS In the neighborhood," an
swered Jim. "Just another Of my fool
notions"
"AlI right" said the colonel. Take
II along. Going to the speakin'T'
Certainly, he's going" said Jennie,
entering. This is my meeting. Jim"
surely, I'm going" assented Jim.
And think I'll run along
II wish we had room for you in the
car" said the colonel. But I'm going
around by B%ronson's to pick up the
speaker. and I'll have a chuck-up
load"
mot so much of a load as you
think" said Jennie. I'm going with
Jim. The walk Will do me good"
Any candidate warns to her voting
population just before election; but
Jennie had a special kindness for Jim.
He was no longer a farm hand. The
fact that he was coming to be a center
OF disturbance In the district andthHt
she quite failed to understand how his
eccentric behavior could be harmo-
nized with those principles of teach
Ing which she had imbibed at he state
school In itself lifted him
nearer to equality with her. A public
nuisance Is really more respectable
than a %nonentity.
She gave Jim a thrill as she passed
the gate that he opened for
her. White moonlight ON her white
suggested purity, exaltation, the
of womanhood-things far
in the woman Of twenty-seyen
the glamour thrown over him by
he school girl of sixteen.
Jim gave her no thrill; for he
ooked gaunt and angular In his
ready-made suit, too short In
egs and sleeves, and too thin for the
reason. Yet, as they walked along.
lin grew upon her. He strobe on with
strides. made slow to accom-
her shorter steps, and embar-
a ssing her by bis entire absence OF
TO keep step. For all that, he
his face to the stars, and he
out the great open spaces In
Milky Way. wondering at their
mptiness and at the fact that no
can find stars In them.
They stopped and looked. Jim laid
IL hard hands IN the shoulders of her I
fur collarette-
~What's the use of political meet
. said Jim. @when you and | can {
tand here and think our way out, {
ven beyond the limits of our uni I
erse r Q
"A wonderful journey" said she. NOT !
uite understanding his mood, but !
lille we roam beyond the Milky Way I
. aren't getting any votes for me for
sunty superintendent" ,
Jim said nothing. He WIS quite y
seutabatshed On the earth u
-Don't yes want me to be elected. Z
Imr- :
JMmnn1d ~ pon4sv fkfs fer Sone .
n4s period II tsktnx ths nattw q
49, adv1e~@f wkA<A case~d JUnAs .