--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 19 number: 4 published: 1916-02 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, \"Faint Heart Ne'er Won Fair Lady,\" *Improvement Era* 19, no. 4 (February 1916): 327–336." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1904unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1904unse start_page: 327 end_page: 336 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1916-02) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1904unse publication_year: 1916 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1916, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Faint Heart Ne'er Won Fair Lady "FaintBHeart Ne'er Won Fair Lady" THE FOURTH OF A SERIES OF FOUR JED STORIES, EACH COMPLETE IN ITSELF BY IDA STEWART PEAY When Jed Ware entered upon the second year of his school-ing he laid out for himself two tasks. One was that he mustexcel in all his studies and the other was to try to win the af-fections of Amy Bleeson. During the summer, while he was away working in the mines,he laid the foundation for the accomplishment of the first task bystudying persistently every spare moment. The second did notseem entirely improbable to him, for he always thought of thelittle girl teacher as she appeared that Saturday when the schoolhad an outing on the mountain. He had lived again and againthe hour they sat upon the big flat rock and loved life and thebeautiful world together. He often recalled the moment theylooked into each other's eyes and laughed from sheer gladnessand how afterwards they raced down the mountain side hand inhand like two care-free children. Such thoughts made the extrashifts and cheap living seem no hardship at all, since it enabledhim to put away two-hundred dollars against some future need inwhich, in his mind, Amy Bleeson always figured. But now, as he swung along towards the old Ware Housewith his Blackgulch pals, Hebe and Abe in his care, he receiveda shock which made at least one of his ambitions seem a mere pipedream. Just as he and his companions turned into the broadstreet, at the bottom of which the school was located, they cameupon Amy Bleeson walking leisurely along with the very proper,immaculate and haughty Ben Shumway. The two were carryingon a low but apparently merry conversation. To see the girl heloved so happy with some one else, and that some one Shumway,smote Jed; he gave a slight start which he hoped Hebe or Abewould not notice, and the next instant Miss Bleeson had espiedher Blackgulch friends and turned to greet them. In her pretty, gracious way she cordially welcomed them toher home town and the school. If there was a brighter light inher eyes as she looked up at the big, handsome sheep-herder, hedid not perceive it. He could hardly see the September sunshine,so dark had everything grown to him at discovering her intimacy 328 IMPROVEMENT ERA with the despised Shumway. When the three country boys passedon, the society man, who had held himself proudly aloof duringthe brief interval of greeting-, stepped into his place beside theyoung lady, and the two continued their walk more slowly thanbefore—the young man setting the pace. Neither of the Black-gulch boys spoke until they were fully a block away, then Abeasked in his blunt manner, "Is that her feller?" "Don't know," mumbled Jed shortly. "Hum! he's some sport, ain't he?" observed Hebe. "Sure, had on the glad rags," said Abe. "I guess us fellers, if we did git. some biled shirts, lookmighty different from a swell like him," mused Hebe more so-berly than was his custom. " 'Clothes don't make the man,' " pacified Jed, lamely, withoutany belief in the words. "They git the girls," Hebe indulged, in his usual snicker,"that's plain." "Not the right kind of girls," persisted Jed, dully, still withno faith in his assertion. "Well, little Bleeson was a mighty sweet kind down south,don't know how she'll take up here—maybe there's lots likeher." "No, there isn't!" contradicted Jed, "she'll be the belle of theschool," he predicted, with returning warmth. "She can have me," grinned Hebe. "An' me," echoed Abe with a chuckle. "She's had me a long time," Jed said absently, sighing. Hebeand Abe looked up quickly and exchanged glances but they saidnothing. "Well, boys, here's the big school," Jed announced solemnlyas he and the new students reached the little frame entrance builtincongruously on the great bare side of the long Ware House. "Not such an all-fired fine buildin'," Abe criticized, lookingit over. "No," Jed owned, "but, you see, their first schoolhouse burneddown and they are just using this as a make-shift until they canget a new home built. One is now in the course of constructionon the other side of town. "Oh!" Hebe and Abe nodded together, enlightened and mol-lified. They both grew very quiet as they mounted the stairs ontheir tip toes. "Why, here's Sally!" exclaimed Jed, coming suddenly uponthe only girl in Blackgulch who was in any way prepared for thehigher education offered at the Academy. "Yes," cried Abe, his face lighting up with pleasure, "shesaid she'd be early. How'd you think you'll like it, Sally?" there "FAINT HEART NE'ER WON FAIR LADY" 329 was a solicitous note in rough Abe's voice that escaped Jed andHebe, but not Sally; she cast the boy a grateful glance as shewhispered, "All right, I guess, but I'm scared blue." Abe laid his big hand gently on her arm, "Never mind, Sally,"he coaxed, "men Hebe's in the same boat." "Well, come on, you will all get along fine," cheered Jed, ashe took his Blackgulch friends under his wing, so to speak, andgot them started. He was alert to every glance of curiosity ormerriment directed against his townfolk. Indeed, his greatanxiety to protect them from any unpleasantness or hurts was soapparent that it was generally respected by Jed's many friends,and so Hebe and Abe and Sally Brown got through their first dayat the Academy without disconcerting incidents. Amy Bleeson,too, the little teacher, who had gone to their far away town andwakened them up and encouraged them to try to get an education,showed them every attention, and as she seemed to be fully aspopular in the big school as she was at Blackgulch, they felt quiteflattered. One late afternoon toward the close of the first semester, Jedwandered to the north windows in the old Normal Room that over-looked the approach to the building. He hardly admitted to him-self that he had any particular purpose in going in that direction,except that he liked to study there. But incidentally it was hishabit to glance occasionally out over the diagonal path which ledfrom the school entrance to the street, and nearly always aboutthis time of day the same sight met his gaze. Tonight was no ex-ception to the rule. When he had been there but a few minutes,Amy Bleeson emerged from the entrance and started across theold path ; walking easily beside her, carrying her books and smilinghis most engaging smile, was Ben Shumway. Jed set his square jaw clown tight and frowned darkly—"Iwouldn't care so much if he were not such a cur—." His bitterreflections were cut short by a tap on the shoulder from his friendHebe who had looked out of the window and raised his browssignificantly, but who was looking very interestedly across theroom at a girl, when Jed turned. "Who is that young lady?" he whispered, pointing to thevoung lady on the other side of the room. "That's Allie Peck," said Jed. "Give me a 'knock-down' to her," modestly demanded thelatest arrival from the sheep-herd. "Why, she's one of the swells of the school," exclaimed Jedin surprise. "Well, that don't hurt her none with me," said Hebe blurt-ing out into his good-natured laugh, as he drew Jed away fromthe window. In the course of a few minutes Jed and Hebe had overtaken 330 IMPROVEMENT ERA Miss Peck on her way down the stairs, Hebe had been formallypresented and soon the three were chatting easily: Both boyswalked home with the young lady and before her gate was reachedit was evident that she and Hebe were getting along rapidly in amutually agreeable friendship. From then on pretty Miss Peck'sdesk was haunted by the jovial country lad, and it was easy to seethe young lady was not altogether displeased. The winter passed quickly for at least two of the Blackgulchrowdies. Hebe made a fair student, a gay gallant, and was anall-around favorite, few being able to resist his perpetual goodhumor. Poor Abe made but slow progress in his lessons, but hissincere and earnest struggle and straight-forwardness earned forhim the respect of all the thoughtful ones. Both boys werethoroughly interested and contented, for which later developmentsmay furnish adequate reason. Jed, alone, was not like himself, something was wrong withhim. True he was making his way steadily and by no meansslowly among the leading students of the school, but in some wayshe was not the same old dauntless, fearless, reckless Jed. One warm spring afternoon he was standing once more byhis old watch tower window—as he called it to himself—in theNormal Room. From here he looked out over the diagonal paththat led from the entrance to the street and presently saw Amy andShumway walk off together. It was a familiar sight to him now,and he witnessed it with dull calmness. In a few minutes Hebeand Allie Peck came into view, Allie was laughing merrily, nodoubt at Hebe's droll nonsense. Some time later these two coupleswere followed by good old Abe carrying the books and easing thehomesickness of quiet little Sally Brown. He could see Abe lean-ing close to the Blackgulch girl and looking down at her whileSally glanced up trustingly, gratefully at him. Jed heaved a sigh: he began thinking bitterly of his greatplans of last summer. Of course, he could not help feeling satis-fied at his progress for he was gaining splendidly in his classes.With his remarkable native ability, his great capacity for work,his determination to rise and a real love of knowledge—which hadlaid dormant until Miss Bleeson's advent in Blackgulch—he wasmaking wonderful advancement. His teachers declared he hadmade the most unusual progress of any student that had everentered the school. But he was not even trying to win Amy Blee-son and he acknowledged to himself that he wanted her more nowthan ever before, and more than anything else in the world. Discouraged and enraged at Shumway's apparent acceptance,Jed had actually shunned the lady of his dreams. At first MissBleeson had been with him as she was with everybody, cordial,frank, winning and merry, but of late she seemed almost to beavoiding him. Tonight Jed's heart was heavier than usual. He "FAINT HEART NE'ER WON FAIR LADY" 331 was lonely and full of a great longing-. There never had been awoman in his life, no mother, no sister, really no girl-friend—all his affection for womankind was rolled into his love for AmyBleeson and she was monopolized—lost to him. After an hour ofheart-ache so intense that it left its mark upon his strong, youngface, he turned to his books, as was his custom, for consolation.There in the old north window he studied until the janitor, peepingin. discovered him and said he was locking up the house. Jed hadbeen so absorbed in his study and melancholy that he had notnoticed the lateness of the hour, but now remembering manylabors he had to perform, he rushed out quite excitedly. As Jed reached the street across the diagonal path from thelittle frame entrance, he came face to face with Shumway andwas plunged further into misery by one of Ben's triumphant anddisdainful glances. At the end of the first block, Jed passed oneof the professors. "Well, you are late getting home, Jed," said the man as hepassed, and Jed merely murmured, "Yes, sir"-—never for a mo-ment suspecting that these slight circumstances were weaving aweb around him that would cause him one of the sharpest pangsof his life. The next morning when Jed arrived at school and entered theNormal Department, he realized that something was being dis-cussed excitedly by a fast growing crowd around the teacher'sdesk. As Jed could look over most people's head, he saw that theregistrar of the school was the center of attraction. At that mo-ment, one of the head professors (the one Jed had met the nightbefore when he was leaving for home) entered. "What is the matter here?" he enquired looking curiouslyaround. "Why, I have been robbbed," declared the flustrated registrar. "Robbed ! How's that! What do you mean ?" cried the oro-fessor in astonishment. "Well, yesterday, after the close of school—" the registrarbegan to relate while a dead silence made his words audible toevery person in the room—"a student brought me a $20 green-back on tuition. I was standing at the north window, yonder, ex-plaining and working a problem in mathematics to some students.T do not remember what I did with it that moment, but I presumeI laid it between the leaves of my book thinking to put it awayas soon as I was through figuring. I stood there with the studentsfor more than an hour, in fact, until there was but one person leftin the room. "I did not think of the monev again until sometime after Iarrived at my home. Then, looking for it, and being unable tofind it, T realized I had left the book upon the window. I hurriedback getting here just as the janitor was locking the doors. My 332 IMPROVEMENT ERA book was on the window where I had left it, but there was nomoney to be found. I asked the janitor, here"—the man wasstanding near looking- very worried—"who was the last person inthe building. He said it was Jed Ware, in fact, that Mr. Warewas the only person in the department after I left." "Yes," reluctantly admitted the old man, shaking his head andlooking very much perturbed, "Mr. Ware was the last man toleave the place." "Yes," murmured the professor thoughtfully, "I met Mr.Ware as he was going home, it was after sun-down; though, ofcourse, that is no circumstance of consequence," he added hastilyas he caught sight of Jed Ware standing as if struck dumb in themidst of the crowd which now included about all of the schoolthat could get into the room. "I met him, too, as he was leaving," volunteered Ben Shum-way insinuatingly. Abe, who was standing near him, growled threateningly,"What's you drivin' at?" "Tryin to find out who took the money," sneered Ben. "Well, you don't need to be trying to connect Ware with it,fur you know he's not that kind?" snarled Abe. "No?" Shumway's lip curled contemptuously, scornfully,"don't a horse thief ever take money?" In a second both Hebe and Abe had laid rough hands on theschool's aristocrat. "Take that back," Abe demanded fiercely while Hebe's hu-morous twinkle was hidden by a black, angry scowl. "No, he needn't take that back," it was Jed's voice that rangout clear and daring. His handsome, brown face which had beenburning a dull red suddenly became colorless, he was breathinghard, his lips were dry. "I was never punished for that sin soI—I guess I'll have to take my sentence now. I did steal a horseonce." "O, Jed, you didn't steal the horse, you didn't mean to keepit," Amy Bleeson's sweet girlish tones drew everybody's eyes fromJed to herself. Her cheeks were red and her pretty blue eyeswere flashing with indignation. "I took the horse," Jed maintained, looking straight into theeyes of Miss Bleeson. "Of course, I meant to return it," headded sorrowfully, seeming to have forgotten every one presentexcept the girl he was addressing, "but I took it and I deserve thereproach. You can never do a wrong without suffering for itsome time, some way, so I'll take my medicine now, and be donewith it. I never took anything else in my life, though, and asfor this money, I know nothing about it," he was still talking toAmy Bleeson and she was looking at him with a world of sym-pathy in her kind, blue eyes. "FAINT HEART NE'ER WON FAIR LADY" 333 "Pshaw!" Shumway slurred, "some folks are so innocent!"Ever since Jed called him down for kissing girls, just for fun;and ever since he had know this chapter in Jed's life, Ben hadached to publicly denounce the big sheep-herder. But now hehad done so, he was almost sorry, for the girl that he preferredabove all other girls was looking at him with undisguised disgust. "There is no power on earth could make me believe Mr. Waretook that money," she declared stoutly to Shumway. Jed could only look his thanks, but his dark eyes grew darkeras they plainly expressedboth deep gratitude and admiration fortlie girl of his dreams. "It's a very deplorable affair," said the professor, "a verydeplorable affair. T hardly know how we are going to discoverthe culprit; it is surely not—" He stopped speaking as some one came rushing and pushingthrough the crowd. It was one of the students who was standingnear the Registrar when that gentleman received the money. "Look in your vest pocket, the one to your left hand," hecried breathlesslv. The Registrar did so instantly and pulled outa $20 note. "For heaven's sake!" ejaculated the poor Registrar, entirelymystified. "You had a book in your left hand and was figuring withyour right," the new comer began to explain, "when the studenthanded you the money; I saw you take it between the finger an 1thumb of the left hand and, since the book you held prevented youputting it in your trouser's pocket, you stuffed it with your fingerand thumb into that vest pocket." Everybody heaved a sigh of relief. Just then the gongsounded, and in the space of a few seconds the crowd had dis-persed. The Registrar and Professor shook hands with Jed, as-suring him they had not had the slightest notion of accusing him.they had not even for a moment suspected him, and both wereexceedingly sorry his name had been so thoughtlessly mentioned.An influential student slipped an arm through Jed's and whisperedconfidently, soberly, "I'm glad this matter came up, Ware, and I'mmore than glad that you spoke out the truth. It turned out to benot half so bad as what has been whispered around lately. Infact, now we know the square of the thing, it's nothing—there'smy hand," he held out his hand and led grasped it warmly, whilean understanding glance of fellowship passed between the twoboys. Soon school was going as if nothing unusual had occurred,but Jed, though he suffered keenly for many days, finally con-cluded it was the best thing that could have happened to him. That night Hebe and Abe paid a visit to their old pal. Whenthey were comfortably settled in the little room, and Jed had laid 334 IMPROVEMENT ERA aside his books, Abe began bluntly, ''What's eatin' you, Jed? Whydon't you git in an' try to win the girl?" Jed looked surprised, and colored noticeably. "Hadn'tthought there was much chance for me," he murmured apologet-ically. "Bah!" said Abe, "you wasn't 'fraid to hang 'round her inBlackgulch before you had any schoolin' and now—" "It was a case of fools rushing in where angels fear to tread,"interrupted Jed, with something like his old hearty laugh. "Well," ventured Hebe, feeling too sober even to grin, "ifany girl ever made as grand a defense of me before the wholeschool, as little Bleeson did of you, I wouldn't be afraid." "You ain't the same, Jed, you used to be down in Blackgulch.If schoolin' is going to take all the nip and dare-devil out of you—you'd better go back to the sheep-herd," Abe grumbled. "You had a more independent, peppery spirit 'fore you knewa blamed thing—when you was as ignorant as Fanny Meyer'sblind colt. If education is going to make me scared to go upagainst a thin-skinned, under-handed, pretender to blue-blood, likeBen Shumway, I'm goin' to give it up 'fore I get any further inlove with the little Peck girl," declared Hebe, looking the pictureof eloquence. Abe laughed heartily. "We're all gettin' the mating fever,Jed," he chuckled; "men Sally's goin' to have the knot tied 'forewe go home this spring. We're goin' to give up schoolin'—de-cide 1 we ain't cut out fur scholars. Like the notion of schoolin'mighty well, both of us, but our heads are too thick, yep, too dernthick. We'll go back home an' maybe we—a—can persuade somebrighter young folk to take our place." Jed grabbed Abe's hand and wrung it warmly as his old pallooked a little shy and altogether pleased and happy. "Bully foryou, Abe!" he said ; "I'm mighty glad you've found the big life—ah, the great life—with so little trouble. Good luck to you andSally." • Hebe was smiling gleefully to himself, and Jed suddenly per-ceiving it, cried jocularly, "Out with it Hebe!" "Well," said Hebe, throwing out his hands with an "owningup" gesture, while his eyes twinkled into a mischievous grin, "I'mnever going to see Blackgulch again. I've got a job here for thesummer with a store, down town, and I'm going to take a businesscourse, and I'm going to keep on courting Allie Peck until shetakes me to get rid of me." ' This jolly little visit with his old pals built Jed wonderfully.After the boys left he put away his books, spent two hours on atoilet—combing his great shock of black hair not less than fortytimes—and started out to call on Amy Bleeson. That young ladygreeted Jed in her pretty, cordial way, but he took no heart from "FAINT HEART NE'ER WON FAIR LADY" 335 that, he was sure she had often welcomed Hebe and Abe andShumway, Joe Anderson and others just as pleasantly. Father and Mother Bleeson, Jack, and all the younger Blee-sons, spent the evening, as was their custom, in the cozy parlorwhere a cheerful fire burned brightly in the grate. There wasreading, music, laughter and sparkling conversation; every oneseemed to be feeling light-hearted and merry, and soon Jed feltquite at home. Presently one, then another, bade him good nightuntil all had left the room but Amy. Jed thought this the signalfor his departure, so he arose to go. But it was so good to bethere, and to be near the one sweet girl; this seemed to be thevery fire-side he had longed for all his life. He walked over tothe hearth and leaned for a moment against the mantel. Sud-denly, his old dare-devil spirit returned, his eyes lighted up, hethrew back his black hair with his former characteristic move-ment of independence and power—he had determined to breakinto the game: "Will you go to the party with me, next Friday night?"There was fire and gladness as well as longing in his great darkeyes as he looked across at Miss Bleeson. She had also risen andwas standing on the other side of the grate. The fire was flicker-ing low. She did not answer for a moment, and the young man'ssmile began to fade. "Why, a—yes, Jed," she finally murmured, returning Jed'sstraight look, while her pretty face softened into a slow, curioussmile, "but—" she stopped. Jed did not know what to think ofher hesitation, he did not smile with her, he looked very sober. "But what?" he asked. "You haven't been very friendly with me this winter, I hadhoped to see you oftener," she said, apparently interested in thefire-pictures. Jed's face brightened instantly; he moved nearer to her."Did—did you care to see me?" he asked eagerly in a low voice. "Of course," smiled the girl, "we were such good friends inBlackgulch." "Oh, you don't know how miserable I've been, I—" "You've been working too hard," accused the young lady,solicitously. "No, I have not." denied the boy, "but I've—been loving you too much:" "Oh, Jed!" Amy Bleeson started, a great flush of color creptunder her fair skin, and heightened the blue of her eyes. "Forgive me," begged Jed, "I did not mean to tell you, butI have been so lonely—I've" loved you so long. I loved you thefirst minute I saw you, and I've loved you every hour since. Jedwas standing over her now and she glanced up at him with a lookthat set his heart to thumping. "Do you think—oh, could it be 336 IMPROVEMENT ERA possible—will you marry me, Amy?" he cried, taking her handsin his. "Oh, you dear Jed!" she murmured. "Do you love me?" whispered Jed incredulously. "A whole lot," she told him with shining eyes; and then thebig country man, who had scarcely touched a woman in his life,took the little girl of his dreams masterfully into his great, strong,hungry arms and kissed her. PfcOVO, UTAH My Plea God give me faith. My view is circumscribed. My mind, attuned to finite things,Needs Faith's pure stimulus and certain guide To shape its course as forth it wingsThrough the vast maze of error mixed with truth.For truth alone, I quest, and pray, forsooth,God give me Faith. At times I sweep along life's varied courseAnd think my wisdom marks the way, Then dire perplexities beset, perforce,And I must grope, unless its ray Shine forth and penetrate the gath'ring mist, Illuminate my senses, and assistMy wav'ring feet. There are dark passages along the roadWhen all my knowledge comes to naught; There are temptations, and at times my loadSeems with such useless burdens fraught That hope seems dead, and effort seems a waste,— And then, how welcome unto me the chaste,Pure glow of Faith. Not my own pleasure would I seek alone. To know the right, I hold is best,With strength to do it when it once is known. So, if with doubts I am oppressed,Or in the weakness of misguided strengthI stumble, and the way grows dark at length,God give me Faith. There are great tasks to do, and lesser deeds; But duty's oft beset with guile.I may not know to what my effort leads, But, that I work content the while,One gift I ask, that I may rightly strive.And at the goal Thou'st fixed at last arrive,God give me Faith. T. C. Hoyt. OGDEN, UTAH