The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-07-06
Bills Number One
BY Robert Halifax.

IL US Bill jumped almost
guiltily. He had gulped down his sup
per, stored away the unsold vegetables,
| washed down as far as the ring round
his neck, sneaked into the bedroom,
and was lost in round-eyed contempla-
ton of the five-weeks-old pink atom in
there, when that queer sort of whisper
came through the doorway
"Billl" She edged in farther. Don't
yer love me? Amt you got the loveliest
boy ever a man longed for? Or are you
going to think more O. the child than
me now?"
"You'll wake himl What dyer mean,
gal?" gasped Bill, taking the Guilty
from his mouth.
"What do l mean? Ahl you know
well enough. But we don't want no
words about it. There's the boy--is he
to go all his life with a number, like
convick? l don't thinkl s'pose you
do know he's got to be named and regis
tered before another week-or didn't
you?"
"Lumme," said Bill, staring. $50 he
has. Blowed If l hadn't"
"Bill. you know you'd forget your
head, you would But that don't mat
ter; there's the child, and you know
now." She folded hersarms, and looked
up at the crack in the ceiling. "As
said, we don't want no words, we've
been so nice together; but s'pose l
may speak in my own house. only
ask what's the dear mites name to be
his name, wot'n mean one thing or
t'other for him through life."
Him? Why, Bill, of course-Bill
Simmons" said he-or rather, faltered
it. Didn't settle that long ago sos
we needn't change the name on the
barrows."
"Ohl you did? Well, then, there
never amt no telling, is there?" and
Mrs. Simmons Uttered little hyster-
ically, as she fumbled behind the pic
ture of Garibaldi. "There, l think it's
his mothers place to settle that. Sc
when you go to the registrar, you'll
take this bit O. paper, and see he puts
it down prop'ly. Here it is-and no
words; er-Ermyntruda Marmaduke."
"Erming-what?" Bill swayed up,
his eyes goggling. THAT boy?"
"That boy. Why shouldn't he have q
dukes name as well as anyone? You
didn't care; did. Me and Mrs. pipple-
ton found that name in paper, and we
amt going back on It,"
"You-give it here!" said Bill, hus-
kily, making a snatch. "Blimy, it's a
plant! You've left it till now so as
Mrs. Pippleton? Who's she? IN break
her blooming neck. I'll"
"That's it! Send the baby into fit,
along of your beastly temper. knew
how it would be- AS sure as you stand
there, Bill, that's the child's name, and
SO there"
"Ermyntruda Marmaduke," he
spelled out, incredulously. What, a
kid that's going to sell carrots on the
kerb along O. me! Oh, yes! ain't we
springing up in the world. One pen
north O. tunnip-tops, Mister Ermyntru-
da Marmaduke, and no stalk!' Yus;
I'll see about that. Bill he was born,
and Bill he sticks"
$50 you say! Allow me to tell you,
| Mr.. Simmons, that child's not going in
the carrot line, nor any other; he's 60
ing in the civil servidge, or not at all,
where they 60 up and take their money
and walk out again; either that or a
beerhouse, so now! And as for Mrs
| Pippleton, the best friend the child's
got, if you go down those stairs and
make words between them, he-he
let him know every day as his own
blessed father sat down and conspir.
ated to ruin him. Now!"
She swung out. Bill stood staring al
the paper-a morsel torn from '"The
Bandit of Blue Gulch." Ermyntruda
Marmaduke-he sweated even now al
the very thought of being asked the
nipper's name. Ermyn-Stewed eels
and gin! 1t was past bearing. He
caught up his cap and went down the
stairs-quickly enough to catch Mrs
Pippleton edging off. She had been
listening, then. He clenched his fist as
she snorted and clattered her fireirons
"Yus; for two brass pins I'd down
yer" he said, in whisper.
81 know you would; but there's only
one in the house, as it happens
Hark who'll dosthe downing! P'rhaps
you'll get off my oilcloth."
Bill strode down the street, his neck
red and puffed, to the pub at the cor
ner; Pippleton was calling for pen
north of shag when he felt his ear
| pulled.
"What no, Bill! what's yours?"
| "Yus, know all about that; I'll buy
my own. Now, what games this-you
and your missus? Dyer see that there ?
my kids name. That's what you've
bunged into her head between you; but
1t won't come off-see?"
"Ermyn-" Pippleton stared. mot
me, Bill. Take my oath l amt heard
nothink about it. Lumme! They've
been and 'cocted it between 'em. Why,
it's a gals name, amt it?"
"No. yer fool, it's dukes name; and
I'm to go to the registrars and spit
that out. Me! Swop my bob, Pip, l