The Republican., 1899-07-20
\ Bill S Number One /
81 BY Robert Halifax.
eSSzgSzgSS zNS7TS1aSS1 1TS 1NS ms m,


ID " 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 tive-weeks-old pink atom in
there, when that queer sort of whisper
came through the doorway.
pill" She edged in farther. Don't
yer love me? Amt you got the loveliest
boy ever man longed for? Or are you
going to think more O. the child than
me now?'
You'll wake him! What dyer mean,
gal?' gasped Bill, taking the Guilty
from his mouth.
what do l mean? All! 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 number, like
convick? l don't think! spose you
do know he's got to be named and regis
tered before another week-or didn't
you?"
"Lumme," said Bill, staring. 80 he
has. Blowed if | 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 her arms, and looked
up at the crack in the ceiling. AS l
said, we don't want no words, we've
been so nice together; but l s'pose l
may speak in my own house. l only
ask what's the dear mites name to be?
his name, wot'u 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 l settle that long ago SOS
we needn't change the name ON the
barrows."
oh! you did? Well, then, there
never amt no telling, is there?' and
Mrs. Simmons Uttered a little hyster-
ically, as she fumbled behind the pic
ture of Garibaldi. There, l think it's
his mothers place to settle that. So
when you go to the registrar, you'll
take this bit o paper, and see he puts
it down prop1y. Here it is-and no
words; -Ermyntruda Marmaduke."
''Erming what?" Bill swayed up,
his eyes goggling. THAT boy?"
THAT boy. Why shouldn't he have a
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? III break
her blooming neck. III"
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
Sc there
"Ermyntruda Marmaduke,' he
spelled out, incredulOusly. What, a
kid that's going to sell carrots on the
kerb along O me! Oh, yes! amt 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"
80 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 go 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
shan't have no name at all! And I'll
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 at
the paper-a morsel torn from THE
Bandit of Blue Gulch." Ermyntruda
Marmaduke-he sweated even now at
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 cIattered her fireirons
"Yus; for two brass pins I'd down
yer" he said, in a whisper.
huOW NOu NOulu, DuI JlISlC > OIlN
one in the house. as it happens.
Harll who'll do the downing! P'rhaps
you'll get off my oilcloth.'
Bill strobe 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, l know all about that; III buy
my own. Now, what games ths-you
and your missus? Dyer see that there?
my kids name. That's what you've
bunged into her head between you; but
it won't come otf-see?'
"Ermyn-" Pippleton stared. "Not
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 a dukes name; and
I'm to go TO the registrars and spit
that out. Me! Swop my bob, Pip, 1
don't want no row, but I've got to have
it out with your missus or someone be-
fore I've done. It's all her; my Harriet
can't even read hack ards. you L,no,v