New-York tribune., 1902-12-07
Billy and the Bonref.c.
By KATHARINE lyman.


Mss Violet sat in front, separated from their
companions; they might almost have been alone
AT first, they were silent; presently, they be-
came little more intimate. and the girl re-
ferred shyly to having seen Billy's face be-
tween the bonnets.
Il never meant to have told Clara, she muir
INJURED, but she found out somehow. And one
day she had long look at you from the other
window. And she said you could be trusted
But never supposed she was going TO speak 10
you''
I'm very glad she did said Billy
And. oh, please you mustn't think her Wi
gar, because she's SO kind. She looks after
me- and is quite jealous if l talk TO the o'her
girls
Il should be just the myself, said Billy
And L shouldn't think of thinking Miss cara
vulgar. l think it's awfully good of her to look
after you, you know. and-to-to Keep peop'e
Oft undesirable people. you know
oh, she doesn't let me know SOUL except
Mr. Sanders: and he's really so wrapped up in
Clara that he's part of her. He's a most re-
spectacle young man, greengrocers mahaSei
When Clara's married she's gong 10 i've a.
footing"
Tnere was suffocated sound in Miss Violet's
voice, though she were enjoying huse Johe
all to herself, which made Billy smile lndul-
gently at her in the darkness. He was 10 pc
come well acquainted with that sound IN @ her
voice in the time to come She had not hei
humorous mouth for nothing.
Presently they were at Earls Court. and after
they had had "a snack. which BAy INSISTED on on
standing-it was really the pest dinner Earl
Court could produce, and they all did full JUS
| tice to it-they sat in as secluded place IN
| the gardens as they could find But that was
not very secluded. and Billy repressed an in
cnation to suggest two hansoms for going
home since the bus gave better opportunities
| for conversation and went so much more slowly,
and he quite hungry for the murmur OF the
soft voice his ears. with the stIfed merrl-
ment never far away from il.
The drive home was better than the one
out. since the friendship had grown so much
Under cover of the darkness. Billy kept touch
ing the blue coat with reverentlal tenderness.
and felt the contact with il thrill through him
with a shock of delight
Miss Violet was very frank about herself She
brothers
sisters in an Oxfordshire village but they were
SO poor that she had to do something to earn
a little money. Her name was Hope-Niolet
Hope. Her great ambition was some day to
have a bonnet shop Of her own.
Then Billy told her his name and made her
guess at his occupation. She made two three
guesseS bubbng with laughter. a shopwalker?
tall and straight. a hairdresser? Billy pulled
a face in the darkness and felt her trembie at
his. side.
to prevent any more hurts to his vanity.
Il knew you 4 soldier she said, as
though suddenly repentant. Papa is
soldier. l only guessed those things for joke.
But a Guardsman; how nice, on furlough, /
| suppose, since you're not in uniform?'
Yes. furlough," said Billy, mendaciously.
oh"
She seemed about to burst out with some
thing. ana then stopped.
Go on, please he said, bending his head to
Il was only thinking how nice 1t would be tc
walk with a GuardSman in uniform. The
other girls would 3e 50 jealous"
That reminds me-" said By-it had never
been really of his head all the time-'would
you and Miss Clara, and, OF course, Mr.. William
Sanders, CONE into the country with me on Sat
urday afternoon? / know inn in delight
full secluded part of Surrey where could
| have tea. VIII you Gomez
Il should love to. But can you-
'I can get leave
And won't It be very expensiver'
''I think / stand it"
"I suppose Guardsmen very wei! paid?"
He could feel her big eyes on him in the dark
| ness.
we are pretty well Off a rule he said,
| lightly.
| He thought the week endless till Saturday
should come. But 1t came at last and turned
| out an exquisite afternoon. Two O'Clock found
| Billy at Victoria. He had arranged with the
guard for a reserved first class compartment be-
| fore the rest of the party arrived. Violet was
| in white with bunch of pansies at her belt ana
! lavender ribbons in her big hat. Billy thought
! her lOVelier than ever. What tons, TO be sure
| cried Clara, resplcndent in a hat trimmed WIN
! cherries and delighted with her first class car
| riage. -,
Billy didn't mind Claras looks or her IAN
guage or Mr. William Sanders's cheap cigar and
| broad stripes He was SO completely sWaInped
| i'm love by this time that he had neither eyes
| nor GA RS for any one but Violet. 1t was Billy s
| first love affair, and he had taken 1t paoy-
Now and again he had a little qualm on the SUD-
iect of the old girl" he called Mrs. Benton;
but that was forgotten in the dellrlum
| of looking at and listening to Violet
| They strolled through grassy lanes TO tne
| inn where they had good country tea, with
| cold ham and eggs, and crisp green lettuce ana
| honey After It was over they had still couple
of hours to spare before they need make LOT d
train. -, a:,,;,,,, b,,,