The Washington herald., 1907-11-17
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Battle Engages.

exigent than Billy. joint fOster-father
and llghthousem2n. TO have seen the face
which Vida turned upon him. She stood
a while in the doorway Of the little par
Tor. stunned AT first. then orienting her
| ideas out OF a kind OF vague inability to
think what had come 70 her. but never
| quite taking her eyes off the beautiful
little cottage" plano. which was now
her own
/ Slowly she understood. Dick could not
have bought H. She knew the extent OF
| Dicks resources. Mr. Morris-well, he
dare not. II must De Billy. II was Billy.
her foolish old Billy. She saw the guilty
complaisant. happy look on his face.
The very width Of his Irish grin gave
him away
"Oh, Billy" she said. And suddenly.
with hands still at her side. and standing
there in the doorway, she began 10 cry.
/ The tears ran down her cheeks as Billy
Bryan rose at once 10 20 To her Was
anything amiss? Was what ne had
/ thought of for years on his lonely light
house dreamed Of goggle-eyed under the
weighty glare Of The electrics. pondered
upon by the hour In his bunk when the
waves made the Sherry tower rock like
a tail tree I'm the wind-was il all 10 go
wrong? II So he would reckon with that
young man in the mGsic-shop who helped
! him SO cheerfully 10 choose Il.
! What is ii. thin. darlin'?" he STAN
| mered. his ruddy face "a little pale rs
/ anything wrong with that there music
box? j so. ! can get Il changed. There
were other sorts; one that We just put in
\ the sheets with the music on them all
| ready pricked out and turn a handle.
But my young spalpeen. with his ears
/ tackled 20 his collar top. laughed and said
/ that he guessed you wouldn't want that
/ kind. tt came cheaper. too. for all the
/ convenience But if he has worked OF
a dead bird on Billy Bryan. Billy will
pack this old case straight back 10 the
shOp-yes. that young man had better
be on the high road for Australy wher
Billy gets there himself"
'Oh. no. cried Vida; Ill is lovely. II
is too-too good. But-but-you are tol
thoughtful FOR me-too kind. 1 never d,
anything.
Not bit not bit. honey; sit v,
down on the corksSTew seat with the but
ton on the top and Just make the ma.
chinery MARBLE once in a way. ThatI
pay for an,'
BY this time Vida had come forward
holding her breath lest with the smaIles
noise on her part the whole would vanisi
away like a dream 4 know Il isn't one.
she said softly. as if 20 herself but II /.
just Hike dream. And il a BrOadwOod
4 real Broadwood."
'Yuss." said the now relieved Billy
mo narrow wood for me- l got il a.
broad as / could sGord In the stan,
up kind. The lying down sort wouIC
have stuck out at the front door. an,
part way down 20 Kirktown, Besides
there would have been no place for Wis
itors, except perhaps underneath. Well
now. just think o. old Dick there an,
that young giant out Of a travelling me
nagerie playing house under BiIly's piano
That would make a cat laugh let alon.
a poor old ligh usman that never see,
but the scarts and the sea-fowl 10 laugl
at. This is a good time, Billy. nv bhOy
ie never saw better"
And Vida. happily turning over tn,
music, sat down and softly from beneatl
; her fingers came the first notes o
Grieg's Midsummer Night on the Moro
FJord." The men sat entranced Sh
played with the instinct Of melody. he
head thrown back and her body swayin,
slightly; SO we'll indeed. that Billy. still
suspicious. bent and looked beneath.
Fax, was thinkin' that little gintle
man in the pretty riuglets had passe,
. OF on me the machinery pianno ate
air
But The Wearing OF the Green" an
Kitty of Coleraine" brought the tear
running in warm spate down his Irsl
cheeks. Billy was speedily treasured tina
; he had not been deceived. Also that
, so far as the 'Broadwood' WAS concern
ed, his money was we'll spent. He went Z
! bed that night feeling that however goo
r It might be TO dream OF youth and beauty
TO the trip and purr of well-oiled ma
; chinery up in the Skerry Light, Dick, hi
, mate. had the best of II, with Vida al
ways before his eyes bringing music on
Of the new piano in the little colt. e
near the Glebe End gate of the grea
CORN House properties.
After Vida had been induced 10 leav
the keys and shut down the cover wit
the delicious sound of eXquisitely fittin
rosewood, which went to her heart sh
said goodnight. And Billy explained I
Dick that he might count himself yer
lucky. Moreover. he was a selfish, IN
thankful old man. and II was full tim
that he Billy Bryan. left the lighthous
ing and-married Vida himself
WhereupOn Old Dick Finnan pointed GU
that having endowed Vida with mis- nam
and adopted her as a daughter such
connection was clearly impossible accord
ing TO the tables which ne would find a
the beginning of the Bible, as well as foI
hidden by the laws OF his country.
Besides. Dick added, pointedly, I'd
I've really think now, Billy, that the youn
lass would take up with a scrawny oil
salt herring like you?'
Billy scratched his head for a minute
first on one side and then on the Other
and looked sorrovful But ne did no
give way.
There may be something in what 20
say as to the law" he retorted, but q
p to your suggestion that she wouldn't hav
me because Of my personal appearance.
A scorn it, Never woman yet that
asked to marry me that ever refused me.
Then you took good care not 10 as
any at all" said old Dick, picking up hi
candle and shutting of up stairs. Com
TO bed, Billy; young maids like Vida ar
not for you and me, except just to loo
'after a bit till the proper man come