Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-07
BILLY AND BIlLY-O.
BY Fl. 7. CONSTOCK.

| anu perfectly devoted TO edCn OtheF. Their
| names were William Devan and William
Owen, but OF course they were both called
| Billy. Then to distinguish them a brillan.
young aunt suggested that Billy Owen
| should be Bily-O and thus was every diff
! fculty solved
Bilys and Billy-Os hearts beat as one
I They went to the same school, dressed
| alike and took turn about with Christmas
| trees and always went to the same places
during the summer.
| Now 1t was on one of these summer vaca-
| tons that Billy and Billy-O struck upon
| the rock that nearly shattered their devo-
| ton. It does not seem very complimentary
| to call Miss Helen Day rock, though more
| than one adm:rer had called her brick,
| but it was she who nearly wrecked Billy
| and Billy-O. She was at the hotel where
! the boys with their families went one sum-
| mer. She was twenty-five and perfectly
| beautiful-in the eyes of the cousins. She
| had freckles and bewitching little turn-up
| nose, but they Ike freckles and aspiring
| noses. There were several other young la
| dies at the hotel, but Billy and Billy-O
| cared for but one Now 1t Billy who
! first saw the danger ahead, and with sweet
| humility and cousinly generosity he tried to
steer Billy-O away from danger.
"Billy-O,' he said one day. as they sat
Lwrigglng their toes in the water from the
|
| pretty?"
Il think she is-is-heavenly." Billy-O
| exclaimed, without moments hesitation.
| But not as pretty as Miss Nancy, do you
| Think?
Pretty as Miss Nancy? Huh, Miss
| Nancy ought not to look in her direction.
| But I'm glad you like Miss Nancy best, for
| then We shall not quarrel about Miss
| Helen.
! This was a staggerer. and Billy looked
at Billy-O as he never had before, and he
| braced himself for prompt and decided ac-
| ton.
who said liked Miss Nancy's looks bet
| ter? And If you think Biiy-O, that you
are going to have things all your own way
| you'll find out your deadly mistaker
Billy-O listened to this masterful speech,
recognized the odor of battle and said slow
| ly and comprehensively:
oh come off,
That was the challenge and the boys be-
came rivals from that moment. 1t amused
Miss Helen. Girls Of twenty-five cannot
fathom the jealousy of a little boy of ten.
When Billy asked her to walk to the village
for soda water she went. and when she saw
Billy-O glazing from the piazza she called
back: "I'Il go with you tomorrow even
| tns!' Then Billy took to glaring and Billy
O's hope rose.
treat Billy said softly. munching the gum
drops that were Miss Helens donation to
the expedition: Miss Helen. do you like
warts?'
Miss Helen looked at the beyish face be-
side her and laughed.
why. no: 1 Ioathe them.'' she replied.
they make me feel lumpy.'
"BillyO has two warts on his right hand,
| inside He tries to hide them. but he's got
them
Miss Helen kept silence for a moment.
then spoke gently:
Wouldn't you like to have them cured? ~
she asked. An awful battle arose In Billy's
heart. then his answer came truthfully but
disappointingly:
Nom
"Oh! Billy Because. you see. 1 know Of
something that would cure Billy-Os warts
and make him happy"
The moon went under a cloud just then
and hid her face from a shamed little boy
and an amused young lady.
But Billy was q gentleman, and remorse
smote him sore about IL o'clock that night
and he stole into Billy-Os room. That
abused young gentleman was sleeping the
innocent sleep of the Just with his mouth
wide open and his hands tossed open over
his head. Billy saw the warts and his
heart gave sickening thud. He had be-
trayed Billy o. Had betrayed his own bet
ter nature. He knelt down beside his cousin
and tears. real honest. MOTTO be- ashamed
of-tears. fell upon BillyO's breast
"Billy-o:" the words rang into the boyish
dreams and he smiled. ''Billy-O. wake up
wake up. Twelve got to tell you some
thing" Billy sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Fire?" he gasped
NO" Billy whispered. warts"
Billy-O clasped his hand quickly.
II am q bR-btg-beast" Billy went
on: but 1 told her-you had them. And
she loathes them-and 1 said didn't want
you cured. but that was a ib and-and-she
knows something that will cure them, and
-and-when you go for your walk you bet
ter ask her."
Billy-o saw through the dark and villain
Gus plot. but he had great heart, and his
old love and trust in Billy was deep and
true. after a pause. he said:
You're a trump. Billy! I guess most
give In" Billy took the diluted praise with
thankful hoart.~
And" Bnly-o proceeded while she and
l are talking about warts. we won't be talk
ing about anything else"
Billy saw the comfort in this and CRATE
fully wiped his eyes on Billy bedspread
and stole away. a better and a wiser boy.
hliy-Os warts we're cured The rivals
still laid seige to Miss Helen's heart but
they did not resort TO mean methods-every-
thing was open and above board-and so
showed what they could do in the matter
OF color and glory. Then Billy ruined q
new suit by falling In a bog while getting
enough goldenrod and asters for Miss
Helen to have decorated a town.
Now. I must have some autumn leaves"
said the young lady, who was quite hidden
then to return for autumn leaves: besides
he felt that he would rather meet his
mother at once and in the privacy Of her
bedroom. She was often inconsisten t about
new suits and boys, so he damply disap-
peared. Then Billyo scored point Away
he went and up to the wood he sped. And
there with ruthless and unfeeling hands
he uprooted young sapling that was
b!ushing prettily as young saplings should
In the presence OF its elders who were
praising It,
Homeward ran Billy-O dragging his
splendid prize after him. The dust flew
along the country road The shining leaves
were covered with CRIME. but Billy-O saw
only triumph in the future.
No one was about when he reached the
house. They were all upstairs-dressing for
dinner Through the hall and up the stairs
rushed Billy-O. and there was noise be-
hind him like the noise of many waters.
He pounded on Miss He'en's door, and
she. thinking that nothing short Of a
calamity had occurred. opened 1t hastily.
There. red and perspiring. stood Billy-O.
beside the fallen infant of the forest.
For you he gasped. with my iove!"
What would have happened between Miss
Helen and him BillyO was never to know
for just then the proprietor of the hotel
came upon the scene with look of law
and order in his eye.
III you we're my Loy!' he Numbered Inn |
politely. I'D hide you"
You cannot possibly understand.' Miss |
Helen broke in.
ln hat Shok