The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-04-21
Tie Case of Billy Waginn

On tho voice. noticed the bitter look In the
young face.
II don't believe can come tonight"
the young man added I've an engage
ment."
"Uh, nonsense, Billy. Unless, of course
your engagement is with Margaret"
Potter felt the young man vince.
"All right I'll go. I guess my engage
ment'n keep"
jana San, Potters Japanese butler, put
a bottle of Scotch and smoking tools on
the table in the library. The two filled
pipes, and Billy Maginn lay back in big
Morris chair with an effectation of ease.
/ AS Peter Potter watched the red reflection
of the fire playing on the boys face, he
caught that clear resemblance to the long
dead mother, which never failed to stir
the tenderest memories in his own afro
phied heart For this was the boy who
might have been-should have been, he
never failed to feel-his own son. Now
Billy was In deep trouble, and tho Pri-
vateer recalled his promise, made Just
before Mary Magnn died, twenty-four
years ago, that he would look after and
care for the baby boy who was left be-
hind.
BILLY" he said, whats the natter"
TITS nothing" said the boy IN stubborn
confusion.
"Have you quarreled with Margaret
Billy?'' Peter Potter persisted.
Billy Maginn clutched the arms Of hds
chair.
Miss Winters has broken our engage
ment," he said slowly, speaking with the
terrible solemnity of the very young.
Just for an instant the shadow of a Gym
ical smile played around the corners OF
Peter Potter's eyes. "Shes discovered she
doesn't love you eh?" he said sharply
"She does love me- Billy answered de-
family. That's the hard part of It,"
Peter Potter said nothing He stood per-
fectly still. staring at the speaker with
half closed eyes through cloud OF to-
bacco smoke.
This afternoon I got a note from Mar
garet. She wanted to see me- I went
over when the bank closed. When she
came into the room I hardly knew her
What on earth's the matter, Madge?'
as..ed, walking across to meet her She
backed herself up against the wall as
If she were afraid of me. I'm going to
break our engagement she said. L don't
love YOU
For a second I felt like laughing. Then
| saw that the poor little girl was all
keyed up to the swapping point. She was
tearing lace curtain to pieces with one
hand. l could hear it rip.
Don't try to argue with me-, she
went on, while stood like a gawk. My
NINA IL Hlaue up. II all oNti pctWctn
u.s. / can't explain. | don't love you.
There were big, black circles under
her eyes and her lips were all twisted up
" Madge, dear / said. for I could see
she was deadly serious. though 1t sound
ed like a piece from the stage, you might
as well tell me the truth
at don't love you, and our engagement
ds broken. she repeated like parrot.
never taking her eyes off me. Then she
backed out OF the room. In the doorway
she nodded her head to me and said
Goodby. Billy
81 called after her, but she had gone.
Her father came in a minute later Poor
old man! He looked all worked up too.
He tainted down at the bank yesterday.
Mr.. winters l said, you know what
Margaret has just told me?'
Yes he answered without sitting
down. Under the circumstances she could
do nothing else