The Democratic advocate., 1909-07-23
BILLY THE BORE.
He Was Very Different From the
Poet and the HaIfback.
BY TEMPLE BAILEY.

back, but otherwise they had nothing
m common except that they both loved
Dulcie Drayton.
Billy loved Dulcie too. But he hadn't
half chance, for the poet wrote SON.
nets to Dulcie's eyebrows, ana the half
back let her shine in his reflected foot
ball glory.
Now and then she consented to make
Billy happy "Yes. l will walk with
you.' she told him graclously one Oc.
tober day. only we mustn't go very
far, for have an engagement with the
halfback"
can right said Billy and promptly
forgot his watch.
The halfback was raging when they
finally reached Dulcie's home. I'VE
have missed the game" he said. "0f
course II had been playing couldn't
have waited; but. as It is, have hung
around
'Bllly forgot his watch" Dulcie apol-
Sgized, "and we didn't realize how late
Il was"
81 should think he would bore you to
DEATH" the halfback said when Billy
had left them How can you stand
that fellow"
Hes not bad" Dulcie defended "of
course he hasn't such an awful lot OF
brains. and he hasn't done such won
derful things as you have. but he's got
an awfully good disposition"
And the halfback, remembering his
Own grumbling and growing, said
"Oh, we'll" uncomfortably and won
dered II Dulcie was hitting at him.
A few days later the poet took
Dulcie to task about Billy. you
danced with him four times last
night" he said. "and ! wanted you TO
sit out those last two in the conserVa-
tory with me. had new poem to
read to you. II was about young 0c-
tober's golden eyes. and It Is dedicated
to you"
"Read Il 70 me now" said DulcIe
I'D love TO hear H."
"The atmosphere isn't right" the
poet fretted, mot here on the campus.
but last night there was little moon.
and there were red roses on the lat
tice."
''Billy Is an awfully good dancer"
Dulcle reflected, which, as the poet
generally got tangled up even In a
twostep, was not tactful.
For several days after that, how
ever. the rivalry between the poet and
the halfback was so intense that Billy
was left completely In the back
ground.
The poet sat up half the night writ.
ing verses, and the theme was love.
love. love-" and he claimed every
spare moment OF Dulcie's time TO read
them to her.
"He writes about my hair" she told
Billy. "and calls II soft spun silk
silmmering In the sunshine
II don't see the use of stringing out
n lot OF shimmering sunshine SEN
tences when your hair Is too beautiful
to be described" said Billy bluntly.
Dulcie smiled up at him. After
NIL. like the way you put IL, Billy"
saie said, "and I'm glad you like the
color Of my hair"
81 love It," Billy stated. "and love
you. Dulcie."
"oh, oh, you mustn'tf Dulcie pro
tested.
"Well, not now, IL you don't want me
10. but l shall tell you again, Dulcie."
Billy answered.
"And he will." Dulcie told her most
intimate friend that night HE will
ask me over and over again"
"Well, Of course you couldn't marry
him." said the intimate friend calmly,
mot such a bore"
II am not sure that Billy deserves
that nickname" said Dulcie HE
doesn't talk moonshine like the poet
or brag of himself like the halfback.
but he does say some nice. sensible
good hearted things, and be has
lovely smile"
The intimate friend sat up and look.
ed at her. We'll of all things" she
said; Il believe you are half In love
with him. How you can think Of him
when you have the choice of two such
men MS the poet and the halfback Is
more than | can understand"
''But are they really In love with
me?' Dulcie demanded
'srhey have asked you TO marry
balem. haven't they?' Marion asked.
"Yes. But somehow II seems TO me
that they are always thinking Of them
selves. But Billy thinks Of me-"
"Oh." Marion said softly, Il know
what you mean. II you married the
poet or the halfback you would have
to worship at their shrines. while Billy
would worship at yours"
Yes aaid Dulcie. that's II, and Il
man who loves you that way can't
exactly bore you. can heT'
'No. he can't" said Marion. but OF
course you can never tell how long
1t win last"
Sometimes have thought should
like to put them to test as ladies' did
iYith the knights Of old" Dulcie medi.
tated.
"But what test" Marion demanded.
''could you have in modern daysY'
'In the old times 1t was test Of
strength and skill" Dulcie stated. "but
today there Is one god, Marion--monc
You know | have lot in my own
right. And the boys know II. all bf
them, the poet and the halfback and
Billy. Perhaps that is what makes me
the most popular girl In school-my
money. not just ne myself"
you are daFiing," Marion eneOur-
aged her, "but gou know how men
are"
"Yes. do" Dulale agreed. And they
then and there constructed plot.
The next night the poet, lingering In