Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-08-11
BILLY THE BORE.
He Was Very Different From the
Poet and the HaIfback.
BY TEMPLE BAILEY.

There was no denying that Billy was
not deeply intellectual. He was tall
and blond, with broad shoulders and
a smile that was like sunshine on a
gloomy day. But among the girls of
the college these qualities counted for
little. for they worshiped Mt the shrine
OF the poet and of the halfback. The
poet had long hair. and SO had the half
hack. but otherwise they had nothing
I'm common except that they both loved
Dulcie Drayton.
Billy loved Dulcie too. But he hadn't
half a chance, for the poet wrote SON.
nets to Dulcie's eyebrows. and the half
hack 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 graciously one Oc-
tober day. "only we mustn't go very
far. for have an engagement with the
halfback."
..AlI right" said Billy and promptly
forgot his watch.
The halfback was raging when they
finally reached Dulcie's home. 1--WE
have missed the game" he said. "Of
course II l had been playing couldn't
have waited; but. as 1t is. have hung
around
"Bnly forgot his watch" Dulcie apol-
ogized. "and we didn't realize how late
1t was"
IT should think he would bore you to
DEATH" the halfback said when Billy
had left them. How can you stand
that felIoww
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
ooh. we'll" intentionally and won.
dered If 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. land I wanted you to
sit out those last two in the conserva-
tory with me. I had a new poem to
read to you. 1t was about young Oc-
tober's golden eyes. and 1t is dedicated
to you
"Read 1t to me now" said Dulcie.
I'D love to hear It."
"The atmosphere isn't right" the
poet fretted. mot here on the campus.
but last night there was a little moon,
and there were red roses on the lat
tice."
"Blly Is an awfully good dancer"
Dulcie reflected, which, as the poet
generally got tangled up even In
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, land calls 1t soft spun silk
shimmering In the sunshine"
II don't see the use of stringing out
a lot Of shimmering sunshine SEN
fences when your hair Is too beautiful
to be described" said Billy bluntly.
Dulcie smiled up at him. After
all. like the way you put 1t. Billy"
she said. land I'm glad you like the
color of my hair"
Il love it." Billy stated. land l love
you, Dulcie."
"Oh. oh. you mustn'tw Dulcie pro-
tested
Well. not now. II you don't want me
TO- but | 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"
Il 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,
out he does say some nice. sensible,
good hearted things, and he has
lovely smile"
The intimate friend sat up and look
ed at her. well, 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 as the poet and the halfback is
more than l can understand"
But are they really in love with
me!' Ducie demanded.
They have asked you to marry
them, haven't they?" Marion asked.
Yes. But somehow it seems to me
tnat they are always thinking OF them
serves. But Billy thinks Of me-"
oh,' Marion said softly, Il know
~hat you mean. If you married the
poet or the halfback you would have
70 worship at their shrines. while Billy
would wOrShfn OF you're "