The St. Mary banner., 1909-05-22

1 tess gracious welcome at once perceIv-
| ed Dolly careering about with little
| soldier boy. Seeing them, she stopped
| her youthful warrier in midcareer and
came laughing and painting up to them
| Billy did not catch the quick smile OF
| welcome she gave him before she greet
| ed Alwyn, but with a bitter pang he
| saw Alwyn's impressive greeting, her
| answering gayety. and turned away.
Il th-think I'll go and smoke" he said
to himself sadly
Alwyn had only done himself justice
when he told Dolly their steps fitted to
| nicely They danced three waltZes
together occasionally catching
glimpse of Billy's downcast face ap-
pearing and re-appearing among the
whirling couples. "Oh, do look" said
Alwyn, jeeringly, as Billy brought his
partner by main force ont of the frying
pan of a dowager's lap into the fire of
the second fiddle, who and whose fiddle
subsided with a mutual screech into a
galaxy of ferns and flowers. Poor
Billy! he should have more respect for
all the dowagers' toes tucked in like
crabs when he comes along" Dolly
laughed and Billy emerging breathless
with an irate partner from the midst
Of the band felt a keen pang strike
through his honest heart as he heard
it. "Ah, well!" he thought YEARLY,
what does anything matter now? I'll
c-cut all this to-tommy rot and go
shooting somewhere"
Poor Billy, indeed! His eyes invol-
UNFAIRLY filed as he saw his friend lead
ing Dolly toward secluded alcove, and
he thought of his chance of happiness
But then Alwyn's just the sort of fas.
cinating chap the girls like; wouldn't
have b-been in it anyhow" he thought
mournfully.
That dance came to an end, and the
next, and still there was no sign of the
satisfied Alwyn. Billy's dance with
Dolly was the next on the program, and
he desperately resolved to break in
upon Alwyn's love making. After all,
he'll have her all his l-life," he said,
80 my five minutes c-can hardly
c-count"
AS he expected he found Dolly lean
ing back on the settee in the alcove
above the stairs, but to his astonish-
ment she was alone.
Excuse me, Miss Kitcat," he said,
abjectly, "b-but l thought Alwyn was
with YOU"
Dolly turned rather tired little face
toward him. "Mr. Romaine was here"
she said, simply, "but he has just gone.
and I was about to come and look for
you. You cut my first dance, and you
haven't been near me the whole even
Ing. I'm very offended, and l won't
dance with you. as l have had quite
enough excitement this evening. But,
dear Mr. Billy, seat your CHEEKY self
here for bit and let me try and for
give you
Billy with puzzled look on his face
sat himself down at her side, and then.
turning his honest, manly face to hers,
he said firmly in a low voice:
'L-look here, D-Dolly-I may c-call
you Dolly once, mayn't I?-and as
you and Alwyn l-l-love each other, and
he and l are such old friends, shall
have to learn how
"But"-Dolly broke in.
"Hush!" said Billy, gently patting
her hand. 81 must say while c-cau
what I've c-cOme to say, and th-that is |
s,goodby, Dolly; so forgive me every
thing t-tonight-for c-care for you and |
sol am going away. II c-cant bear
to stay, b-but I'm SO p-pleased you're
going to marry such a c-clever and |
g-good f-fellow as Alwyn. It's g-good-
by, d-dear Dolly" said Billy desperate |
ly rising as he spoke. "I'll c-come back |
so-some day and stay with you b-both
and shoot the b-birdies." He stopped,
unable to continue, when Dolly ex-
claimed.
We'll, you and Mr.. Romaine seem to |
have settled my future nicely between
you. Mr.. Romaine has indeed proposed
to me, but, Billy she continued soft
ly. Il could never marry him, because"
She paused. Billy's heart stood still. |
"N-never marry him? Oh, know
poor old Alwyn's t-too b-badly OF, but,
Dolly, see here" he said timidly,
"d-don't be offended. but remember
you've adopted me as s-sort of broth.
er, haven't you? I'm beastly rich, in
f-fact, and it would be heaven flor me |
to help you b-both. Do-do let me.
Dolly Give me my little share in your
happiness. Do speak, Dolly! All, why
are Won crvipOo GCod lypou,, 7 3;do,& I
mean to offend you," he said, his voice
breaking.
Dolly pressed his arm. "Sit down |
again. Do. don't know why 1 cried |
but-you are such a good fellow Rillyn