The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-07
THE EVENING STORY
Billy the Bore.
(By TempIa BaiIer.

10y Temple Ba1ley.)
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
Tor little: for they worshiped at the
shrine of the poet and of the half
back. The pet had long hair. and so
mad the halfback, but otherwise they
had nothing in common except that
they both loved Dulcie Drayton.
Billy loved Dulcie, too. But he
hadn't half a chance. for the poet
wrote sonnetS to Dulcies eyebrows
and the halfback let her shine in his
reflected football glory.
Now and then she consented to
with you she told him, graciousIy,
one October day, only we mustn't go
very far, for L have an engagement
with the halfback."
All right said Billy, and prompt
~ forgot his watch.
The halfback was raging when
they finally reached Dulcie's home.
We have missed the game" he said.
or course, If I had been playing I
couldn't have waited; but, as it is, I
have hung around
BILLY forgot his watch" Dulcie
apologized, and we didn't realize
It 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
wonderful things as you have-but
he's got an awfully good disposition"
And the halfback, remembering his
own grumbing and growing, said,
oh. we'll" uncomfortabIy, and won
dered if Dulcie was hitting at him.
few days later the poet took Dull
Gle to task about Billy. you danced
with him four times last night he
said, and l wanted you to sit out
those last two in the conservatory
with me. I had new poem to read
to you. 1t was about young October's
golden eyes-and it is dedicated to
you"
Read it 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.''
BILLY is an awfulIy good dancer"
Dulcie reflected, which, as the poet
generally got tangled up even in a
two-Step, 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.
1HS poet Sat uD HdlI the night WITH
ing verses, and the theme VIZ 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 it 'soft-spun silk
in the sunshine"
Il don't see the use of stringing out
a lot of shimmering sunshine SEN
fences, when your hair is too beauti-
full to be described" said Billy blunt
Dulcie smiled up at him. after ALL |
like the way you put it. Billy" she |
said, land I'm glad you like the color |
IF my hair"
Il love it," Billy stated. land love
you, Dulcie."
"Oh, oh. you mustn't" DuIcie pro-
ested.
well, not now if you don't want
ne to, but 1 shall tell you again, Dull
,ie," Billy answered.
And he WILL DuIcie told her most
friend that night. He will
lsk me over and over again."
well, of course, you couldn't mar
y him. said the intimate friend,
,almly, mot such a bore"
Ct am not sure that Billy deserves
hat nickname" said Dulcie. He
DOESN'T talk moonshine like the poet
,r brag of himself like the halfback,
,ut he does say some nice, sensible,
sood-hearted things, and he has a
ovely SMILE"
The intimate friend sat up and
ooked at her. We'll, of all things"
owe with him. How you can think
f him when you have the choice OF
wo such men as the poet and the
alfback is more than 1 can under
tand."
But are they really in love with
ne ?" DuIcie demanded.
"They have asked you to marry
hem. haven't they?" Marion asked.
Eyes. But somehow it seems to
ne that they are always thinking Of t
oh Marion said, softly, Il
now what you mean. If you mar
led the poet or the halfback you
yould have to worship at their shrines
7hile Billy would worship at yours"
YES" said Dulcie, that's it-and
man who loves you that way can't
xactly bore you, can he %
mo, he can't said Marion, "but
f course you can never tell how long ,
will last"
Sometimes have thought should
Ike to put them to a test-as ladies .
id with the knights of DID," Dulcfe
But what test?'' Marion demand t
d, could you have in modern !
ays?"
trength and skill,' Dulcie stated, 7
but today there is one god, Marion
honey. You know I have a lot in r
~ own right. And the boys know it, q
IL of them, the poet and the half
ack and Billy. Perhaps that it what =
lakes me the most popular girl in 8
money, not just me, my 7
elf"
you are a darling" Marion en-
outraged her, but you know how
len are"
YES, I do" Dulcie agreed. And
hey then and there constructed a
lot.
The next night the poet, lingering I
the shadow of the elms, was met
y Marion. When they had talked
~ q moment she said. ..Isn.t IL sad