Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1910-03-24
BILLY THE BORE,
He Was Very Different From the
Poet and the HaIfback.
Ey TEMPLE BAILEY.

Press
There was no denying that Billy was
not deeply intellectual He was tall
and blond with broAd shoulders aud
smile that was like sunshine on a
gloomy day, hut among the girls of
the college these qualities counted for
little. for they worshiped ut the shrine
of the poet and of the halfback. The
poet had long hair. and so had the half
back but otherwise they had nothing
in commons except that they both loved
Dulcie Draytoa
Billy loved DIlcie too. But he hadn't
half 4 chance. for tine poet wrote son.
nets 10 Dulcie's eyebrows. and the half.
bnck let her shine in his reflected foot
ball glory.
Now and then she consented to make
Billy happy Yes. | will walk with
you" she told him graciously Que De
tober day. only we mustn't 60 very
far. for have an engagement with the
hafback'
"All right" said Billy and promptly
forgot his watch
The halfhnck was raging when they
finally reached Dulcie's home. We
have missed the game.' he said. "Of
course If | had been playing | couldn't
have waited: but. as 1t is. have hung
around
BILLY forgot his watch Dulcie apol-
ogized. "and we didn't realize how late
ii was
Il should think he would bore you TO
death" the halfback said when Billy
had left them. How can you stand
that fellow"
He's 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 grunhlhg and growing. said
"Oh. we'll" uncomfortable and won
dered If Dulcie was hitting Mt him.
\ few days later the poet took
Dulcie 70 task about Billy. "You
danced with him four times hast
ni"ht" he said and | wanted you 10
sit out those last two IN the conserva-
tory with me. had new poem Ia
read 10 you. II was about young Dc.
| tober's golden eyes. and IL Is dedicated
10 you.
"Red il 10 me now" said Dulcie.
I'D love to hear il
"'fhe atmosphere isn't right the
poel frcttrd 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 awfully good dancer"
Ducie reflected. which MS the poet
generally got tangled up even in a
twostep. was moi tactlul.
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.
spare moment Of Dulcie's time TO read
them to her.
HE writes about ny hair" she told
Billy. land calls it soft spun silk
shimmering in the sunshine
II don't see the use of stringing out
a lot OF shimmcring 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 it, Billy"
she said. and I'm glad you like the
color of my hair"
II love it." Billy stated. and love
you, Dulcie."
"Oh, oh, you mustn'tw Dulcie pro
tested.
well, not now, if you don't want me
to, but l shall tell you again, Dulcie,"
Billy answered.
And he WILL" Dulcie told her most
intimate friend that night. He viii
ask me over and over again"
We'll. Of course you couldn't marry
him" said the intimate friend calmly.
mot such a bore"
Il am not sure that Billy deserves
tual UlCkHdDlSi Sdlu DuiGle. lie
doesn't talk moonshine like the poet
or bras Of himself like the halfbuck
but he does say some nice. sensible,
good hearted things. ana he has a
lovely smile"
The intimate friend sat up and look
ed ut her Well, of all things, she
said Il believe YOU are half IN love
with him How you can think of him
when sou have the choice Of two such
men rs the poet aud the halfbuck Is
more than can understand
"But are they really in love with
me- bubi" demanded
They haye asked you to marry
them. haycn't they Marion asked
"Yes But somehow it seems to nv
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 haIfback YOU would have
to worship ut their Shrines while Billy
would worship at yours"
Yes" said Dulcie. that's 1t. and a
man whe loves You that way can't
exactly bore you. can heE
NO. he can't" said Marion. but Of
course you can never ten how long