The Washington herald., 1912-10-13
He COMES UP SMILING s. eazzlEz SHERMAN

his fingers. Il suppose she will givs
| me the double Cross"
81 hope So" answered Bartlett. I'm
II not very particular, but. a tramp
"a gentleman pedestrian" suggested
the Watermelon. with faint hicked oi
his usual sublime. arrogance.
Bartlett laughed and held out his
hand. well, good-by. I've enjoyed the
week immensely, for all this rotten end
ing. That scurvy trick of yours"
"Of yours" corrected the Water
melon.
Yes, yes, l suppose so. I hope that
Henrietta won't ever know. Do you
think Billy does?"
Billy isn't is simple as YOU think,
returned the Watermelon.
What did she say?"
Father suggested the trip and he
telegraphed after dinner, or something
like that
You didn't tell her it was my plan?'
begged Bartlett. Il have to 60 on liv-
ing with her"
mo, l didn't tell her. but she's next
to the fact"
Il will speak to her." said Bartlett
hastily 81 wouldn't like Henrietta to
find out about it. Billy has wanted a
motor boat for some time. / may give
her one"
They walked slowly toward the door
and once more shook hands.
Il would gladly have given the thou
sands l have lost to have you Bachelor,
boy" said Bartlett gently.
"Aw. thanks" said the Watermelon.
Tell the others l will be around
when l have sent another telegram"
The Watermelon found Billy sitting
on the steps of the only hotel in town.
1t was a big, square, uncompromising
affair, blank and unattractive, and Billy
alone on the top step, looked somehow
small and forlorn and childlike. The
Watermelon sat down beside her.
Where's Henrietta?" he asked, ig-
noring her eyes and the question they
asked
Up stairs" said Billy, fixing up"
She raised her hands to her own soft
hair and bit her lip to get up courage
to voice the question her eyes had al
ready asked.
Where's the general:" asked the
Watermelon.
Billy nodded backward. IN the of
fee, trying to convert the landlord. The
landlords democrat. you know"
Come and walk down the road with
me a bit." asked the Watermelon. He
rose and held out his hand to help
her up.
Billy rose with 4 trembling laugh
that failed miserably in its manifest
attempt to be brave.
1t was late afternoon, sweet and cool
as they left the village behind. The
deep quiet of the last of the day was
over fields and woods and road, the
heat and strenuous business of the
morning done. Cows were slowly me
andering across the pastures to the
familiar bars. empty teams ratified by
on the way home. the driver bumped
contentedly over the reins. thinking of
the days bargains and of the supper
waiting for him. The shadows were
lengthening. long and graceful across
the village green.
Neither Billy nor the Watermelon |
spoke until they had left the village
some little way behind and had come
to four crossroads with the usual small
dingy schoolhouse, door locked. dirty
shabby, faded blinds drawn.
face that the interview with her father
had been far from satisfactory. She
feared that the Watermelon has not
stood up" for himself. that her speak
ing to her father that morning had not
helped matters as she had hoped it
would. She tried to think of something
to say that would influence the boy,
something she could do to show him
how she cared, so he would not think
of leaving her. The Watermelon was
silent, for, now that the hour of parting
had come, he did not know what to say,
could not bring himself to leave her,
gay, foolish. light-hearted Billy.
He. however. was the first TO speak.
The schoolhouse recalled miserable
days of long dull confinement. and he
nodded toward it, pausing in the grass
by the wayside "A standing monu-
nent," said he. TO buried freedom"
81 never went to school," said Billy
1t must be awful"
Awful" the Watermelon shrugged
ITS taken ten years from my life.
Schools should be abolished
They sat down on the tiny. weather
stained step, side by side, in the gather
ng dusk
Billy, began the Watermelon ear
,estly. and then stopped. l.
Poor little Billy's heart huttered and
he put her hand to her hair in her ner-
'ousness You know" she said firmly,
rrelevantly, Il love you. jerry" Ii
Il know, dear replied the Water
melon. And / love you. No matter
where / am, Billy, no matter what hap
,ens, you are the best in me and
will keep you best I'm shiftless, lazy. ,
10 count, but Billy. kid. I'll always
owe YOU II
"And We will get married and live ,
lappily ever after" crooned Billy.
I'm going away tonight, Billy, back h
0 the road
"Oh. Jerry. please. dear. If father ,
new how much l care"
mo, Billy, your fathers right. He ,
aid to give you time; for me to 60 T
way for while and maybe you would a
et-over it."
And if l did," demanded Billy. "if ,
loved another, wouldn't you be jeal-
us? Wouldn't you kill that other, {
eroboam Martini She clenched her
mall fist and pounded him on the knee S
, emphasize the passion in her voice
'If he were a decent chap" stam- S
lsred the Watermelon, 1T would be b
etter for you"
ITS terrible" interrupted Billy, r
when the girl has to do all the low
,g." She pushed the hair out of her Z