The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-18

"Yes, but I didn't hurt the kittens" plained Billy. "They got mad bout t a little fun and scratched each her. I didn't s'pose they'd act like nat And l didn't pull the turkeys ail. I ist Held on to the first thing
 rabbed and the turkey pulled. Hon. st, it was the turkey pulled" He turned to Sinton. "You tell her. Didn't the turkey pull? didn't know | it's tail was loose, did 1T'
 "I don't think you did, Billy" said Sinton.
 Billy stared into Margaret's cold face. Sometimes at night Belle sits on the floor and lay my head in her lap. I could pull up chair and lay my head in your lap-like this, l mean" Billy pulled up a chair, climb ed on it and laid his head on Marga- ret's lap. Then he shut his eyes again. Margaret could have looked little more repulsed If he had been a snake.
 Billy was soon up. "My, but your lap is hard" he said. "And you are a good deal fatter 'an Belle, too" He slid from the chair and came back to the middle of the room.
 "Oh, but I wisht my pa wasn't dead!" he cried. The flood broke and Billy screamed in desperation. Out of the night soft, warm young figure flashed through the door and with swoop caught him in her arms. She dropped into chair, nestled him closely and dropped her fragrant brown head over his little bullet eyed red one and rocked softly as she crooned over him:
 '.Billy, boy, where have you been?
 Oh. I have been to seek wife.
 She's the joy of my life.
 But, then she's a young thing. and she
 can't leave her mammy!
 Billy gripped her with death grip. Elnora wiped his eyes, kissed his face, swayed and sang.
 sDo you love me tight as that" he questioned blissfully. "Yes, bushels and bushels," said El- nora. Better than any little boy in the whole world"
 Billy looked at Margaret. "She don't!' he said. "She don't want me here t all"
 Elnora smothered his face against her breast and rocked. "You love me, don't you?' he said.
 "I will if you will go to sleep"
 Every single day you will give me your dinner for the bologna, won't youy' said Billy "Yes, I will," replied Elnora. "Bu, you will have as good lunch as I dt after this. You will have milk, eggs chicken, all kinds of good things, little pies and cakes, maybe" Billy shook his head. 'T am going back home soon as it is light" he said "She don't want me. She thinks Tn i bad boy. She's going to whip me if he let's her. She said so. heard her. Oh, wish he hadn't died. want to go home." Billy shrieke6 1 again. Mrs. Comstock had started to wall slowly and meet Elnora. The girl ha6 1 been so late that her mother reached
 the SiDton gate and came up the patt until the picture inside became visible
 ElnOra had told her about Sinton talk ] ing Billy home. Mrs. Comstock hat some curiosity to see how Margaret
 bore the unexpected addition to hel family. Bflly's voice, raised with ex
 citement, was plainly audible. She
 could see Elnora holding him and heal
 his excited wall. Sinton's face was
 drawn and haggard and Margaret's
 set and defiant. A very imp of per
 versity entered the breast of Mrs. Com
 stock and danced there. 1 "Hoity. toityr' she said as she sud denly appeared in the door. "Blest ii ever heard man making sounds like that beforew
 | Billy ceased suddenly. Mrs. Com stock was tall, angular, and her hail
 was prematurely white, for she was only thirty six. though she looked fifty But there was an expression on hel usually cold face that was attractive just then, and Billy was in search o1 attractions.
 "Do you like boys" he questioned
 eff there is anything I love it is a boy" said Mrs. Comstock assuringly Billy was on the floor. "Do you like dogs?"
 "Yes, almost as we'll as boys. I an going to buy a dog just as soon as can find good one.'' Billy swept toward her with whoop Do you want boy?" he shouted Katharine Comstock stretched out her arms and gathered him in. "Of course I want boy!' she re- 1oiced.
 Maybe you'd like to have me?" of. fered Billy.
 Sure would" triumphed Mrs. Com atock. "Any one would like to have