The Washington herald., 1912-09-22
CHAPTER xIv--Continued.

CHAPTER XlV-Continued.
He felt her slender body, soft and
yielding. nesting against him; smelt
the fragrance Of her curly hair, and
suddenly great tide OF longing OF
passion, of desire, welled up in him
ana ehoked him. He wanted to crush
her to him, TO cover eyes and hair with
kisses, to hold her SO tightly that she
would cry for release All the ungov-
erned feelings of the past few years
surged over him and threatened to car
ny both forever out of sight Of land
and oecency. But, blindly, not know
ing what be did, he turned from her
and picked up a stick to hurl at the
cow. She had turned to him in her
fear, and with the honor OF his clerical
father he controlled himself.
Billy laughed and Strengthened up,
as the cow, grieved and surprised.
backed off in the dark. "Im not afraid
of COWS, Willie" said she Don't you
know it: She jus; come so suddenly
] was startled"
Yes" agreed the Watermelon, duly.
So was /. Why did you cali me
Willie?" -
Short for William, and William is
your name, goose. Don't you remem-
Der your own name" crooned Billy.
leaning toward him in the dark
Yes, surely" said the Watermelon.
But ] hate my name. Call me Jerry.
That's what the boys call me-"
He did not add that his name was
Jeroboam Martin. He being the sew
enth young Martin to arrive, his dis
49, he .
Tor help in names IS well as in ;he
more vital necessities.
Jerry" laughed Billy, questioninsly.
Yes" said Jeroboarn. gravely. and
added, abruptly. Lets go back"
They turned and retraced their steps.
Billy all a-thrill with she knew not
what, singing a foolish little song be-
meath her breath, the Watermelon star
ing angrily before him. denying hotly
to himself what would not be denied
that he loved Billy. He loved her, not
as he had loved other women, not as
careless, lazy tramp, taking what CT
tered, good, bad, or worse, with airy
indifference, but as the son of his poor,
virtuous mother and of his gentle. rev.
erend father would love and cherish
the one woman.
But who was he to love like that?
The past few years had branded him as
a thing apart from Billy. He tried TO
think it out, but the blood pounded i'll
his temples and he could not think,
could only know that he loved he:
more than he did himself, with a love
stronger than the mad passion and
longing for her that :hrobbed n his
pulses like leaping fire. The knowl-
edge had come so suddenly, ne was So
unprepared. that he could not reason
it out, could only know that Billy musr
never dream of such a thing. A COM
panion of Mike and James, who was he
TO talk of love to Billy? God!
His head moved restlessly as though
in pain, and his hands, unconscicusly
jingling the keys in his trousers pock-
e:s, clenched tightly Billy swayed
against him in the dark and straight
ened up with laugh and smothered
yawn.
-t"Oh, law" said she, I'm tired
so am l." said the Watermelon,
moodly.- Tired of living"
DO You know" said Billy. u was
just thinking that death might not be
so awful, just to close your eyes and
drift out into space, on and on and on"
" would be darned sight better
than living" answered the Watermelon.
Hell would be preferable beg your
pardon"
Aren't you well?" asked Billy, anxi-
ously. AS for me, never really want
to die unless | am feeling perfectly
we'll"
Henrietta and Bartlett strolled up as
they approached the cars, where they
found the general pacing up and down
@l I'd ind,
ton and anger.
1t seemed Alphonse had long ago
taken his rug and pillow and retired to
the edge of the woods and slumbcr.
Left alone, the general had lighted a
cigar and was walking slowly back and
forth in front of the cars, waiting for
the others to return, when buggy,
with two men in it, passed, the horse
shying a bit and the general offering
his assistance and advice To his Sir
prise, they had not gone by more than
three yards when they stopped, tied
the horse. and came back on foot.
First" said the general, as the four
gathered around him in the light of
the car lamps, FIRST l thought they
were hold-up men. The lamps on my
Car had gone out, and they did not see
ii; thought that there was only one
car, so there would not be many to de-
fend it; besides, was the only one
they had seen. and doubtless they sur
missed l was alone and they could have
held me ur easily"
Father" cried Henrietta, what did
you do?"
Before ! could dc anything, they
asked me the make OF my car. l told
them. They said it didn't look like a
Packard, and ] saw that they were
looking at Wills car and hadn't seen
mine, back near the wall and with the
lights out. l pointed 20 it, and said
that was my car. They seemed sur
prised to see two cars. l told them
my name, gave them my card, and told
them l was motoring to Maine with a