The Washington herald., 1912-09-22
1f. COMES IJP ,1MJI.IN(r BY CHARLES SHERMAN


Billy was talking, grooming her COM
fort with the maternity latent IN all
women for the men they love; Doni
you see, Jerry, there is God! Think
Of what you did for your mother, think
Of how proud she was OF you when
you did so well. BY sheer grit you
have made yourself what you are You
are tired and blue to-nigh, poor ole
boy"
The Watermelon was not listening
He took roll of bills from his pocket
and counted them. Billy watched him
in perplexity. Was he worrying owe,
money, she wondered. One hundred
and seventy-four dollars left He had
not had an opportunity to spend more
of that roll Of bills Of which he had be-
trayed a woman and lowered his man
hood to steal. He crushed the bill:
back into his pocket and rose
I'VE had better so back" said hs
shortly. It's late"
They found Henrietta and Bartlett
on the front porch, talking IN low
voices, oblivious to all else. The gen.
eral had long since sought the doubtful
comfort of the country bed for city
boarders.
Billy held out her hand to the Water
melon, a little ceremony she had here
tofore neglected, wishing in her tende'
heart that she understood his strange
mood better and could comfort him.
Good night" said she gently.
Good night" said the Watermelon.
Henrietta rose. Il didn't know it wa:
L.. WI DILL, n atr1 rpr7iOo with
you. Good night, all"
Bartlett followed the girls, but at tht
door he stopped and glanced back a
the Watermelon, standing on the gras:
by ,he steps.
Better come to bed" said he.
The Watermelon nodded abstractedlI
and Bartlett went in, leaving him ou
there alone
Without thinking of Billy other thar
as a pretty girl with whom to firt
moved BY the mischief of the moment
he had placed her father financially a
the mercy OF his enemy. And now tc
right the wrong to Billy, the only thinf
he could do would be TO tell them who
he was, a tramp, masquerading witt
decent people in his stolen finery. Pett,
thieving, the sharp tricks OF the road
had passed quickly from his conscience
but this was different A woman hac
been thrown into the bargain, the WON
an he loved, and Henrietta and the gen
eral trusted him. Bartlett deserved al
he got, and Bachelor he dismissed witt
the comforting conviction that he wa!
doing him a good turn. But Billy. Hen
rietta and the general! A wry smil'
twisted the Watermelon's mouth as h
thought of the horror on the general:
face when he learned that he had spen
the week in the company of name
less hobo. For a while he contemplated
hurting away the watch along with thu
rest of the hardware" and stealing
away in the dark, hitting the trail agsir
and catching up with Mike and jane
on their annual pilgrimage north. hi
drew the bills from his pocket ant
thought of all Bartlett would lose II HI
crept away without explaining, ant
Bartlett was Billy's father.
He heard a step on the porch ant
turned to see Billy hesitating in th'
doorway. Jerry" she whispered soft
" and glanced rbehind her as thougi
| fearful OF seeing her father or Henriett;
peering at her over the banisters.
He went toward her, the bills still II
his hand. Billy" said he, thrustint
the money into his pocket, what ar
YOU doing at this time of night? Ant
he looked down at her tenderly in tn
dark where the hall lamp could not re
veal his face
Billy hesitated. She had seen the bill
again and knew that he was worried
To worry over money matter was al
unknown experience to Billy. She tel
a delicacy in mentioning her errand:
I'LL came to see If the moon hat
set" she fahered.
ITS set" said the Watermelon.
We'll" said Billy. then l will g
back"
Good night" said the Watermelon
Good night" said Billy, and fingered
Then she laid her hand on his arm
and spoke in a rush. "Oh, Jerry, pleas
don't worry. If you want any money
father has heaps. You can have all yo'
want"
The Watermelon drew bit nearer
Billy. Billy" said he softly.
Il think it must be terrible to worI,
about money" Billy hurried on. 1T
not worth it"
I'm not worrying about money
kid" said the Watermelon with laugh
Il have bunch. What made you thinl
I was?"
Twice tonight you've counted you
money"
"Esau's bowl of pottage," sneered tn
Watermelon, turning unconsclously t
the old familiarity with the Bible. Say
Billy, if he found he didn't like his pot
tage, could he give it back and get HI
birthright again?"
Billy blushed. She was not sure VIII
Esau was. In dim way she remem
bered the name and vaguely ASSOCIATED
it with the Bible. Couldn't he hav
gotten something else?" she asked jude
iciously. ar,
NO" said the Watermelon. H
had nothing more TO sell"
What did he SELF"
His birthright-for mess OF pot
tage.'
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