The Detroit times., 1912-10-17

father was policeman" declared the
general.
"A policeman OF souls" said Henri
eta softly.
The general waved the sentiment
aside as immaterial How could he
have been a policeman and a min
ister?"
II can't say answered the Water
melon. and turned 10 help Billy with
a sardine can as the best way out OF
a tight place.
How is kissing the reverse OF
poker?" asked Henrietta, always
amused by the Rev. Mr.. Bachelors
remarks.
"A pair would beat royal flush, :"
replied the Watermelon.
Surely" persisted the general. III
your father were a minister"
The Watermelon looked up from
the key OF Tie tin he was laboriously
turning and glanced gently at the
general, his woman's eyes amused
and plying, the expression they al
ways wore for the general.
why, you see that Is Just what l
always fancied. He used to preach
and have a church-but II the papers
say he was a cop. he probably was"
IT'S a wise child that knows his
own father said Henrietta Come
10 supper everybody"
Bartlett spread the filmy paper nap
kin on his knees an2 taking the plate
Henrietta handed him. balanced 1t on
his lap with great nicely. He was SO
sure that the Watermelon was Will
lam Hargrave Bachelor that II never
occurred to him to doubt 1t. There
were the cards, the monogram on the
automobile and the general to vouch
for II. The papers were BIT wrong
Supper over, the general conceived
the sudden inspiration OF tinkering
while with the cars. Alphonse
stood by to assist and the others
wandered of down the road before
turning in for the night.
Billy and the Watermelon soon
drifted away by themselves up a tiny
COW lane, fragrant with sweetbrier.
They wandered up 1t side by side,
like two children, neither saying a
thing, content to be together. At the
eDd OF the lane, they leaned for
While on the pasture bars. The sui
t.iness Of the earlier part OF the even
ing had passed. The thunder was less
ominous and only sheet lightning, low
on the horizon, was visible. A breeze
cool and sweet, whispered by. The
flrefiies danced In gay little flashes
OF light among the shadows.
The two stood side by side, their
elbows on the top rail. their hands
before them, They said nothing.
There was nothing to say, just the
night and they two, alone, among the
lsweetbriers and the frefies.
Now and then Billy sighed, uncon-
sciously and happily. A great silence
had enwrapped Billy for the last two
days. silence In which she was con-
tent to dream and In which words
seemed superfiuous and uncalled for.
She wondered that Henrietta could
talk so much. What was there to
say? Billy had never been In love.
She wondered vaguely II the enfold-
Ing content. the longing for solitude
and her own thoughts we're forerun-.
ners Of approaching death. The good
ole young. and Billy felt that she was
content TO go. to drift away into the
eternal peace OF the after life. She
was not OF an analytical disposition
and she only knew that she was hap
py. causelessly happy. and did not ask
the reason. The watermelon stood
so closely beside her that once when
he turned she could smell the tobacco
on his breath. She wanted to rub
her head on his shoulder like q kit
ten. and wondered II she were grow
ing weak.minded.
Without warning the bushes at her
side parted and q COW with great
gentle eyes peered out at them, so
rear that Billy could feel the breath,
warm and sweet, upon her cheek.
With a little cry. she shrank close TO
the Watermelon.
He felt her slender body, soft and
yielding, nesting against him, smelt
the fragrance OF her curly hair, and
suddenly a great tide OF longing, OF
passion, OF desire welled up In him
and choked 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 ungoverned feelings OF the past
few years surged over him and
threatened to carry both forever out
OF sight OF land and decency But,
tiindly, not knowing what he 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 of in the dark. I'm not
afraid of COWS. Willie" said she.
Don't you know It? She Just came
so suddenly / was startled"
Yes" agreed the watermelon duh
~. SO was l. Why did you call me
Willle?"
Short for william. and William Is
your name. goose. Don't you remem-
ber your own name7" crooned Billy.
leaning toward him In the dark.
Yes. surely" said the Waterm elon.
'Rut hate my name. Call me Jerry.
That's what the boys call me-"
He did not add that his name was
Jercboam Martin. lie being the
seventh young Martin to arrive. his
distracted parents had turned to the
Bible for help In names as well as In
the more vital necessities.
jerry" laughed Billy question
ingly
Yes" said Jeroboam gravely, and
added abruptly, Let's 20 back"
they turned and retraced their
Iteps, Billy all athrill with she knew
not what. singing a foolish little song
haoaafh har hraath the Watarnaiov,