The Detroit times., 1912-10-29

like. The Watermelon sat down be-
side her.
Where's Henrietta" he asked ig-
noring her eyes and the question they
asked
! Upstairs" 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
already asked.
Where's the general?' asked the
Watermelon
Billy nodded backward. I'm the
office, trying TO convert the landlord
The landlords democrat, you
know"
i Come and walk down the road with
me a blt?" asked the Watermelon.
! He rose and held out his hand to help
her up.
! Billy rose with a trembling laugh
that failed miserably in its manifest
attempt TO be brave.
| II 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
Tthe morning done. Cows were SLOWLY
meandering across the pastures to
the familiar bars, empty teams rat
tied 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 we're lengthening long and
graceful across the village green.
Neither Billy nor the Watermelon
spoke until they had left the village
sorle little way behind and had como
to four crossroads with the usual
small dingy schoolhouse, door locked
dirty windows closed for the summer
and shabby, faded blinds drawn.
] Billy knew from the Watermelon's
face that the interview with her
father had been far from satisfactory
She feared that the Watermelon had
not stood up" for himself, that her
speaking to her father that morning
| had not helped matters as she had
hoped IL 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 Water
melon 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 school.house recalled miserable
days OF long dull confinement and he
nodded toward II, pausing In the grass
by the wayside. "A standing monu
ment," said he. Ito buried freedom"
II never&ent to school, said Billy
sfIt Yunaf ha a uffil
Awful" the Watermelon shrugged.
Its taken 10 years from my life
Schools should be abolished"
They sat down on the tiny, weather.
stained step. side by side, In the
gathering dusk. ~
Billy" began the Watermelon
earnestly, and then stopped.
Poor little Billys heart nuttered
and she put her hand to her hair III
her nervousness. You know" she
said firmly, irrelevantly, 81 love you,
Jerry"
Il know, dear" replied the Water
melon. And l love you. No matter
where l am, Billy, no matter what
happens, you are the best In me and
will keep you best. I'm shiftless,
lazy, no count, but Billy, kid, I'll al,
ways love you.
"And we will get married and live
happily ever after" crooned Billy.
I'm going away tonight, Billy, back
to the road"
"Ch, Jerry, please, dear. II father
knew how much / care"
mo, Billy, your fathers right. He
said to give you time; for me to go
away for a while and maybe you
would get-over It,"
And If I did" demanded Billy, IF
] loved another. wouldn't you be
Jealous? wouldn't you kill that other.
Jeroboam Martini" She clenched her
small fist and pounded him on the
knee to emphasize the passion in her
voice.
IF he were a decent chap" STAN