The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-10-06


Father knew you were an enemy.
He told me that you, Bachelor, / mean,
had made him lose IA lot of money last
week and would probably make him
lose more next week Maybe father
thought as you did, that If you were
out of the CITY," she knitted her brows
and gazed off across the valley. Father
photographed JUST before we went to that
place behind the barn. right after din
ner. / know, for l saw him go to the
Office. Why don't you tell me the
truth, Jerry"
God. Billy, amt / giving you the
straight goods"
Not about father replied Bsrtlett's
daughter gravely.
"Why--er-he may have telegraph
ed"
Certainly, he did" said Billy. "This
whole trip was fathers idea" She
brushed the subject aside as one to be
returned to later. Tell me, Jerry isn't
your father a minister"
Eyes, that's straight. He was poor,
darned poor. We were all poor. He
used to say that man with more chill
dren than brains had no place in the
ministry"
Il should think that possibly your
father had brains" suggested Billy
YES" admitted the Watermelon.
But they didn't keep pace with the
children"
What happened to you all? Why
er-why couldn't you have worked at
something?"
She was gazing at him bewiIdered,
trying to get a grasp on the new state
of affairs.
saw. We went from bad to worse"
muttered the Watermelon suflen1y.
Father left the ministry. He used to
say that you could appreciate the glory
of the Almighty much better in a dollar
bill than in the Bible"
Maybe he had-er-no leanings to-
ward the ministry" murnured Billy,
endeavoring to express as politely as
possibly her growing conviction that
the Reverend Mr.. Martin was not a
cody man.
Maybe not" agreed the Watermelon
But when a mans down, every ones
down on him. Nothing father did
went right Ma died and the home
broke up-I don't know what's become
of all the others-working, | suppose,
day after day, like slaves in galley.
YOU now / tried it, and every night
| drank to drown the dannable mopot-
ony and stupidity of it all. So, you
see what | am, bum-a tramp"
"And yourself, my love, my Jerry
Billy held out her hands and he
caught them tightly in both his own
for a moment, then. dropping them,
turned away with half a sob.
. Don't, Billy. Don't make it so hard
for NE, dear. We can't marry. I'm
filth and you're sweetness and purity"
But other men have married. You
aren't the only one who isn't clean"
u know, but | love you. See? When
you love person. you don't make them
suffer for it You can't understand,
Billy, for you have never known life.
You don't begin to know what it means.
will probably marry girl from the
streets, or one with no brains and no
soul But, YOU see, | love you"
Billy's eyes blazed You will never
marry any one else with me alive" said
she
How could | marry you, dear? l
have nothing-absolutely nothing. We
couldn't have home anywhere"
1--WE can make home" pleaded Billy
She leaned toward him and laid her
hand on his arm, smiling into his moody
face with all the charm, the daring
the tenderness of woman who loves
and is fighting for her happiness with
every weapon at her command.
you can't make a home with moth
ing to make it on" said the Water
melon
''Ah. but we have something to make
it on" cried Billy. I'VE have you
and me-"
But no money"
why. Jerry, | have money; hun
dreds, thousands, dear"
But the Watermelon shook his head. |
Money wouldn't be any good when
I'm rotten" said he.
Dear" crooned Billy, and kissed him
on the chin, for she could reach no
higher.
Billy" he groaned
Tell me you love NE. Jerry"
Tell you | love you? All, sweet.
heart"
Tell it to me, Jerry"
Billy. love you so, that if there is
a God, | will thank Him all my life for
this week and the thought of YOU
You may not" said Billy, when
We have been married year"
I'VE can't marry, dear. Don't you
Pm a tramp"
And so am l.
> Your father will kick me out when
ne knows"
IT'S none of my fathers business"
said Billy with a saucy tilt of her small
hin. He's marrying whom he pleases
and | shall do the same"
Wait until / speak to him"
NO." said Billy promptly. Il will
speak, Jerry. Promise me that you.
won't say thing until We get to the
town where we can telegraph. Oh,
Jerry, my love, promise me-"
Il promise, Billy, kid"
Promise you won't say thing I'M
il I speak" =
Il won't say a thing until I can't
lelp it, but what good will that do?"
Let's be happy while We can" re-