Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-08
CHAPTER xi.

CHAPTER xV.
Whsrein Mrs. comstoek and Mrs. Sin.
ton Clash over Billy.
@llNTON sat still. At last Billy,
III tired Of the swing, came to him
and leaned bis slight body
" against the big knee.
Am / going to sleep herer' he asked.
Sure you are" said Sinton.
"where can he sleep?" he asked Mar.
Bnret.
I'm sure / don't know" she an
swered.
"Oh, I can sleep ist any place." said
Billy, ION the door or anywhere. Home
sleep on pas coat on a store box. and
Jimmy and Belle they sleep on the
store box too. l sleep between them
SOS l don't roll of and crack my head.
Amt you got a store box and a old
coat7"
sinton arose and opened a folding
lounge. Then he brought an armload
Of clean horse blankets from q closet.
These don't look like the nice white
bed a little boy should have. Billy" he
said, but we'll make them do. This
will beat a store box all hollow"
Billy took q long leap for the lounge.
When he found 1t bounced he proceed
ed to bounce until he was tired. BY
that time the blankets had to be re-
folded. Wesley had Billy take n end
and help, while both Of them seemed
to enjoy the Job. Then Billy lay down
and curled up in his clothes like a little
dog. But sleep would not come. FL
nally he sat up. He stared around rest
9essly. Then he arose. went to Sinton
1nd leaned against his knee. Slnton
picked up the boy and folded his arms
around him. Billy sighed in %rapturous
content.
That bed feels so lost like" he said.
Jimmy always jabbed me on one side
and Belle on the other, and so I knew
! was there"
Bully slid from Sinton's arms and
walked toward Margaret until he
reached the middle Of the room. Then
he stopped and at last sat on the floor.
Finally he lay down and closed bis
eyes. This feels more like my bed;
II only Jimmy and Belle was here to
crowd up a little so it wasn't so alone
like"
Wont I do, Billy?" asked Sinton in
q husky voice.
Billy moved restlessly. Seems like
seems like-toward night as II a body
got kind o lonesome for a woman per
son-likc her."
Billy indicated Margaret! "You
don't like boys, do youT" he ques
toned.
II like good boys" said Margaret.
"Well, say, I'm a good boy" he an
nounced joyously.
II do not think boys who hurt help
Jess kittens and pull out turkeys tails
>re good boys"
yes. but I didn't hurt the Kittens
explained Billy. They got mad bout
list a little fun and scratched each
other. I didn't s'pose they'd act like
that. And I didn't pull the turkeys
tail. I list held on to the first thing
grabbed and the turkey pulled. Hon
est, It was the turkey pulled" He
: turned to sinton. you tell her
Didn't the turkey pull7 didn't know
Its tail was loose. did r.
II don't think you did. Billy" said
Einton.
Billy stared into Margaret's cold
face. Sometimes at night Belle sits
on the floor and I lay my head In her
lap. / could pull up a chair and lay
my head in your lsp-like this,
mean" Billy pulled up a chair, climb.
ed IN 1t and laid his head on Marga-
Fet's lap. Then he shut his eyes
again. Margaret could have looked
little more repulsed IL he had been q
snake.
Billy was soon up.
my. but your lap Ia hard" he said
"And you are a good deal fatter an
Belle. too" He slid from the chail
and came back to the middle Of the
DON
"Oh. but I wisht my pa wasn't
dead" he cried. The Hood broke and
Billy screamed in desperation.
Out Of the night a soft, warm youne
ngure flashed through the door and
with . swoop caught HIM in her arms
She dropped into a chair. nestled hin
closely and dropped her fragrant
brown head ovcr his little bullet eyed
red n and rocked softly az abe
srooned over him:
'Billy. boy. where have you been7
Oh. I have been to seek a wife.
Shes the Joy Of my life.
But. then. she's q young thing. and sh'
can't leave her mammy!'
Billy gripped her with a death grip
Elnora wiped his eyes, kissed hls face
vwayed and sang.
~Do you love me tight as thatT hi
questioned biissfully.
Yes, bushels and bushels" said Ell
cora. Better than any little boy II
tho whole world"
Biliyiooked at Margaret. "She don'tr
be said. "she don't want me here y
ILL.,"
Elnora smothered his face against
Der breast and rocked.
"You love me. don't your he said.
~ will II you will go to Sleep"
EVERY single day you will give m,
your dinner for the bologna, won'
your said Billy.
""Yss. I will." replied Elnord. "Bu
you win have as good lunch 40 I d.
after this. You will have milk. eggs
chicken. all kinds Of good things. littl'
pies and cakes. maybe"
nillv ahook hia hand 1T am roin,