The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-10-26

Biy ALL biiiyt A pad eBB.
Yes" said Billy. Father asked
you to 60 Why did he do that?"
The Watermelon flushed. why
err"
Father knew you we're an enemy.
He told me that you. Bachelor, |
mean, had made him lose a lot OF
money last week and would probably
make him lose more next week. May
be father thought as you did, that II
| you were out OF the city" she knit
tod her brows and gazed OF across
the valley. Father telegraphed Just
before we went to that place behind
the barn, right after dinner. | know,
for l saw him go TO the ONCE. Why
don't you tell me the truth, jerry"
God, Billy, amt l giving you the
straight goods?"
Not about father" replied Bart
let's daughter gravely.
'Why-er-he may have tele-
graphed-"
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, Jer-
ry, isn't your father minister"
Yes, that's straight He was poor,
dafned poor We were all poor He
used to say that a man with more
children than brains had no place In
the ministry"
L. should think that possibly your
father had brains" suggested Billy.
Yes" admitted the Watermelon
"Dut they didn't keep pace with the
children"
What happened to you all! Why
er-why couldn't you have worked at
something's"
she was gazing at him bewildered,
trying to get grasp on the new state
OF affairs.
Jaw. we went from bad to worse"
muttered the Watermelon sullenly.
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-
wara the ministry" murmured Billy.
endeavoring to express as politely as
possible her growing conviction that
the Reverend Mr.. Martin was not a
gcdly man.
Maybe not" agreed the Water.
melon. But when 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, I suppose, day after day,
?, like slaves in a galley, You know.
tried II. and every night l drank to
drown the damnable monotony and
stupidity of II all. SO, you see what
II am a, hum-a tramp.
And yourself, my love. my jerry
! Billy held out her hands and he
caught them and held them tightly
in both his own for a moment, then
dropping them, turned away with half
sob.
"Dont. Billy. Don't make 1t so
hard for me, dear. We can't marry
I'm filth and you're sweetness and
parity"
But other men have married. You
aren't the only one who isn't clean"
81 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 neve'
known life. You don't begin to know
wnat It means, / will probably marry
a girl from the streets, or one with no
brains and no soul. But, you see,
love you"
Billy's eyes t<azed You will never
marry any one else with me alive"
SAID she.
How could I marry you, dear?
have nothing-absolutely nothing. We
couldn't have home anywhere
I'VE 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 Wo-
man who loves and is fighting for her
happiness with every weapon at her
command.
.~fou can't make a home with moth
Ing to make it on" said the Water
melon.
"Ah. but we have something TO
make IL on" cried Billy I'VE have
lyou and me.
But no money"
why. Jerry. I have money; hun
dreGs. thousands, dear"
Bat the watermelon shook his head.
Money wouldn't be any good when
I'm rotten" said he.
Dear" croone Billy, and kissed
him on the chin, for she could reach
no higher.
BILLY" he groaned.
Tell me you love me, Jerry"
Tell YOU ! love you? All, sweet
heart"
Tell it TO me, jerry
billy, IFl0ve you so, that II there
is God, Elll. thank Him all my life
for this week and the thought OF you"
"You may not said Billy. when
we have been married year"
We can't marry, dear. Don't you
understand? | am tramp"
And so am l."
Your father will kick me out when
! he knows"
Its none OF my fathers business,
said Billy with saucy tilt OF her
small chin. Hes marrying whom
! he pleascs and shall do the same.
Wal; until | speak to him
/ NO" said Billy promptly. II will
4 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"
II promise. Billy kid
Promise you Wont say thing
Until / speak.
II won't say a thIng until ] can't
:, help. II. but what good will that do?
let's DC happy while We eaa. re-
TURNED R'lly. with pretty evasion.
we have one more day