The Irish standard., 1913-03-08
He Rose In Drunken Majesty

He Rose In Drunken Majesty.
button. while the panama was shape
less and colorless. but worn with the
familiar jaunty ease.
"Ah." said Bartlett. "Jeroboam Mar.
| tin"
He smiled as one who meets an old
congenial friend. for Jeroboam Martin
had shown fine capability for get
ting out of tight place and carrying
through desired project with sue
cess and nerve. and Bartlett had
grown to like the lad.
Am bum enough?" asked the
Watermelon, with no answering smile.
you are fairly dirty and shabby"
agreed Bartlett. "You look thin.
| Il have had hard luck" said the
Watermelon. "How's Billy"
Pretty well, thanks"
Expecting me?" asked the Water.
melon, taking off his hat and gently
patting his back hair as he had a way
Of doing. 80 y
Bartlett nodded. Yves, but not 'ex.
actly as you are"
Its tough on the little girl" NUT
tered the Watermelon. He sank into
a chair and stretched out his long legs
with the wcather-stained trousers and
dirty. broken shoes. ooh, mamma.
I'm tired. Been hoofing it since sun.
up yesterday with hardly stop. /
wanted to see the kid so."
well. go and get drunk" returned
Bartlett. "And then you can see her"
1
here. don't drink. necessarily. I'm
not n brand to be plucked from the
burning, sheep strayed from the
fold. The whisky bottle wasn't nv
undoing and didn't make me take tc
the highway. I'm not fallen. l was
always down. l guess. l hate work
like leisure and time to develop nv
own soul" He waved his hand in airy
imitation of James.
That's all right" said Bartlett,
But get drunk. II she can stand Won
soused. she can stand you sober. She
has got to know what she's getting,
IL she decides to take you after ALL"
The Watermelon's tired face grew
a bit winter under the tan and beard.
He shrugged hopelessly and rose "All
right, If you say so. l hope to hell II
will kill her love on the spot and she
won't suffer for 1t afterward. I sun
pose 1t will" He started for the doc,
and paused. one hand on the knob
"shall have it on you" he asked
with smile. I'm broke"
Bartlett tossed him bill. us that
enough?"
"Yes." said the Watermelon and
slipped 1t into his pocket.
"Have one with me before you co."
said Bartlett, pushing glass and the
bottle across the table. .
The Watermelon filled his glass and
raised it. ITO Billy" said he.
ITO Billy's happiness" amended
Bartlett.
Maine is prohibition state, but the
Watermelon had been there before
and knew just where and how to OBJ.
tain what he was looking for. With
the bottle in his pocket. he sought, the
beach and made his way up 1t to some
secluded place where he could drink
in peace and out Of the heat Of the
sun.
As the day advanced. the sun crept
around the headland until It streamed
unchecked upon the Watermelon,
sprawled, drunk and warm and dirty
in the lee of the rocks. The combined
heat Of the sun and the poison he had
in him, called by courtesy whisky,
grew unbearable. and he rose in
drunken majesty to find some cooler
place. The sun would soon have
thrown long shadows on the beach.
but the Watermelon could not wait
for that. He must get cool at once.
and in the waves splashing, gurgltns.
laughing. breaking at his very feet.
he found a suggestion. Where could
one get cool If not in the sea itself?
A steam yacht far away like streak
OF white. was seen creeping slowly
landward, but the Watermelon did not
trouble about such thing. He began
% undress. solemnly, stubbornly, with
The one thought to get cool.
. .
The yacht. Mary Gloucester, was .
gay little bark, all ivory white and
shining brass work. A brightly striped
awning covered the deck, there were
large, comfortable chairs, with many
colored pillows and ribbons and
chintz, and daintily arranged tables to
assuage ones thirst and offer cooling
bodily comfort on hot day.
The Mary Gloucester was named
after poem Of Kipling's, and her
owner was explaining this fact en-
sconced gracefully. If solidly, In
many-cushioned chair, her feet bit
awkwardly on the rest before her,
fan in one hand and small, fat,
white .Solly dog on her lap. his fore
feet on the railing. his mouth open