The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-01-25

one who belongs to you?"
Father used to say that relatives
were an affection, and he supposed
man had to have Affections to make
man of him, but If he had had any
influence with Providence. he would
have preferred not to be man."
who was your fatner?" asked
Billy.
"A minister" answered the Water
melon. clasping his hands behind his
head and staring up at the interlaced
boughs overhead. "A country minis.
ter. He used to say that there was
Just one thing in this world more pitt.
full than country minister, and that
was his wife,"
Why" cried Billy. "the papers said
he used to be policeman"
II thought you didn't read the pa
pers?"
II don't. Just the Sunday supple
ments," said Billy frankly. as one to
whom his intellectual development il
Of minor importance.
The Watermelon wheeled over with
a laugh and caught her hand. "Hans
dad!" he exclaimed. "Where'd you
get your name?"
He drew himself up on the loa
beside her. as near as he dared. He
wanted to put his arm around the slim
waist, but decided that he had better
not.
She jerked her hand away and
laughed, her small nose wrink.ed, the
dimple coming and going. Don't yol
like IT."
"Sure. It's classy all right But
what is the long Of it?'
"Wilhslmina. Dads 10 William
Just like yours. We're all Billies."
milne amt William" sneered tn,
Watermelon, edging a bit nearer.
Her eyes opened and she stared IL
frank surprise. But the papers Say
1.-The papers lie faster than cam
said the Watermelon, land that's
fairly speedy" He had only an hour
and he did not care what she thought
between him and the papers. "Billy
ia a darned cute little name, and q
cute little GIRL" he added.
II guess you can liz faster than the
papers," said she.
II can when I want to-" admitted
the Watermelon. Father used to say
that man that couldn't lie was fool
and one who wouldn't, bigger"
II should think If your father was
Billy severely.
II know. But he used to say he
had to in business way. To tell q
man that there was bigger hell than
this earth was a lie on the face Of It"
"Why?"
because there couldn't be, he used
to say"
DON'T you believe in Heaven?" de-
manded Billy.
Sure" said the Watermelon.
What do you think it's like7" asked
Billy.
"A watermelon PATCH" said the Wa
termelon promptly. Just when all
the fruit is ripe. Don't you think so?'
II think it's an ice-cream counter"
said Billy.
NAV. Heaven ia a grove Of trees
| back Of white garage. There's a
fallen log and couple sitting on it.''
II should think that would be mo.
notonous." said Billy. do they TALK
"Sure they talk. Heaven amt a
deaf and dumb asylum"
II should think they would get
talked out during eternity"
"Ah." said the Watermelon, leaning
a bit nearer, eternity is but a min.
ute."
What do they talk about7s
"Heaven."
"Are they angels?"
Zone u.s."
Billy laughed. who are you?" she
asked. leaning toward him. one hand
resting on the log between them. her
steady eyes on his face.
The Watermelon again drew forth
the card case. extracted q card and
presented it to her with a flourish.
Holding. 1t, she shook her head du.
biously. VI mean are you a stock.
broker? Are you on Change? Fa-
Their has been nearly all his life, and
he looks 1t. His eyes and-everything.
Your eyes are different, quite differ
ent. don't mean in color and size.
for of course they would be, but in ex-
preston"
"How do you know" asked the Wa
termelon. you have only seen their
expression when have been looking
at you, and man doesn't look at q
girl as II she were the tape from the
ticker"
II know" acknowledged Billy. But
! have known brokers all my life, and
some have been young, and they-they
aren't like you. never sat on log
with one and talked about Heaven"
"Well. you see, am minister's
son, and I had Heaven with every
meal. as 1t were"
Maybe that's It," agreed Billy.
| A stick snapped behind them as
though some one were approaching
their retreat with stealthy tread un-
| der cover of the friendly bushes.