News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-04-09

did not question how he came there,
only rushed out to him with the glad
ness in her eyes, the joyous smile on
her parted lips. He had said he would
come, and there he was. Further she
did not question. Their eyes met
over the heads of the people, eager
questioning in his, joyful answer in
hers.
Hastily he dropped the pup with
/ the sky-blue bow upon the wharf
among the plebeian feet there assem-.
bled, and reaching Billy's side through
the crowd, grabbed both small hands
and stood laughing down at her.
Billy" he whispered, ooh, you
! Billy"
There was, there must be some ex
PLANTATION, Bartlett told himself des
perately. 1t could not be that this
was not Martin? Bartlett had not
slept with the youth for nearly a
week without being pretty familiar
with the long lank form, the thin
careless face. And it was equally i'm
possible that the forlorn piece of hu.
mainly who had stood that afternoon
in the drawing-room and inquired, for
Billy was not Martin. They were one
and the same and once more he and
Billy had met on equal footing. To
ask the boy again to get drunk was an
absurdity.
81 suppose I can give him a job
where he won't have much more to do
than draw his pay" thought Bartlett,
hopelessly, dazedly.
The Watermelon dropped Billy's
hands and turned to her father in
well-bred greeting, but their eyes met
and in the Watermelon's was grim de
fiance. He had seen Billy again and
nothing could part them now. All his
humility and repentance had gone
and in their place was his old-time
arrogance and sublime self-assurance
Fate in the form of a little white dog
had brought him and Billy together
again, with the Watermelon, still
clean, still well-dressed, and to all out
ward appearances the same as the
other gay youths of Billy's acquaint.
ance.. With head up, jaw shut, he
scorned to lower himself for anyone.
He would prove himself worthy, not
unworthy of Billy. Out of his repent.
ance had grown his manhood He
was no nameless hobo of the great
army of the unemployed. He was
Jeroboam Martin, son of the late
Rev. Mr.. -1artin, in temporary finan.
cial embarrassment that could be soon
remedied. He would work for Billy
and they would be happy on his
wages. He drew himself up and held
out his hand. Bartlett could take ii
or not as he pleased. The Water
melon had sought or desired no mans
favor, and Jeroboam Martin would not
stoop to do So
For one second the two stared al
each other grimly, square jaws shut
lips unsmiling, then Bartlett's hanG
shot forth and he. clasped the Water
melons.
"Ah, Martin" said he, "how ara
you, boy?"
And still holding him by the hand
he patted the Watermelon on his arm
jovially. After all /he liked the boy
and right or wrong, wise or foolish
fate was against any other action
fate in the form of a halfdrowneC
poodle dog.
The Watermelon rested his arm Oh
Bartlett's shoulder with boyish affec |
ton. Say, Bartlett" said he in low
voice, 81 got drunk, honest to rights
But it was so blamed hot, l cooled of |
in the ocean before knew what l was
about and that sobered me up again |
Then l saw something fall from the |
yacht and l thought it was a kid from
the noise they were making, not just |
pup. l swan out to help and OF
course they hauled me on board, and |
now the widow is planning to marry
me-"
Bartlett roared "Say, boy, er-er |
you need a loan until I can
see about that job for you"
Once more their eyes met and this
time in complete and tender accord.
you're all right" whispered the
Watermelon, his face softening. "And
don't you worry about Billy" he add.
ed, "I'll take care of her."
THE END