The Irish standard., 1913-03-08

that the hour OF parting had come,
ne did not know what to say. could
not bring himself to leave her, gay,
foolish. light-hearted Billy.
He. however, was the first to speak,
The schoolhousc recalled miserable
days of long dull confinement, and he
nodded toward it, pausing in the grass
by the wayside. "A standing monu.
ment," said he, "to buried freedom"
II never went to school," said Billy:
ut must be awful"
Awful" the Watermelon shrugged
TITS taken ten years from my life
Schools should be abolished"
They sat down on the tiny, weather
stained step, side by side, in the gath.
ering dusk.
Billy" began the Watermelon ear
| 'nestly, and then stopped.
Poor little Billy's heart fluttered and
she put her hand to her hair in her
nervousness. you know" she said
firmly, irrelevantly, "I love you,
Jerry"
Il know, DEAR" replied the Water.
melon. "And love you. No matter
where am, Billy, no matter what hap
pens, you are the best in me and
Will keep you beet. I'm shiftless, lazy,
no count. but Billy. kid. I'll always
love YOU"
And We will get married and live
happily ever AFTER" crooned Billy.
I'm going away tonight, Billy, back
to the road"
"Oh, Jerry, please, dear. II father
knew how much / care"
NO. Billy, your fathers right, He
said to give you time; for me to 60
away for a while and maybe you
would get-over it."
! And II did," demanded Billy, III
l loved another, wouldn't you be
Jealous? Wouldn't you kill that other,
Jeroboam Martini" She clencbed her
small fist and pounded him on the
knee to emphasize the passion in her
voice.
III he were a decent chap" STAN.
mercd the Watermelon. cit would be-
better for YOU"
Its terrible" interrupted Billv,
when the girl has to do all the low.
Ing" She pushed the hair out of her
hot face and stared angrily before
her. across the road.
| You only love mo, but love you,
See the difference?" asked the Water
! melon. Its simply impossible for
| your love to he as great as mine TO,
that reason. Your father said I could
come to you the last of August at
Westhaven, and I'm coming. Billy"
And then we can marry, did father
say that?" asked Billy. turning to him,
| IF you care STILL" muttered the
Watermelon.
Care" Billy laughed the contrary
to merry scorn. Care? Why, Zero.
boam Martin, when will 1 not carer"
The Watermelon flushed and rose
us the wisest course under the cir.
cumstances. I'm off. Say good.by to
the others for me. will you. Billy?"
| You Will be my knight" whispered
Billy. "And will be your lady, and
no knight ever went back on his ladv
yet. Jeroboam." ~
you've got darned poor knight .
grunted the Watermelon. Suddenly he
turned and caught her in his arms
dragging her to him and forcing back
her head to see into her eyes. "Bilry
Billy" he cried, will you be true ia
me, for ever and for ever, no matte,
what happens, no matter what I do +;
Could you. will you love me always?"
always, always" whispered Billy.
DIRTY, drunk"
DIRTY and drunk and sick and al
ways" promised Billy. only you
won't drink. because l love you"
Love never yet stood between q
man and the whisky BOTTLE" sneered
the Watermelon. "You don't know
men, kid"
He let her go and turned away with
a shamed laugh. "Good-by, Billy"
"Good.by. Jerry" replied Billy,
frightened at she knew not what.
realizing that there were after all
things in mems lives of which she
knew nothing. She walked with him
to the fence and watched him swing
over 1t.
"Cross-cuts for me-" he explained
holding out his hand. She placed
hers in 1t and he crushed her small
fingers until they hurt, then turnins
abruptly, left her there among the
brambles, watching him across the
bars.