The Dolores star., 1914-03-20

sSNhsrs's tssasistsa." Ne Ashst.
whom ] have sent another telegrsm.s
The Watermelon found Billy sitting
IN the steps Of the only hotel IN
Iown. II was big. square. uncom.
promising AFFAIR. blank and unattract.
I've. and Billy. alone on the top step,
looked somehow small and forlorn
and chiidlike. The Watermelon at
down beside her.
Where's Henrietta!" he asked. n.
norins her eyes and the question they
asked.
rup-stairs." said Billy, fixing up..
where's the generaif" asked the
Watermelon.
Billy nodded backward. In the Of
nee. trying to convert the landlord.
The landlords democrat. you know
Come and walk down the road
with me . bit!" asked the watsrmel.
on. He rose and held out his hand
o help her up.
Billy rose with Q trembling laugh
that failed miserably in its manifest
attempt to be brave.
Neither Billy nor the watermelou
spoke until they had left the village
some little way behind and had come
to four crossroads with the usual
small. dinsy school.house. door locked.
dirty windows closed for the summer
and shabby. faded blinds drawn.
RiIIv knavs frr,rn ~ -
face that the interview with her "a
Their had been far from satisfactory
She feared that the Watermelon had
not stood up" for himself. that her
speaking TO her father that morning
had not helped matters ~ she had
hoped It would. She tried to think
OF something to say that would inisu.
ence the boy. something she could Do
to show him how she cared. 20 he
would not think Of leaving her The
Watermelon was silent. Tor, now
that The hosr of parting had come.
he ID not know what % cay, could
Mt bs1ne tfmssif q" lowe -nsr. ny,
foolish. hght-hsarted BILLY.
He. however. vas the nrst to speak.
Tbs schoolhouse recalled miserable
days Of long DUH confinement, and he
nodded toward II. pausing In the grass
BY the wayside. "A standing monu.
ment." said be. TO buried freedom"
= never went TO school," said Billy
1T must Be awful"
Awful" the Watermelon shrugged
ITS 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.
sring dusk.
billy" began the Watermelon ear.
nestly. and then stopped.
Poor little Biliy's heart nuttered and
she put her hand to her hair IN her
nervousness. you know" she said
firmly. irrslsvantly. II 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 ]
VIII kssp you best. I'm shiftiess. lazy,
no count. but Billy. hid. IN always
love you"
And We win get married and live
happily ever aftss." croonsd Biiiy.
I'm going away tonight Billy, hack
70 the ruaA."
"oh. Jerry. please. asas. II father
knew how much ! care"
NO. Billy. your fathers risht He
said to give you time; for me 70 no
away for Q while and maybe you
would get-ovsr H."
"And n ! did," demanded p,Ily. III
] loved another. wouldn't you b
1salousf Wouldn't you kiii that other.
Jsroeoam Martini" She clsnchsd her
small ast aad pounded hin On the
knee To smpAasiss Tie passion N her
voics.
III b were . decent chap STAN.
mersd the watssnsloa. ''tt would b.
bsttsf for yous
sit's terrible" intsrruplsd Biliy.
when the sisl has 70 @ an the jov.
Ing" She pushsd the hair out Of her
hot faes snl stassd aAgrily before
Der. across the Rad.
-Yoa only love ne. bot ! love you.
Be- the diRsrsncsS- asksl ths water.
melon. "1ts sinply impossible Tor
your love = - - great q nias Tor
that reason. Yess father sasl I could
cone - ~ H. let q August q
wseensvea. an1 n coming. BiIiy..
"Ane Tia ws eaa Marty. ~ father
say ehatf" askel nilly. tuSnins % hin.
II yoa ere seill" 0utesesA ths
wafosmslea.
~cars." Dtlly lausAs1 ~ eestrury
% merry seosn. ~Carss WY. Jsre.
boam Martin. vhsa YIN I ~ careS-
The Watssnssoa 1ushs1 ~ rpss
- u wiseee eeerus unlss ~ a.
euastanesa N -. 0ay oso1.ey d
the eeAsss - - vi1l ~, nellyS~
svoa u1u - ~ hnlGhAs vh1eoeeel
billy. sAal ! vin - yoar laly, ~
- hnlone sves sent - = m ~.
~. Seseooao.s