Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1914-06-24

ne, however, was C00 uTSt 10 Spcdn-
The schoolhouse 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, ito buried freedom"
Il never went to school," said Billy.
cit 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. II love you.
| Jerry"
II know. dear" replied the Water
melon. "And l love you. No matter
where | am. Billy, no matter what hap
pens, you are the best in me and
viii keep you best. 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"
ooh, Jerry, please, dear. If father
knew how much 1 care"
mo, Billy, your fathers right He
said to give you time; for me to go
away for a while and maybe you
would get-over it,"
"And if / did," demanded Billy, eff
l loved another, wouldn't you be
jealous? Wouldn't you kill that other,
Jeroboam Martini" She clenched her
small fist and pounded him on the
knee to emphasize the passion in her
voice.
IF he were a decent chap" STAN
mered the Watermelon, "it would be
better for you"
tits terrible" interrupted Billy,
when the girl has to do all the low
ing"
you only love me, but / love you.
| See the difference?" asked the Water
melon. tits simply impossible for
your love to be as great as mine for
that reason, Your father said l 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
/ RI
boam Martin, when will l not carer"
The Watermelon flushed and rose
as 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 I will be your lady, and
no knight ever went back on his lady,
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. BILLY.
Billy" he cried, will you be true to
me, for ever and for ever, no matter
what happens, no matter what / 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 love you"
Love never yet stood between a
man and the whisky BOTTLE" sneered
the Watermelon. you don't know
men, kid"
He let her go and turned away with
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 it.
"Cross-cuts for. me-" he explained,
holding out his hand. She placed
hers in it and he crushed her small
fingers until they hurt, then turning
abruptly, left her there among the
brambles, watching him across the
bars.