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


that it is only fair to the little girl
to let her see what she is up against. +"
Yes, see. l tried to tell her"
agreed the Watermelon gloomily.
"If she loves you through it all,
she can have you, and suppose will
have to consent. | can afford penni-
less son-in-law ard l guess an Ameri-
can tramp is preferable to European
noble"
Il won't be penniless," said the
Watermelon. 81 could work like a
niger for month and own forty dol
lars, thirty of which would owe for
board
That's just it," declared Bartlett
promptly. You can't support Billy
in the way she is used to being sup
ported, can't give her the things that
have become necessities to her.
Il can support her in my own way
said the Watermelon.
But that isn't Billy's way You
couldn't keep a servant, for instance,
and servants to Billy are like chairs
to home people, absolutely necessary
1--WE love each other" said the Wa
termelon simply.
That's all right But you can't al
ways be sure your love is like elastic
and stretchable. Come as a tramp
and I will give my consent" Bartlett
grew bold, positively convinced that
Billy could no longer care when she
had once seen the drunken sot, prom
ised as he had grown used to doing
on the Street, to do that which he
knew he would not have to do.
Can I say good-by to herr"
Eyes, but I trust you not to let her
know that she is to be put TO test.
If you love her, you can see that
am right"
eyes," said the Watermelon, 81 love
her and will not let her know"
He Strengthened up and pushed his
hat farther back, with the slow, in
bred languor of the thoroughly lazy
man. Il love Billy, and that is why
consent tried to make her under
stand what 1 am, have been, but
couldn't" He took handful of beans
from a nearby barrel and let them
run slowly through his fingers. 81
suppose she will give me the double
cross"
Il hope so" answered Bartlett. I'm
not very particular, but a tramp"
"a gentleman pedestrian" suggest
ed the Watermelon, with faint flick
er of his usual sublime arrogance.
D.
hand. We'll, good-by. I've enjoyed
the week immensely, for all this rot
ten ending. That scurvy trick Of
yours"
"of yours" corrected the Water
melon.
yes, yes, L suppose so. / hope
that Henrietta won't ever know. Do
you think Billy does?"
Billy isn't as simple as you think, :"
returned the Water.lelon.
What did she say?"
Father suggested the trip and he
telegraphed after dinner or some
thing like that"
\ "You didn't tell her it was my
plan?" begged Bartlett. 81 have to
go on living with her"
mo, I didn't tell her, but she's
next to the fact"
Il will speak to her." said Bartlett
hastily. u wouldn't like Henrietta to
find out about it. Billy has wanted
a motor boat for some time l may
give her onn."
They walked slowly toward the
door and once more shook hands.
q would gladly have given the thou
sands l have lost to have you Bat
chelor, boy" said Bartlett gently.
Jaw, thanks said the Watermelon.
Tell the others I will be around
when / have sent another telegram"
The Watermelon found Billy sitting
on the steps of the only hotel in
town. 1t was a big, square, uncom-
promising affair, blank and unattract-
i've, and Billy, alone on the top step,
looked somehow small and forlorn
and childlike. The Watermelon sat
down beside her.
Where's Henrietta?" he asked, ig-
noring her eyes and the question they
asked
Upstairs, said Billy, fixing up
Come and walk down the road
with me a bit?" asked the Watermel-
on. He rose and held out his hand
to help her up.
Billy rose with a trembling laugh
that failed miserably in its manifest
attempt to be brave.
Neither Billy nor the Watermelon
spoke until they had left the village
some little way behind and had come
to four crossroads with the usual
small, dingy school-house, door locked,
dirty windows closed for the summer
and shabby, faded blinds drawn.
Billy knew from the Watermelon's
face that the interview with her IA
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
l. n