The Washington herald., 1914-07-06
DAILY SHORT STORY.
BnLY's PERFECT DAY.
pr JOHN nENT.

tcopgrifht islfl
As Billy Reed Fwuug from the platform
OF the train, little group Of loungers
detached themselves from the support
OF the station building ana came gaping
TO meet him.
/ 'If 1t ain't Bill ReedI' cried the fore
most. putting out n horny hand. .Howdy
BILL made that there fortune yet7''
why, hello Jeson; Il this q delegation
from the Sons Of Resi- come to weicoms
me back TO Red Bridge, I'm disap-
lpointed-I rather expected you'd heye
Lem Tuttie's band and Higby.s bert turn
out 10 take me homes' Billy shook hands
with his old neighbors. LOOKING In their
swed eyes very tall and Handsome and
citifed.
There amt no carriages or bands
to spare in Red Bridge today" grinned
Oscar Tolies
Nor WHATS going on7"
'TWeddings," replied Oscar. and prompt-
Iy doubled up with pain as he becams
the recipient Of sundry thumps and
nudges from his eompanions
| "weddings. Ell? Well. I'll want 'em
all for my own wedding pretty soon"
grinned Billy. Then he turned on the
five young man who were following him
down the dusty road. 'I may as wall
tell you. boys. that I'm on my way 20
II
all trail along after me like this, I'm
afraid Nancy wouldn't Ike it-and-er.
| you know 1 haven't seen my girl for
six months-and that's the boysl Much
obliged Billy waved his hat as his
companions melted away into bypath-
all save one.
Billy turned TO fnd Jason Knox at his
elbow. Jason's long equine countenance
wore a funeral look as he regarded his
one-time playmate ;,
"oh, I thought you'd gone, Jase." :"
laughed Billy. Come, along, then. 1
don't believe Nancy win mind you. Re-
member how we three used to 90 slid
ing down Satly's Hill togethsr?"
'T remember Billy" said Jason In 3
choked voice. ''snd because i do remenn-
Der all those good old times and every
thing that's happened stnee-oecause Of
that. why I've stayed behind 10 tell you"
Billy's face went white He dropped
his suitcase and put bis hands on Jason's
shoulders.
Tell me what has happened, Jase."
Jason's eyes shifted. You heard from
Nancy lateIyT'
mo: I've been travelling from one state
TO another for the Lap eight weeks and
when l reached my hotel In New York
was surprised not to nnd letter from
Nancy Now, Jase. don't be afraid 70
tell me bad news. Out with it-for i
know something has happened TO
Nancy"
"BIily I can't tell your cried Jason.
''She is deadg'
mo, no; worse than that :" quavered
Jason. for Billy was shaking him as
mastif does a terrier. Worse than that,
honest. Bnly-she's going to be married
today
BiIly's hands fell to his sides. Nancy
-married-todayz Is Il joker he
asked with sudden fierceness.
It's no joke, Billy: ! wish u was.
Now you understand why the boys all
faded away when you said you were
going to Nancy Delmore's house-there's
to be a wedding there this evening at =
o'clock and II must be nearly now
there goes the Congregational church
bell
Across the quiet valley came the fami-
liar chime Of distant bells; there was
haunting sadness I'm their notes; they
were poignant reminders Of the youth
Of a happy country boy-a boy who had
gone forth TO seek a fortune for his
childhood's sweetheart: who came home
a man, to find she had broken faith with
him. .rT
After a long silence Billy turned to
Jason Knox. Tell me about 1t. Jase.
Who Is the mani"
Frank Stanton"
Stanton? That mean little hound?
Why. why. don't understand
Franks been down 20 the city for
q spell and he came home with a lot Of
yarns about how you'd been cutting up
down there. Said you'd been married
to a girl and you was OF on your we'd
ding trip-said he could prove 1t. He
told such a good story that almost
believed II myself. honest, I did. Billy
you know Frank is a slick taIker. Pa
always said he oughter been cam
paign orator. heard that Nancy
wouldn't listen TO a word about IL until
Frank came home after another trip
with her letters she'd sent to you. and
a picture OF the girl he said you was
married to. Then Nancy believed, and
she went around looking like a ghost
next thing knew she was going around
with Frank. and when she heard that
you were coming home with your bride,
she accepted Frank right on.
But my letters 10 her-she must have
received those
You forget that stanton's pa keeps
the postofiice." reminded Jason. Now,
Billy, we got TO work quick. You say
there amt no bride?'
"No-and there won't be any for me
except Nancy Delmore."
Then we'll go back to the station and
telephone to the hotel where you stop
ped and inquire il any one asked for |
your mail, and IL they did, get their de- |
scription; that will explain why you
didn't get her letters. Say. Billy" doubt |
fully. suppose you ind that Frank did !
call for your mail at the hotel-what are |
you going to do?'
Billy's eyes snapped with sudden IRE |
I'm going to be married-at o'clock |
he growled. and. whirl.ng /
about, he ran back to the station, with |
Jason at his heels.
A freight train was Just drawing out |
and the station agent saluted the new.
corners with a broad grin.
Just missed itTbhe cried.
Where's the telephone BOOTH" de- |
manded Bill breathlessly.
Ten minutes later a changed Billy came |
out OF the booth and Joined Jason Knox.
His face had resumed its normal color, |
his black eyes shone and the way he |
walked revealed TO Jason that Billy was |
himself again.
Did her gasped Jason eagerly.
HE did, Presented an order purported |
to be SiRnA6 bv me I-I'U wrin1 his Il