The state herald., 1915-04-02

mOmeut duo gone tne next They
swept around bend in the road and
into man trap, pile Of wood across
tho road and three farmers waiting
grimly with loaded guns.
The Watermelon In the tonneau of
the generals car, with Billy straight
ened up with sickening fear of be-
ing arrested in her presence. The fun
and excitement OF the adventure had
disappeared. In their stead stalked
the grim reality of the fear of ex-
posure. Of the surprise. scorn. per
haps anger, maybe pity. he would see
In Billy's eyes.
The general for moment consid-
cred 1t merely another means taken
by the conspiracy to rob him of his
car and contemplated stern defiance
of the laws command to stop
ITS not highway robbery. Charlie"
laughed Bartlett We've been going
bit fast and have to pay up. that's
ALL"
Hailed before the Justice OF the
peace. in the village store, Bartlett
paid his fine with casual Indifference,
the general with the naughty disap-
proval of Judge presiding at the bar
of justice, while Henrietta, with gentle
condescension, bought some highly
scented soap, ito help them out" she
explained. meaning the owners of the
store, and the Watermelon. to all out
ward appearances. frankly bored by
the proceedings, presented Billy with
choice assortment of gaily tinted.
dusty candy.
They put up for the night at small
town in Maine. 1t consisted of four
or five scattered houses. a school. a
store. and barrel factory. They
found rooms In one of the houses and
after supper, Henrietta, Bartlett and
the general sat on the stoop. while
the men smoked and the stars came
out one by one, the frogs croaked dis
mally and the whippoorwills called
and called.
The Watermelon asked Billy to take
n walk with him and she consented.
She must never know. thought the
Watermelon. with boyish self.loathing.
that he had dared to insult her by
thinking of love. but 1t would not hurt
any one but himself to walk with her.
They walked up the road in the
soft beauty of the summer night The
Watermelon rolled cigarette and
puffed moodily, too busy himself with
thoughts to talk
Darn IT," he mused, what did the
Lord give us bodies for to want and
want and then add minds to think ?"
They came to a New England grave
yard. perched on a rise OF ground.
where the road cut through hill. n
lonely. neglected place. overgrown
with weeds and tall. rank grasses. the
gravestones fat or falling. Hardly
aware of what they did. they turned In
and picked their way among the sunk
en- graves.
Billy sat down on the bank by the
driveway. and the Watermelon sat be-
side her. not too near. There was at
least n foot between them.
I'VE are all alone" said the Water
melon. thinking aloud half OF his
! thoughts. IAN alone. but for the
dead"
Alone. and the seven seas could not
| nave DuTltu tutHi luIAH'I
And God" added Billy piously.
III there is one." admitted the Wa.
;srmelon.
Billy looked at him quickly. ear.
nestly. "Oh. Jerry. OF course there is
God. Don't you know III"
NO" said the Watermelon. when
person In happy. they know there
is God; when they are wretched.
they say. every one does. There Is no
God II there is one, why doesn't he
let the miserable wretch realize II In
stinctiveiy AS well AS the happy per
SOM"
: Billy had never suffered, had never
felt the foundations OF her world fall
ing around her In ruins. had never
cried aloud In anguish. How long.
oh Lord. how long," She answered
from her ineaperience. from tho faith
that had never been tested. "of course
there is God. Every one knows II.
every one prays. Why. n your father
was minister. I should think you
would know that there is u God"
That's tho trouble. He was a min.
lister and he lost faith. and when he
who should have known. wondered II
there was God. We kids knew there
wasn't suppose It's the same n a
boy finds that his mother has lost
her virtue. lie rsinks there Is none &"
Billy placed her hand on the bank
between them and leaned toward him
on her Strengthened arm. Poor old
Jerry Hut II your mother suli b.,
iisved1"
"A mother always believes In God
and her worthless sons. It's a par,
OF being n mother. | suppose"
cro NE coSTISuEpD