Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-03
BILLY'S ROMANCE.

h LII. aa n1y aSw ,9 might as well confess j.
BIZ the time have told YOU the adventure Of
a loyal little chap named Billy Dram. Good
ones golden haired Lord Fauutlcroys and
freckle- faced Penrod Schoelds--I like them
OF honesty and another of chiva!ry to tighten
whatever 'dIvilmlnt' their vivid young vi
And dirty little chap OF the tenements
calls as sweet message TO my heart as does
candidate for Groton or l-awrcnreville,
SO! SO now low, you Will see why Billy Dran's
Il confess ii All unashamcd- 10 my
embryonic man Of eiehteen had sent sent it, it..
my waste basket--but it came from kiddie
! pictured red hair and snub nose and
freG hass M as read the penclied lines
~ am fourteen years old and am in
Ing eiesraphy How T soon can an: ask is" her
TO marry me? Please telephone reply.
Schuyler 1892"
Wash, that simple and expansive at tho
same n..,, ,ime o,a a,,oee'hsr jus, like boy;
then picked up my desk telephone and
ss drd YGisihe best Iovea opera,9r IN the
a moment later | had the operator in the
Western Union ottice. And she complied
mon Billy. Such nice. clean. embarrassed
boys voice ms came back 20 me over the
phone
TIN studying telegraphy, Miss Fairfax
studying awful hard know most OF the
keys pretty fast Don't you think l got
prospects" asked the boy. with funny ad
mixture OF earnestness and shame that made
ne know he OF those dear Peter
Pan lads who never grow up to be base
and indifferent and sclf-ccntered.
Your future looks bright, Blly. But you
eadt MARI 1e on your present salary SAID ,s
creeping right the wires from my
voice.
Then hung UP the receiver and turned to
face black hrowed young gentleman named
Barton Jimmy's face was never made for
into something strongly resembling jeal-
Gus scowl spoke to him and he didn /
ans~er rGT aia ineH riu ~
tina, Was most surprising! | like boys.
nothing but big boy who needed bit OF
s'a b1s TO ne ain m
his attitude annoyed me a bit, and told
Mr.. Barton that was not in the habit Of
being questioned about my friends.
1t actually seemed that Jimmy Barton was
going to Interfere with my work il
forcefully in the background.
The days work got itself done with the
the burden OF toilers: Just as | was finish.
ing. my dear friend Mrs Arthur telephoned
and drive out in the country for an hour or
so.
4 spin in the country was just the tonic
and stmulant wanted. and when came
down little later 10 use the spic and span
little car my thoushtful friend had loaned
me | appreciated the delicacy which had let
me take it all by myself.
Out over the road drove through sweet
smelling fields and into the clean. wide
spaces where there is no jagged skyline or
buildings reaching UP toward the placid blue
sky on and on | drove thinking happily
Of how loved my work and the companion
ship II brought me and how ! loved my my
friends. with all their loyalty and sympathy
abyss, where ugly human passions Play S,,-
forgetfulness and noble love. This was the
Suddenly found myself on a lonely road
about an hour from New York. had not
passed a car for quite awhile and was
thinking that ! had better return I,n to tho
inc came tearing down the road toward me
like some ugly monster conjured up from
the dark ages
1t hurtled toward me with attendant
crowd OF dust swrmg about IT, thudded
heavily over great jut in the road swerved
a bit and then swept If il the
juEsernaut car OF ancient fable.
was looking after the car, but at the
roadside l saw something which made me
bring Mrs. Arthurs car to sudden stand
for for setting t the brakes SO hSrriedly had she
been there to see the dusty little figure /
beheld by the roadside.
mysteriousy hurled off into space by that
vast. speeding black car, But as got to
his side he was managing to get to his
feet. He didn't seem BIZ interested in his
own bumps and bruises. but pointed frantic.
ally after the disappearing car and cried
out in tone which brooked Of no denial:
oh, please, please don't stop for anythinE
after that one can't let il get out OF my
sight-theyee, got my sweetheart in It,"
Something In the air Of the Snringtime
and in the boys manner--somcthing in a
heart which instinctively goes out to boys
urged And moment later / knew
that. whatever this adventure was I was
embarked upon it heart and soul. for the
hoy at my Side called out even as ] started
my car rushing after the big limousine:
please go fast. Please don't let EN- get
away from you. They're awful looking
folks--and she's such little girl. Oh. do
help save my Jean"
loud and shrlll. jean That name rang
Its CHANGES in my memory.
PLEASE hurry" shriled the boys voice
with more and more pleading in its child.