Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-08-30
Metropolitan Magazine.

And within the library an agonized
man writhed and muttered:
"Word! Word! WORD
This hoarse repetition had become
almost continuous. But out on the
porch, that little jasmine scented bow
er in Already where youth cried to
youth and golden heads We're haloed
in the moonshine, there fell a silence,
not utter silence, for out there an ethe-
real music sounded constantly, I'M
heard and forgotten by older ears.
"How"- he began, and his voice trem-
bled a little-"how-how do you-how
do you think Of me when I'm not with
youY"
"Think nice-cums," Miss Pratt re-
sponded. "Flopit an me think nice
cums.''
NO." said William; 81 mean what
name do you have for me when you're
when you're thinking about me?"
Miss Pratt seemed to be puzzled.
81 mean like this" William explain
ed: CIR instance, when you first came
always thought of you as Milady."
"Ess. Boo'fums."
"But now l don't" he said. "Now l
think Of YOU by another name when
I'm alone. lit just Sort of came
to me. 1t vas about as strange a
thing as 1 ever knew of. Don't you
think so?"
CESS. 1t uz dest VERDI she an
swered. "What are dat pity names?'
81 called you," said William huskily
and reverently-"I called you My Baby
Talk Lady"
Bang!
They We're startled by a crash from
within the library. A heavy weight
seemed to have fallen, OF to have beer
hurled, a considerable distance. Step.
ping to the window, William beheld q
large volume lying in a distorted atti.
tude at the foot Of the wall opposite
to that in which the reading lamp was
a fixture. Mr.. Parcher had given up
and was now fastening to his bed in
the last faint hope of saving his rea-
son.
William gazcd upon the fallen Plu-
tarch. Somebody must "a thrown it
at a bug or Something, l guess" Then
a second cHrl~sion sent it's reverbera-
ti"Es through the house.
My Iondness!' Miss Pratt ex-
iilimru.
I,..iam laughed reassuringly. Its
~, Il door blew shut upstairs,' he
SAL.
Unfortunately for him, Joe Bullitt
now made his appearance. Mr.. Bullitt,
though almost a year younger than
either William or Johnnie Watson, was
of a masterful disposition. Moreover,
in regard to Miss Pratt, his affections
were in as ardent a state as those
of his rivals, and he lacked Johnnie's
meekness. He firmly declined to be
shunted by Miss Parcher, who was
trying to favor Williams cause, ac-
cording to a promise he had won Of
her. Regardless Of her efforts, Mr..
Bullitt descended upon William and
his Baby Talk Lady and received from
the latter a honeyed greeting, some
what to the formers establishment.
ooh, goody cute!' cried Miss Pratt.
Here's big Bruvya %Josie-Joe!" And
she lifted her little dog close to Mr..
J Bullitt's face, guiding one Of Flopit's
! paws with her fingers. "stroke big
Bruvva Josie-Joe's pint teeks, darlin'
Flopit." Gosie-Joe's pink cheeks were
indicated by the expression 'pint
teeks' evidently, for her accompany
ing action was to pass Flopit's paw
lightly over those glowing surfaces.)
cats nicer she remarked. "Stroke
him gently, p'eshus Flopit, an nen
We'll coax him to make pity singin'
for us, like us did yestiday."
She turned to William.
Coax him to make pity singin'. l
love his voice. I'm dest crazy over 1t.
Isn't oo?"
Williams passion for MI. Bullitt's
voice appeared to be under control.
He laughed coldly, almost harshly.
Him singY' he said. HAS he been
tryin' to sing around here? 1 wonder
the family didn't call for the policew
"Well, they WILL" Bullitt retorted,
If you ever spring one o. your solos
on 'em" And, turning to Miss Pratt,
he laughed loudly and bitterly. "You
ought, to hear Silly Bill sing-some
time when you don't mind goin' to bed
sick for a couple O. days!
Lets all sing" the tactful Miss
Pratt proposed hastily. Come on,
May and Cousin Johnnie Jump-Upy'
she called to Miss Parcher and Mr..
Watson. "singin' school, dirls an
boys! Singin' school! Ding, ding!
Singin' school bells a-wingin'w
The diversion was successful. Miss
Parcher and Mr.. Watson Joined the
other group with alacrity, and the FIVE
young people were presently seated to-
gether upon the steps Of the porch,
sending their voices out upon the air
and up to Mr.. Parcher's window In
the song they found loveliest that
summer.
The singers thought so highly of the
words that Mr.. Parcher missed not
one. especially as tho vocal rivalry be-
Nn~sss