The Press., 1917-08-16
HerDeIiyerer He Was Old and
 Feeble
By AGNES G. BROGAN

| love was Q Kind or disease that came
 mawares on q person, but which was
 incurable except by marriage with the
 object that had excited it.
 This idea never entirely left him.
 But there comes to every young man
 8 period when he feels the necessity of a home, and he knows that there
 cannot be a home for him without q
 wife. Such a period came for Billy.
 But he had never become inOculated
 with love; he had never found his af-
 hnity He was growing out of his youth and longed for a companion and a home, but he still clung to the idea that he must yet meet his mate, that
 he would know her the moment he laid eyes on her and that the rest depended on him. Romance had not faded with his increasing years, and he still pic tured winning his wife by some brave deed.
 One day Billy boarded a trolley car bound for the suburbs. When he was about to do so a young lady advanced up to the steps, and Billy cOurteOusly stood aside. She entered the car and seated herself. Billy entered the car and took care to seat himself on the opposite side where he could gaze upon her fair face, for she was good to look upon. She was tastefully dressed, which indicated that she was refined. On the whole, Billy was much pleased with her appearance.
 Billy regarded the young lady with admiring eyes from the time they entered simultaneously the trolley sub urban. She was such an unusually nice girl. Nice" in Billy's opinion, was the all embracing word which expressed her. And as they flew on through the ripening fields his fertile mind was busy with possible schemes for making her acquaintance. But the girls absorbed 0loofness forced Billy to abandon these schemes one by one. ~
 She was a most prOvOkingly cOmpe- tent person. The very car windows moved Obediently up or down at her touch, and she was supplied with all the evening papers. .-.
 You can meet 'em," unused Billy aft CT another longing glance at the girls perfect profle-"meet lem by the score everywhere-dances dinners, theaters. Some fellow who knows no more of you than your name comes along and says, MT. TOwne, Miss Jinks,' and it's all right But here when the one girl who seems worth while sits before you your high standing with the syndicate, your natural charms, count for nOth ing. You just have to let the miles carry her on and on and out of your life.''
 After which bitter reflection Billy Whistled low and sadly. .ss
 The girl, whose face had been avert ed, now turned 1t about, and there were queer little twinkles at the corners of the long dashed eyes, bent in Ostenta- tious interest upon the paper.
 "Jove," breathed Billy, and his heart gave a queer thump, fits the real thing with me for sure-love at first sight! |" His destination should have been the stopping point just passed. Billy Towne's business in that place was of some import, but unhesitatingly he re- mained in his seat. Whether or not Cupid, the unreliable and facetious, should see fit to intervene, Billy deter mined to give himself the rather un- certain pleasure of keeping his divin- ity in sight until the last possible mo- ment. But what place should he name in asking for an extended ticket?
 The girl herself settled the question, leaning forward to speak to the con- ductor as he came down the aisle.
 will you please tell me-" she asked. and her voice was nice" too. how I may best reach the D. and l.. railroad station when we stop at Sherman? I am going on in the train to the. next town above" .-..
 Certainly" the conductor replied. Take the short cut across the fields. You'll see the red station roof"
 "The same old way" smiled the girl.
 Same old way" assured the conduc- tor
 Billy knew that short cut too. It led to other routes than the one which the girl was taking. The thick trees would be all red and golden now. It was a very romantic walk. :!
 The girl, alighting with her suit case, threw back quick glance of annoy ance as he followed her down the car steps. But, swinging his own valise. Billy trudged on in apparent uncOn- cern. He knew that she still came be- hind him down the narrow path from the constant stirring of the leaves be- heath her feet. Ridiculous little boots she was wearing for a rough walk like this. he reflected. Billy wished desper- ately that he might at least relieve her of the yalise, but instinctively he real. ized the cold snub this offer would Oc- casiOn. So before him the long path led, brown and dismally, to the red rOOfed station.
 It was all very hopeless. There fin that second car he might sit, as before In seat behind hers to wonder at the soft wave of her hair, the slumbering mirth of her eyes. Billy felt as poetical as unhappy. On behind came the reg ulRr rustling of the leaves.
 ''Of all the foolsy' he told himself Probably she is on her way home to see her husband'-
 Only-again instinctively-Billy knew that she was not Then the thing hap Dened.
 It was the cessation of the rustling caves which at first attracted Billy's attention, then low breathed "Ah!'
 Under pretense of securing his hand he placed his satchel on the i! ground and glanced around.
 The girl was standing quite still, ] ler widened eyes staring straight | lhead.
 In quick alarm, Billy's gaze followed | 1ers. There, between them in the path, his crooked legs bent as if for a Jprfng, crouched a great bulldog. The .reature's body trembled with rum bling, growing breaths. His bloodshot eyes looked steadily toward the girl. | About his jaws gleamed something white and frOthv Rillv snoko ovarl~,