The Delta independent., 1920-07-30
BILLIE'S CHANCE
BY MILDRED WHITE.
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She was the most wonderful girl
ne had ever seenl She was "the girl"
Billie told himself; all this, as he sat
in desperate mood. on his own porch
step. All his life he had been wait-
ing for just such a girl, and now that
she had come. he could make no prog
ress whatever in winning her, or even
In voicing his affection. He raked the
gravel wrathfully as he thought of
the many opportunities which had
heretofore been thrust upon him. for
wooing hours. Yes, thrust upon him.
Billie reflected, by willing parents. For
Billie's bank roll was substantial.
Billie's family. beyond reproach,
Billie himself good to look upon and
equally good" to talk to. And now
that he was in earnest-deeply, deadly
earnest-he was baked in his love
making intention at every turn. Billie
felt that he could not survive another
day without making love to Connie.
He had held his tongue In check just
ms long as he could.
Connie was too pretty, too altogether
charming to be held from him longer.
Yet, how he was going to express his
feeling for the girl in the presence of
her forbidding mother was more than
Billie could figure out. Mrs. Web
ster's frigfd proximity alone, he was
sure, would freeze the words on his
lips, and Mrs. Webster was never abb
sent during Billie's calls at least, from
her only daughters side. Brandon
had warned him of this when Billie
requested the Introduction to Con.
stance.
It'll never be twos company"
Brandon had said, Mother Is always
on the job. This mother intends to
keep little daughter her willing slave
in subsection. Wiser and braver men
than you have failed there, BILL"
But still Billie had persisted: to
find his friends warning true. His
cleverly planned invitations for drives
or theaters had all been accepted In
mothers name-mother always went
too; this was understood
Billie confessed to himself that Con-
nie had remarkable way of convers-
ing with one-in confidence as II
were-with her eyes. According TO the
luminous eyes Of Connie. her mothers
presence between them. was as great
regret to herself as It was to him.
And according to the twinkly eyes
Of Connie, she admired immensely his
clever. though useless maneuvers. to
be rid Of that presence. And lately
only very lately-according to the soft
and wistful eyes of Connie, she knew
an eagerness akin to his own, In WISH
ing to hear the words that he 20 yearn-
ed to speak.
With q gesture Of weary despair.
Billie arose from the porch step and
proceeded "Webster-ward," to fulfill
an engagement to take Constance and
her mother to q concert. He smiled,
comforted, anticipating the girls
nearness during the performance.
If he could be quick enough to push
the old lady in the first seat, Connie
would sit next to him. But alas Billie
was not quick enough. 1t was Con-
ME, whom her mothers directing arm.
put into the first seat.
So Billie sulked throughout the con-
cert, and Billie further sulked as Mrs.
Webster. upon the homewnrd walk In /.
sinuated herself between Connie and
himself. relying arm upon either.
A strong breeze coming up IN the
early spring night, blew dust In their
faces, and Billie felt n savage delight
in forcing his charge against the gale.
Her skirts buffeted her steps, and as
Connie hastily withdrew an assisting
arm In order to cling to her own hat,
Mrs. Webster's new straw turbnn was
merrily lifted by the breeze and car-
ried swiftly off in the darkness Catch
1t Connie" she gasped. and Connie
dashed Off in pursuit.
Then us Mrs Webster vainly peered
about In the windswept gloom. BILLIE
with shouted word ran In IN oppo-
site direction.
1--WE will round It up." he promised;
but everything which lured as shad-
ow hat, proved to be no hat at all.
and accidentally or purposely, which,
I cannot say, Billie and Connie met
In the darkness at the end Of the
Webster lawn behind a Webster tree.
And Billie, believing that "it's an III
wind that blows nobody good" pro-
ceeded to capture his own good and
Comics slight figure, as well, at the
some time.
"No use looking further" Billie nur-
INJURED innrticulately, "too dark. too
breezy. Hats gone to Jericho by this
time"
.But mother" whispered the girl.
"she's coming, hear her."
Let her come" answered Billie
wickedly, 1--WE nrc harder to ind buck
here than the hat"
And then Billie told his love story