The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1921-09-30
BILLY
BY JOSEPHINE MURPHY.

The golden May twilight was be-
ginning to creep on as Myrtle opened
the small iron gate at the end of the
path and clicked 1t shut behind her.
Turning from the main street. she
entered grass-grown lane. At one
side of the path rose clay bank, and
up this incline. his legs stiffiy braced
in the crumbling earth. clambered
Billy. He was an untractable animal.
but evidently Of an enterprising ma
ture, for he was making persistent eff
forts to reach the stalk Of plant. At
the swish Of Myrtle's skirt Billy rolled
one bleared and watery eye in her
direction. stretched his neck In a final
effort, nipped the stalk and turned to
meet Myrtle.
"Good evening, Billy" remarked
Myrtle. But the goats eyes were fixed
on the lilies which Myrtle wore.
"You gastronomIc nuisance !" she ex-
claimed. you've nothing but an In
ordinate appetite and a bad DISPOSE
tion." At the same time she drew
out two slender green leaves IRON
among the lilies and gave them to
Billy.
Myrtle reached the hall at seven.
She was prominent by her absence.
1t added source Of pleasure to Mr..
Roland II In the course OF lecture
his eyes could rest on the fair face OF
Myrtle, for whom he cherished GER
tain kind regard.
After the lecture he met Myrtle and
walked home with her. He drifted
into a routine of talk on everyday top
les until they reached the grass-grown
lane.
Right here Mr.. Roland was cut of
most abruptly by raucous "Br-r-a-a !"
proceeding from an indistinct gray OBJ
ject.
A sudden movement placed Mr. Ro-
land behind Myrtle; then, recovering.
he came up on the other side.
~ think there will be no further
danger" he said, taking Myrtle's arm
and CHANGING over his shoulder.
Myrtle followed his example and could
dimly discern Billy.
llul CIthtuIc ID u iuShu'C W tho
community" continued Mr.. Roland.
81 adore Billy" The warmth Of
Myrtles tone seemed to include goats
of all species.
The next afternoon Myrtle, wearing
pretty pink dress. left the house to
spend her hours In the orchard. In the
center was one great tree. which
dropped its branches above a huge
boulder set against the trunk. This
seemed familiar spot to her, for
book under arm, she climbed to the
top Of the boulder, settled herself COM
fortably and began to read, glancing
up Mt intervals and noting on one oc-
casion familiar figure.
| "Billyi" she called, and he trotted
stiff-legged to the boulder. you're a
bad boy, Billy. You're menace to
the community. What do you think
about that?'
Billy gazed up with shrewd red
eyes, and as Myrtle saw another figure
coming, she began at once to read hel
book.
Mr.. Roland carried an odd-shapet
parcel which he deposited on the grass
"You have no idea" he exclaimed
"what a charming picture you make
beneath this outrageous canopy"
From somewhere back Of the boulder
there came husky snort and Billy
all important, passed into full view.
Here. Billyw
| IatA a
was already under motion, and Mr.,
Roland went over like fallen tower
Myrtle broke into laughter. "Oh,
| Billy, you dreadful beast"
Billy looked vindlctively at the side
wall, and seeing nothing to awaken
suspicion, began to nlbble grass.
! Myrtle had Just convinced herself
tnat Mr.. Roland was unlnjured and
/ began reading again when third Wis
itor entered the orchard.
II thought l would find you out
! here" he said, as he reached the
girls side, extending his hand to meet
the one she held out to him, Her
face showed strange suppressed hap.
piness
Eyes, heard you were back and
l thought perhaps you'd come"
Billy ambled into the foreground
and shifted at the newcomers hand
Get out, you nuisance" said the
man, and Billy, apparently uncon.
scious of the indignity of JoculaI
push. had suddenly become much alb.
sorbed In fixed contemplation Of the
side wall.
! whats the matter with Billyr
"Oh, nothing but natural irrltabil.
ity."
Myrtle's tone was casual, her glance
which scanned the wall was not. II
discerned something round, black and
smooth which bobbed above the stones
would you mind, Robert, passing
me that parcel on the grassT"
He laid II on her lap. She opened
II, disclosing half dozen roses.
Here, Billy"
Robert studied her with a puzzled
smile. The goat, being limited as to
expression, looked hungry.
"How about New York. Robertl
What did you do with the inventionr
IL sold Il for--well, for sum thai