Vernon Parish Democrat., 1921-03-31

with me this evening, If he can man
age it,"
For an hour they discussed various
subjects; then Billy, declaring the
siesta was almost over and the shops
reOpening as a consequence, an
nounced his intention Of doing his
shopping, said goodbye to Dolores and
Webster, and lugubriOusly departed
on the business in hand.
"Why are you in such a hurry, Mr.
Webster?" Dolores demanded. "You
haven't been in BLenaventura six
hours until you've managed to make
me perfectly miserable"
"I'm terribly sorry. l didn't mean
to-"
Didn't you know Billy Geary is my
personal property?"
mo, but l suspected he might be.
Bills generous that way. He never
hesitates to give himself to a charm
ing woman"
"This was a case of mutual self
defense. Billy hasn't any standing so
cially, you know. When old Mrs. Gen
eral Maldonado lectured me (the
dear, aristoCratic soul conceived 1t to
be her duty) on the improperly of
appearing on the MalecOn with Billy
and my guardian, who happens to be
Billy's landlady, l tried to explain our
American brand of democracy, but
failed SO l haven't been invited any
where since, and life would have been
very dull without Billy. He has been
a dear-and you have taken him
away"
Webster laughed. "Well, be pa
tient, Miss Ruey, and I'll give him
back to you with considerable more
money than he will require for your
joint comfort. Billy in financial dis
tress is a joy forever, but Billy in a
side of Easy street will be absolutely
irresistible"
Hes a darling, Ever since my ar
rival he has dedicated his life to keep
ing me amused" She rose. despite
your wickedness, Mr.. Webster, 1 am
going to be good to you. Billy and !
always have five o'clock tea here in
the veranda. Would you care to come
to my tea-party?"
Nothing could give me greater
pleasure" he assured her.
She nodded brightly to him. "Pm
going to run up to my room and put
some powder on my nose," she ex
planned.
"But you'll return before five
O'clockY Webster was amazed to heal
himself plead.
"YOu do not deserve such cOnsidera
ton, but I'll come back in about
twenty minutes" she answered anC
| left him.
AS Webster viewed the situation, his
| decision to see as little as possible OF
Dolores during his brief stay IL
SObrante was a wise one. The less he
saw of her Che told himself), the bet
ter for his peace of mind, for he was
forty years old, and he had never
loved before. For him this fever thai
burned in his blood, this delicious
agony that throbbed in his heart-anC
all on the very ghost of prOvocatiOn-
were so many danger-signals, heralds
of that grand passion which, coming
to a man of forty, generally lasts hin
the remainder of his natural eXs
! tenCe.
! Webster was forced to admit he was
afraid of himself. His was the rapidly
disappearing code of the old unfetter
ed West, that a man shall never be
tray his friend in thought, word, OF
deed To John Stuart Webster any
crime against friendship was the mos
heinOus in all the calendar Of human
frailty; even to dream of slipping into
Billy's shoes now would be mOnstrous
vet Webster knew he could not affOrC
a test of strength between his ancien
friendship for Billy and the masculine
desire for a perfect mate. Remained
then but one course:
II must run like road-runner,
was the way Webster expressed it.