Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-10-06
BILLY
E
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 it shut behind her
Turning from the main street, she
entered a grass-grown lane. AT one
side of the path rose a clay bank, and
up this incline, his legs stiffly braced
in the crumbling earth, clambered
Billy. He was an untractabe 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 nuisancer' she ex.
claimed. you've nothing but an IN.
ordinate appetite and bad dispos-
ton" At the same time she drew
out two slender green leaves from
among the lilies and gave them to
Billy.
Myrtle reached the hall at seven.
She was prominent by her absence.
1t added a source of pleasure to Mr..
Roland if in the course of a lecture
his eyes could rest on the fair face of
Myrtle for whom he cherished a 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 off
most abruptly by a raucous "Br-r-a-a Y
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
Il think there viii be no further
danger" he said, taking Myrtle's arm
and glancing over his shoulder.
Myrtle followed his example and could
dimly discern Billy.
THAT creature is a menace to the
community" continued Mr.. Roland
Il adore Billy" The warmth of
Myrtle's tone seemed to include goats
of all species.
The next afternoon Myrtle, wearing
a 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 a 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 at intervals and noting on one oc-
casion a familiar figure.
"Billy!" she called and he trotted
stiff-legged to the boulder. you're a
bad boy, Billy. You're a 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 her
book.
Mr.. Roland carried an odd-shaped
parcel which he deposited on the grass.
you have no idea," he exclaimed,
what charming picture you make
beneath this outrageous canopy"
From somewhere back of the boulder
there came a husky snort and Billy,
all important, passed into full view.
'Here. Billy!"
The command was too late. Billy
was already under motion, and Mr.
Roland went over like fallen tower
Myrtle broke into laughter. ooh,
Billy, you dreadful beast"
Billy looked vindictively at the side
wall, and seeing nothing to awaken
suspicion, began to nibble grass
Myrtle had just convinced herself
that Mr.. Roland was uninjured and
began reading again when third Wis
itor entered the orchard
Il thought / 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 a strange suppressed hap
piness.
yes, | heard you were back and
/ thought perhaps you'd Gomez
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 a jocular
push, had suddenly become much alb
sorbed in fixed contemplation of the
side wall
whats the matter with Billy?"
"Oh, nothing but natural irritabil-
ity."
Myrtle's tone was casual, her glance
which scanned the wall was not. 1t
discerned something round, black and
smooth which bobbed above the stones.
would you mind, Robert, passing
me that parcel on the grass?"
He laid it on her lap. She opened