Miss Billy's Decision

then they had tramped half over Europe together in a comradeship that was as del

and we agree beautifully on all necessary points of living, from tipping to late sleeping in the morning; whil

letter Calderwell touched

peace. As it is, I confess that I have ogled his incoming mail and his outgoing baggage shamelessly, only to be slapped in the face always and everlastingly by that bland 'M. J.' I've got my revenge, now, though. To myself I call him 'Mary Jane'-and his broad-shouldered,

café. Opposite him was the six feet of muscular manhood, broad shoulders, pointe

had left his lips, Calderwell was conscious of a whimsical

ace as I could!" he was thi

een in correspondence wi

E

t laughe

e capable of it," he nodded, reaching for a cigar. "But it

mean they actual

almly, as he struck a light. "

t answer. He thou

laughed the other. "Anyhow, you must ha

s 'M. J.' stand for?

ther, not so friendly, says they stand for 'Mostly Jealousy' of more fortunate chaps who have real names for a handle. My small brothers and sisters, discovering, wi

Jane

ht smil

sides, what's in a name, anyway?" he went on, eyeing the glowing tip of the cigar between his fingers. "'A rose by any other n

gave a su

mean Bill

r turned

now Billy

s friend a glance

l, of course," he went on, in response to the look that had come into the brown eyes opposite. "But what's the use? Everybody knows it-that knows us. Billy herself

!" scouted

shrugged hi

, but for the last six months you have been a

nd is it-b

ge that the last refusal was so very decided that it's been a year, almost, since I received it. I think I was really convinced, for a while, that-th

as silence, then Cal

you know-

at all. I know of he

sat sudde

, too? Jove! This is a little

s, but she writes to mother occasionally; and, of course, for some time now, her lett

nexpected chuckle. "I wonder if you know h

ckon not. What

ll chuck

or one William Henshaw, her father's chum, who promptly forgot all about her. At eighteen, Billy,

el

nger brothers, an old butler, and a Chinese cook in one of those funny old Beaco

Str

op floor in a rugless, curtainless, music-mad existence-just a plain crank. Below him comes William. William collects things-everything from tenpenny nail

ace-of-a-Gi

Well, to resume and go on. It was into this house, this masculine paradise ruled ov

reathed Arkwrigh

ruggle they agreed to let 'him' come. For his particular delectation they fixed up a room next to Bertram

ver a su

ver a su

or

e lively for a while, though. Oh, there was a kitten, too

did the He

ne mad for a time, but finally quieted down enough to summon a married sister fo

ppened! Well, by Geo

ust in a name. Remember that. Just suppose you, as Mary Jane, should

orted Arkwright, w

l stared

laughed sh

t about her, and I've seen her picture." (He did not add that he had also purloined that same picture from his mother's bureau-the picture being a gift from Aunt Ha

at sort. Belle writes me that she's had a dozen forlornites there all this last summer, two or three at a time-tired widows, lonesome old maids, and crippled kids-just to give them a royal

hed quietly; t

she was keeping house with Aunt Hannah. D

er too much of an upheaval in the Strata. So she took herself off. She went to school, and travelled considerably. She was over here when I met her first. Af

t married-or

directly. She corresponds with my sister, and so do I-intermittently. I heard a month ago fr

ere might be a chance there for a romance-

ve a slow sha

ram, 'hates women and all other confusion,' so that ought to let him out. As for Bertram himself-Bertram is 'only Bertram.' He's always been that. Bertram loves girls-to paint; but I can't i

ere's-y

rows rose the fra

admitted with a sigh and a shrug. Then, a little bitterly, he added: "No, A

me a clear field?"

'" retorted Calderwell

nk y

, you know. Billy Neilson has had sighing swains about I her, I imagine, since she could walk and talk. She is a wonderfully fascinati

aps he had not heard. At all events, when he spoke some time later, it was of a matter far removed from

before parting for th

ter all, I can't take that trip to the la

t! I'd counted on you. I

for the last six months to make you think mountain-climbing and boat-paddl

e as much of a vagabond a

tely I don't happen to

I'll hand it over any t

l enough what I mean,

's silence; then C

t, how ol

nty-

y travelling to suppleme

besides my education has got to

you goin

tible hesitation; then, a li

d Opera, and bring up,

smiled appr

like the devil

lifted eyebrows. "Do you mind calling

enough. But, I say, Arkwright, what are y

'em a

pera! I know what you'll be. You'll be 'Se?or Martini Johnini Arkwrightino'! By the way,

hrugged the other. "But my going isn't a joke, Ca

shall you

will

and stirred restl

to his forehead-"don't they have-er-patrons for these young and budding geniuses? Why can't I ha

and I appreciate it; but it won't be necessary. A generous, but perhaps misguided bachelor uncle left me a fe

oing to stud

t imperceptible hesitati

uite prepa

t try i

t shook

I've changed my mind. I believe I'd

urmured C

other questions and other answers; af

dropping off to sleep, Ca

und out yet what that bl