miss billy-第4章

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to　look　for　a　youth　of　perhaps　eighteen　years；　who　would　be　alone；
a　little　frightened；　possibly；　and　who　would　have　a　pink　in　his
buttonhole；　and　probably　a　dog　on　a　leash。

As　he　waited；　the　man　was　conscious　of　a　curious　warmth　at　his
heart。　　It　was　his　namesake；　Walter　Neilson's　boy；　that　he　had　come
to　meet；　a　homesick；　lonely　orphan　who　had　appealed　to　himto　him；
out　of　all　the　world。　　Long　years　ago　in　his　own　arms　there　had
been　laid　a　tiny　bundle　of　flannel　holding　a　precious　little　red；
puckered　face。　　But　in　a　month's　time　the　little　face　had　turned
cold　and　waxen；　and　the　hopes　that　the　white　flannel　bundle　had
carried　had　died　with　the　baby　boy；and　that　baby　would　have　been
a　lad　grown　by　this　time；　if　he　had　liveda　lad　not　far　from　the
age　of　this　Billy　who　was　coming　to…day；　reflected　the　man。　　And
the　warmth　in　his　heart　deepened　and　glowed　the　more　as　he　stood
waiting　at　the　gate　for　Billy　to　arrive。

The　train　from　Hampden　Falls　was　late。　　Not　until　quite　fifteen
minutes　past　five　did　it　roll　into　the　train…shed。　　Then　at　once
its　long　line　of　passengers　began　to　sweep　toward　the　iron　gate。

William　was　just　inside　the　gate　now；　anxiously　scanning　every　face
and　form　that　passed。　　There　were　many　half…grown　lads；　but　there
was　not　one　with　a　pink　in　his　buttonhole　until　very　near　the　end。
Then　William　saw　hima　pleasant…faced；　blue…eyed　boy　in　a　neat
gray　suit。　　With　a　low　cry　William　started　forward；　but　he　saw　at
once　that　the　gray…clad　youth　was　unmistakably　one　of　a　merry
family　party。　　He　looked　to　be　anything　but　a　lad　that　was　lonely
and　forlorn。

William　hesitated　and　fell　back。　　This　debonair；　self…reliant
fellow　could　not　be　Billy！　　But　as　a　hasty　glance　down　the　line
revealed　only　half　a　dozen　straggling　women；　and　beyond　them；　no
one；　William　decided　that　it　must　be　Billy；　and　taking　brave　hold
of　his　courage；　he　hurried　after　the　blue…eyed　youth　and　tapped　him
on　the　shoulder。

〃Eraren't　you　Billy？〃　he　stammered。

The　lad　stopped　and　stared。　　He　shook　his　head　slowly。

〃No；　sir；〃　he　said。

〃But　you　must　be！　　Are　you　sure？〃

The　boy　laughed　this　time。

〃Sorry；　sir；　but　my　name　is　'Frank'；　isn't　it；　mother？〃　he　added
merrily；　turning　to　the　lady　at　his　side；　who　was　regarding　William
very　unfavorably　through　a　pair　of　gold…bowed　spectacles。

William　did　not　wait　for　more。　　With　a　stammered　apology　and　a
flustered　lifting　of　his　hat　he　backed　away。

But　where　was　Billy？

William　looked　about　him　in　helpless　dismay。　　All　around　was　a
wide；　empty　space。　　The　long　aisle　to　the　Hampden　Falls　train　was
deserted　save　for　the　baggage…men　loading　the　trunks　and　bags　on　to
their　trucks。　　Nowhere　was　there　any　one　who　seemed　forlorn　or　ill
at　ease　except　a　pretty　girl　with　a　suit…case；　and　with　a　covered
basket　on　her　arm；　who　stood　just　outside　the　gate；　gazing　a　little
nervously　about　her。

William　looked　twice　at　this　girl。　　First；　because　the　splash　of
color　against　her　brown　coat　had　called　his　attention　to　the　fact
that　she　was　wearing　a　pink；　and　secondly　because　she　was　very
pretty；　and　her　dark　eyes　carried　a　peculiarly　wistful　appeal。

〃Too　bad　Bertram　isn't　here；〃　thought　William。　　〃He'd　be　sketching
that　face　in　no　time　on　his　cuff。〃

The　pink　had　given　William　almost　a　pang。　　He　had　been　so　longing
to　see　a　pinkthough　in　a　different　place。　　He　wondered
sympathetically　if　she；　too；　had　come　to　meet　some　one　who　had　not
appeared。　　He　noticed　that　she　walked　away　from　the　gate　once　or
twice；　toward　the　waiting…room；　and　peered　anxiously　through　the
glass　doors；　but　always　she　came　back　to　the　gate　as　if　fearful　to
be　long　away　from　that　place。　　He　forgot　all　about　her　very　soon；
for　her　movements　had　given　him　a　sudden　idea：　perhaps　Billy　was　in
the　waiting…room。　　How　stupid　of　him　not　to　think　of　it　before！
Doubtless　they　had　missed　each　other　in　the　crowd；　and　Billy　had
gone　straight　to　the　waiting…room　to　look　for　him。　　And　with　this
thought　William　hurried　away　at　once；　leaving　the　girl　still
standing　by　the　gate　alone。

He　looked　everywhere。　　Systematically　he　paced　up　and　down　between
the　long　rows　of　seats；　looking　for　a　boy　with　a　pink。　　He　even
went　out　upon　the　street；　and　gazed　anxiously　in　all　directions。
It　occurred　to　him　after　a　time　that　possibly　Billy；　like　himself；
had　changed　his　mind　at　the　last　moment；　and　not　worn　the　pink。
Perhaps　he　had　forgotten　it；　or　lost　it；　or　even　not　been　able　to
get　it　at　all。　　Very　bitterly　William　blamed　himself　then　for
disregarding　his　own　part　of　the　suggested　plan。　　If　only　he　had
worn　the　pink　himself！but　he　had　not；　and　it　was　useless　to
repine。　　In　the　meantime；　where　was　Billy；　he　wondered　frantically。



CHAPTER　VI

THE　COMING　OF　BILLY


After　another　long　search　William　came　back　to　the　train…shed；
vaguely　hoping　that　Billy　might　even　then　be　there。　　The　girl　was
still　standing　alone　by　the　gate。　　There　was　another　train　on　the
track　now；　and　the　rush　of　many　feet　had　swept　her　a　little　to　one
side。　　She　looked　frightened　now；　and　almost　ready　to　cry。　　Still；
William　noticed　that　her　chin　was　lifted　bravely；　and　that　she　was
making　a　stern　effort　at　self…control。　　He　hesitated　a　moment；　then
went　straight　toward　her。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　said　kindly；　lifting　his　hat；　〃but　I　notice
that　you　have　been　waiting　here　some　time。　　Perhaps　there　is
something　I　can　do　for　you。〃

A　rosy　color　swept　to　the　girl's　face。　　Her　eyes　lost　their
frightened　appeal；　and　smiled　frankly　into　his。

〃Oh；　thank　you；　sir！　　There　IS　something　you　can　do　for　me；　if　you
will　be　so　kind。　　You　see；　I　can't　leave　this　place；　I'm　so　afraid
he'll　come　and　I'll　miss　him。　　ButI　think　there's　some　mistake。
Could　you　telephone　for　me？〃　　Billy　Neilson　was　country…bred；　and
in　Hampden　Falls　all　men　served　all　other　men　and　women；　whether
they　were　strangers　or　not；　so　to　Billy　this　was　not　an　extraordinary
request　to　make；　in　the　least。

William　Henshaw　smiled。

〃Certainly；　I　shall　be　very　glad　to　telephone　for　you。　　Just　tell
me　whom　you　want；　and　what　you　want　to　say。〃

〃Thank　you。　　If　you'll　call　up　Mr。　William　Henshaw；　then；　of　Beacon
Street；　please；　and　tell　him　Billy's　come。　　I'll　wait　here。〃

〃Oh；　then　Billy　did　come！〃　cried　the　man　in　glad　surprise；　his　face
alight。　　〃But　where　is　he？　　Do　YOU　know　Billy？〃

〃I　should　say　I　did；〃　laughed　Billy；　with　the　lightness　of　a　long…
lost　child　who　has　found　a　friend。　　〃Why；　I　am　Billy；　myself！〃

To　William　Henshaw　the　world　swam　dizzily；　and　went　suddenly　mad。
The　floor　rose；　and　the　roof　fell；　while　cars　and　people　performed
impossible　acrobatic　feats　above；　below；　and　around　him。　　Then；
from　afar　off；　he　heard　his　own　voice　stammer：

〃YouareB…Billy！〃

〃Yes；　and　I'll　wait　here；　if　you'll　just　tell　him；　please。　　He's
expecting　me；　you　know；　so　it's　all　right；　only　perhaps　he　made　a
mistake　in　the　time。　　Maybe　you　know　him；　anyhow。〃

With　one　mighty　effort　William　Henshaw　pulled　himself　sharply
together。　　He　even　laughed；　and　tossed　his　head　in　a　valiant
imitation　of　Billy　herself；　but　his　voice　shook。

〃Know　him！I　should　say　I　did！〃　he　cried。　　〃Why；　I　am　William
Henshaw；　myself。〃

〃You！Uncle　William！　　Why；　where's　your　pink？〃

The　man's　face　was　already　so　red　it　could　not　get　any　redderbut
it　tried　to　do　so。

〃Why；　erIiterif　you'll　just　come　into　the　waiting…room　a
minute；　my　dear；〃　he　stuttered　miserably；　〃II'll　explainabout
that。　　I　shall　have　to　leave　youfor　a　minute；〃　he　plunged　on
frenziedly；　as　he　led　the　way　to　a　seat；　〃Amatter　of　business
that　I　must　attend　to。　　I'll　beright　back。　　Wait　here；　please！〃
And　he　almost　pushed　the　girl　into　a　seat　and　hurried　away。

At　a　safe　distance　William　Henshaw　turned　and　looked　back。　　His
knees　were　shaking；　and　his　fingers　had　grown　cold　at　their　tips。
He　could　see　her　plainly；　as　she　bent　over　the　basket　in　her　lap。
He　could　see　even　the　pretty　curve　of　her　cheek；　and　of　her　slender
throat　when　she　lifted　her　head。

And　that　was　Billya　GIRL！

People　near　him　at　that　moment　saw　a　flushed…faced；　nervous…
appearing　man　throw　up　his　hands　with　a　despairing　gesture；　roll
his　eyes　heavenward；　and　then　plunge　into　the　nearest　telephone
booth。

In　due　time　William　Henshaw　had　his　brother　Bertram　at　the　other
end　of　the　wire。

〃Bertram！〃　he　called　shakily。

〃Hullo；　Will；　that　you？　　What's　the　matter？　　You're　late！　　Didn't
he　come？〃

〃Come！〃　groaned　William。　　〃Good　Lord！　　BertramBilly's　a　GIRL！〃

〃A　wh…what？〃

〃A　girl。〃

〃A　GIRL！〃

〃Yes；　yes！　　Don't　stand　there　repeating　what　I　say　in　that　idiotic
fashion；　Bertram。　　Do　somethingdo　something！〃

〃'Do　something'！〃　gasped　Bertram。　　〃Great　Scott；　Will！　　If　you　want
me　to　do　something；　don't　knock　me　silly　with　a　blow　like　that。
Now　what　did　you　say？〃

〃I　said　that　Billy　isagirl。　　Can't　you　get　that？〃　demanded
William；　despairingly。

〃Well；　by　Jove！〃　breathed　Bertram。

〃Come；　come；　think！　　What　shall　we　do？〃

〃Why；　bring　her　home；　of　course。〃

〃Homehome！〃　chattered　William。　　〃Do　you　think　we　five　men　can
bring　up　a　distractingly　pretty　eighteen…year…old　girl　with　curly
cheeks　and　pink　hair？〃

〃With　wha…at？〃

〃No；　no。　　I　mean　curly　hair　and　pink　cheeks。　　Bertram；　do　be
sensible；〃　begged　the　man。　　〃This　is　serious！〃

〃Serious！　　I　should　say　it　was！　　Only　fancy　what　Cy　will　say！　　A
girl！　　Holy　smoke！　　Tote　her　alongI　want　to　see　her！〃

〃But　I　say　we　can't　keep　her　there　with　us；　Bertram。　　Don't　you　see
we　can't？〃

〃Then　take　her　to　Kate's；　or　toto　one　of　those　Young　Women's
Christian　Union　things。〃

〃No；　no；　I　can't　do　that。　　That's　impossible。　　Don't　you
understand？　　She's　expecting　to　go　home　with　meHOME！　　I'm　her
Uncle　William。〃

〃Lucky　Uncle　William！〃

〃Be　still；　Bertram！〃

〃Well；　doesn't　she　know　yourmistake？that　you　thought　she　was　a
boy？〃

〃Heaven　forbid！I　hope　not；〃　cried　the　man；　fervently。　　〃I　'most
let　it　out　once；　but　I　think　she　didn't　notice　it。　　You　see；　wewe
were　both　surprised。〃

〃Well；　I　should　say！〃

〃And；　Bertram；　I　can't　turn　her　outI　can't；　I　tell　you。　　Only
fancy　my　going　to　her　now　and　saying：　　'If　you　please；　Billy；　you
can't　live　at　my　house；　after　all。　　I　thought　you　were　a　boy；　you
know！'　　Great　Scott！　　Bert；　if　she'd　once　turned　those　big　brown
eyes　of　hers　on　you　as　she　has　on　me；　you'd　see！〃

〃I'd　be　delighted；　I'm　sure；〃　sung　a　merry　voice　across　the　wires。
〃Sounds　real　interesting！〃

〃Bertram；　can't　you　be　serious　and　help　me　out？〃

〃But　what　CAN　we　do？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　We'll　have　to　think；　but　for　now；　get　Kate。
Telephone　her。　　Tell　her　to　come　right　straight　over；　and　that
she's　got　to　stay　all　night。〃

〃All　night！〃

〃Of　course！　　Billy's　got　to　have　a　chaperon；　hasn't　she？　　Now
hurry。　　We　shall　be　up　right　away。〃

〃Kate's　got　company。〃

〃Never　mindleave　'em。　　Tell　her　she's　got　to　leave　'em。　　And　tell
Cyril；　of　course；　what　to　expect。　　And；　look　a…here；　you　two
behave；　now。　　None　of　your　nonsense！　　Now　mind。　　I'm　not　going　to
have　this　child　tormented。〃

〃I　won't　bat　an　eyelidon　my　word；　I　won't；〃　chuckled　Bertram。
〃But；　oh；　I　say；Will！〃

〃Yes。〃

〃What's　Spunk？〃

〃Eh？ohGreat　Scott！　　I　forgot　Spunk。　　I　don't　know。　　She's　got　a
basket。　　He's　in　that；　I