The Coming of Bill

orter was cross-examining KirkWinfield,

solation in anamber drink with a cherry at the bottom of it. For this young man wasone of nature's cherry-chasers. It was

cept in so far that the painful story hehas been unfolding to Bailey Bannister has so wrought upon tha

n people thinkhim older. His mouth, at present gaping with agitation and theunwonted exercise, is, as a rule, primly clos

irm of Bannister & Son, and it is his unalterableconviction that, if his father would on

progress could be made in a taxicab than on his admirablytrousered legs. No more significant proof of the magnitude of hisagitation could be broug

dy. But the heat of the day kept him unpleasantly soluble,and dismay, that perspi

ked. Life is a rocky road forsuch. His motto was "Let _me_ do it!" He fussed about the affairsof Bannister &

inct. He was absorbed, body and soul, inthe business of the firm. He lived practically a hermit life in thegreat house on Fifth Avenue; and, if it had not been for Bailey

or a conscientious you

peace descended on him. But the distantsound of a piano in the upper regions ejected it again by rem

red, and the girl on the music

warm.""I _am_ warm," said Bailey in

h shut the piano and caused the musi

l?" sh

." From her mother shehad inherited the dark eyes and ivory complexion which went so wellwith her mass of dark hair;

he moved girls married young; yetseason followed season, and Ruth remained single, and this so obviouslyof

d man, but at themoment under the influence of tawny port, had laid their hearts at herfeet. One and all, they had been compelled to pick them up and takethem elsewhere. She was generally ki

fellow couldunderstand: she frightened them; she made them feel that their handswere large and red and their minds weak and empty. She was waiting forsomething. What it was they did not know, bu

e house furnished with any taste or simplicity. Thefurniture was exceedingly expensive, but did not look so. The key-noteof the colour-scheme was green and wh

ly out of the frame;exceedingly handsome, but, to the ordinary male, too formidableto be attractive. On t

yed to him by amused friends, that his AuntLora had once described Ruth as a jewel in a dust-bin, seemed to him tocarry an offensive innuendo directed at himself and the rest of thedwellers in the Bannister home. Also, she had called him a worm. Also,again, his actual encounters with the lady,

s disapprovingly an

u about that before. What's the matter? What has sent you flying uphere?

ayling."He eyed her accusingly through his

ings.""I gather he told you I had refused him.""I

lutely refuse to endure your impressivemanner. I believe when people ask you the time you look pained andimportant and make a mystery of it. What's troubling y

elligence which nature gave him reduced topractically a minus quantity by alcohol! At least, he implied it. Heasked me to marry him.""I have just left him at the club. He is very upset.""I sho

rageous andimproper, and--er--outrageous."He paced th

repairs to you. You had far better sit down and talk quietly. What_is_ worrying you, Bailey?""Is it nothing," demanded her brother, "that my

e your handkerchief. I should say that that wouldcost you about six dollars, dear. Why will

C of eugenics."Bailey, on his knees, picking up

t think about anything else much. A woman can't do a great deal,even nowadays, but she can have a conscience and feel that she owessomething to the future of the race. She can feel that it is her dutyto bri

""Bailey _precious_! You mustn't use such wicke

will reallyhave to go.""Ever since that--that----" cried

t herrecord. She disgraces the family by marrying a grubby newspaper fellowcalled Porter. He has the sense to die. I will say that for him. Shethrusts herself into public notice by a series of books and speeches onsubjects of which a decent woman ought to know nothing. And now shegets hold of you, fill

e me," prompted Ruth i

op.""He's perfectly wonderful!" murmured Ruth. "He just opens his mouth andthe words come out. But

ed about. You go about saying perfectly impossible things topeople. You

at. They have all got little, narrowfaces without chins or big, fat faces without foreheads. Ugh!""None

hate yourself

iley grunted. Ruth came to him and gave him a sisterly kiss. S

eal young man. That's who--or is itwhom?--I'm waiting for. Bailey, shall I tell you something? You're soscarlet already--poor boy, you ought not to rush around in this hotweather--that it won't make you blush. It

hallfind him. We may pass each other on Fifth Avenue. We may sit next eachother at a theatre. Wherever it is, I shall just reach right out andgrab him and whisk him away. And if he's married already, he'll have toget a divorce. And I shan't care who he is. He may be any one. I don'tmind if he's a ribbon clerk or a prize-fighter or

t mean that

like to strangle that woman.""Don't you try! Have you ever felt Aunt Lora's biceps? It's like aman's. She does dumb-bells every morning.""I've a good mind to speak to father. Somebody's got to make you stopthis insanity.""Just as you please. But you know how father hates to be worried aboutthings that don

I don't believe you'reserious.""Stick to that ide

ll comfo