MISS BILLY [Illustration: "That wasn't the way it happened," said a clear voice above them. (_See page 67._)] MISS BILLY A NEIGHBORHOOD STORY [Illustration] _By_ EDITH KEELEY STOKELY _And_ MARIAN KENT HURD _ILLUSTRATED BY CHARLES COPELAND_ BOSTON [symbol] LOTHROP PUBLISHING COMPANY Published, April, 1905 COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD COMPANY _All Rights Reserved_ MISS BILLY NORWOOD PRESS BERWICK & SMITH CO. NORWOOD, MASS. U.S.A. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. NO. 12 CHERRY STREET 1 II. MISS BILLY 8 III. WAYS AND MEANS 22 IV. NEW NEIGHBOURS 37 V. A LOAD OF DIRT 44 VI. NEXT DOOR 55 VII. TRIALS 70 VIII. THE STORY OF HORATIUS 86 IX. BEATRICE 110 X. A BROKEN SIDEWALK 124 XI. WEEDS 142 XII. LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD 154 XIII. HARD LINES 170 XIV. TWO LETTERS 188 XV. "FRANCES" 200 XVI. THE CHILD GARDEN 213 XVII. THE LAWN SOCIAL 233 XVIII. MARGARET LENDS ASSISTANCE 250 XIX. PERSONAL PLEASURE 265 XX. FAIR SKIES 285 XXI. HALLOWE'EN 296 XXII. WAITING 317 XXIII. CONCLUSION 330 ILLUSTRATIONS "That wasn't the way it happened," said a clear voice above them _Frontispiece_ Page "I have a leaning toward an up-to-date stable and riding ponies, myself" 82 "Who are you?" he said 167 Marie Jean was gotten up in a style known as "regardless" 240 She was telling him the history of the day 279 "All Oi do be nadin'," ... "is a check-rein from the top av me head to me shoulder blades" 343 MISS BILLY CHAPTER I No. 12 CHERRY STREET