Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-01-11

ways rery circumspect in future, l shan
remember this at all. GOod-by; III Sc,
you Tomorrow, and the little figure van
ished.
The same little figure. dressed in a smar
suit OF black silk and a hat with gay
plumes, was seated on the next Wednes
day afternoon, by the side of Mr.. Jones In
stylish cutter. Some parts Of the conver
satlon that took place | here record
Pretty house there on our left remark
ed Mr.. Jones.
Very.
1t takes my fancy. it's so cozy and do
mestic. | mean to live in such a hous,
when l settle down, provided It suits my
wife. How do you like the house. Mis-:
rlly?'
'Oh, houses are pretty much the same tC
me. ii they're not boarding houses
Yes, boarding-houses are disagreeabe
Don't you think man ought to be settled
In home OF his own by the time he reach
es my age, Miss Tily?
don't know what your age is, Mr.
Jones'
I'm twenty-eight.
oh, then have the advantage OF yor
by sever years. I'm twenty one
Just the age I'd like my wife to be- Mr.
Jones said. with side glance at Tllly',
face.
Miss MEwens did not blush, but pulled
her fur closer, with the remark
IT'S little singular. but I'm exactly Of
Mr. Johnson's age. He was telling me SC
two days ago
Was hep Mr.. Jones gave the horse a
keen cut with the whip As he spoke.
on, don't! Do you know you promised
me might driver And you always keer
Jones with glance and smile that restored
his good humor. His half.yexed and half
amused look became wholly admiripp as
he surrendered the relns to the little hands
stretched out for them.
What puzzle you are Miss TiIly, A
fellow DOESN'T. know now to take YOU.
know felloYs though, who would be very
glad to take ysHii he could get you'-and
Mr.. Jones bent his head so that he could
send level glance from his blue eyes into
Tilly's black ones. Miss MEwens looked
straight at the sunny road before her.
Mr.. Jones. how your horse does kick
snow in my face. don't like riding be-
hind him at all
\ ou like neither the horse nor the mas
ter. was the piqued reply. Ifit was John:
sons horse, you'd admire it,
A ve-y sober face was turned arsond 10
him then, aud the black eyes looked re-
proachful and propitIatory
why do you talk so?' 4
'Tiily.' was the Immediate and eager be.
ginning. 'Tilly-now don't tiirn your head
away again. as you've been doing all the
stternoOn. want you 70 look at me. and
| want to talk TO you soberlv I'm deter
mined | will speak. You shan't be off or
on with me just as you take a fancy. We're
going 10 have an understanding one way
or the other; Now. rilly. YIN you or
won't Oh. be careful there! ,Geod gra-
cious what clsse shave that vast
A very close shave. 'Pte black-eved gen
eral had found herself In danger of a pro-
posal and, with desperate sheer. had
grazed by sled heavily loaded with wood.
Mr.. Jones, more annoyed than he liked to
say, jumped out to investigate the damage
done to his newly painted sleigh, while
Tillv scolded roundly.
IT'S all your horseT he ,ciR stY. 81 every
thing =
Shy was the irate rejoindeT. Did
ever hear OF horse shyin.rato the thing
he was afraid OFF
= i don't want .toshear any, Ching about
horses, or to drive one like this. want
TO go home was the captious response
Homeward Mr.. Jones drove, with COM
pressed lips. 1t was not TIL they were n
the town. and fairly before the mills, that
Miss M'Ewens said, with falter in her
voice.
'Oh,I'm just the worst girl. know I've
ruined your sleigh
Mr.. Jones looked at the downcast face.
shaded by the shortjetty curls, aud relent-
ed.
4 dont't care about my sleigh half as
much as do about you.
Then you're not angry? I've had such
pleasant ride. Now won't you let me
get out here? because I've got 10 stay at
the depot till tea-time. I never have
holiday without making up for it,
May come and walk home with YOU
to-nightc
oh yes III wait for you;' and lilly ran
into the depot, triumphant.
1t was about week after this that Miss
M'Ewens came home 10 supper with a
tragic ce,and letter in her pocket. Poll.
in the doorway, nudged her. and pointed
TO her plate on the dining table, beside
which lay another letter. lilly swept this
also into her pocket, ate her supper in ab-
solute silence. and afterward beckoned TO
Poll to follow her up stairs.
Don't say a Nord,' Miss M'Ewens said,
sitting down on the drst chair she came to-
Il know all aboNU. One letter is from
Jones and the other from Johnson, and
they're both dated to-day e And there you
sit and laugh!'
1t was not very kind OF Poll, but it is
fact that she had sat down on the bed aud
laug he'd till the tears ran down her cheek 5.
Tilly read the last letter with gloony
face.
Il wish was Mormon she said crump-
ling both missives into a mass.
20 Lor' cried the shocked Poll.
We'll, if was, couldn't marry both Of
them, and can't for my life tell which |
like best. Poll, which do you tLiuk is mic
est"
You amt going by any thing | say. I
like johnson best
'Oh, but Jones is<pore of a gentleman.
And they're both coming here tonight to
Ellen Reeves's surprise party. and each
says can answer him tonight. Think of
that. POll'-and Miss M'Ewens walked the
room desperately-'both coming for an an
swer Tonight
will you take:' ~
i shall have to take the first one That
asks me square. hope it'll be Jones-no
l don't; hope it'll be Johnson
ron. after anOlher stare and laugh, com.
menced her toilette. lilly perforce CON-
menced hers, signing as she brushed out
her eurls.
oh dear, l shall be SO awfully sorry,
whichever way it turns outr
Poll. In intervals Of assuming q green
merino and braiding her hair, was inter-
rupted BY the perfect distraction OF her
room mate. who finally sat down and de-
clared she would not move at all the even
ing.
Say I'm sick, Poll. No, you needn't,
either; Pl just face it out ;'and Miss NEW
ems sprang to her feet and seized a neck
ribbon.
She does beat the Dutch = thought Poll.
an hour later, as she watched lilly moving
about among the noisy and motley gather
ing below stairs. as gay MS the gayest, her
own saocy, Indifferent little self again. In
one corner Jones was standing, stationary
as the enormous vase of dried flowers on
the table at his side, over the top Of which
he stared at lilly. In another corner Mr..
johnson was trying to smile at the sallies
OF young lady at his side. and also COW
ertly watching Tilly, who was an illustra-
tiOn Of perpetual motion. Between talking
laughing, dancing, and flirting, she had