The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1878-05-17
the porch of the old farm house he

advice! I'll run and tell Tom sh.
won't come. My eyes! won't there
be a row "
He trotted off in the direction O
the orchard, some distance from thu
house. just at the outskirts of the
orchard, a half dozen huge llacs
grew, loading the air with sweet
ness. Here Oh IA rustic seat, sat q
young man in an attitude of expect
ancy-a young man with Il noble
face, and grave, earnest eyes. Hi
sprang to his feet, as the child
drew near.
Wouldn't she come~ he cried
in a tone of disappointment.
Says she's busy" answered the
little mischiet-maker, demurely
(" Wouldn't bulge an i1ch--for me-
Tom Willis sat down and covered
his face with his hands. Twilight
deepened its gray shadows; the
night birds chirped in the lilacs.
~ wonder if she's offended be
cause | sent the request for her to
come out here" he soliloquizcd at
last. "Billy, it ! give you note
for your sister, will you deliver il
at once I"
"Yes, o'course III liver it to her
why not I"
He thrust both hands Into his
pockets with ludicrous assump-
tion of gravity.
"l'd go into the house and see
her." continued Tom, "but | cart
after such a cold message as that
Perhaps when she hears that Pm
going gaway, she'll change her mind"
He hastily tore Leaf from his
note book, and in the gathering
twilight scribbled these words:
"Dorrie, dear Dorrie,
Forgive my presumption in ask.
ing you to meet me under the lilacs
tonight. But fancied you might
come, and listen! Dorric, it was
to tell you good bye-tor start to-
morrow for Florida. received the
offer late last night and must go
at once. It's a fine chance, and
when | return. III be able to ask IL
certain question, of the sweetest
girl | know. If she will give me
one little ray of hope to carry with
me-send a line to the postoffice
tomorrow morning. leave at 0
o'clock.
Yours, forever, TOM
He folded the hurried scrawl and
laid it in the chubby hand, togeth-
er with IA bright silver half dollar.
"For me I" shrieked Billy, in de
light.
"For you, Billy. I'm going away
tomorrow, don't forget me when |
am gone"
You bet.n
Billy thrust the note vehemently
away down into his gaping pocket,
and the silver followed in it's wake.
"There," he calculated, with
great satisfaction, "that's safe.
Well, Tommy, Pm ofi-good-bye."
Goodbye, Billy. Shall / see
you back to the house 7"
"Thank you, Mr.. Willis" re-
sponded the mite, with dignity, I'd
man can take care of himself"
He trudged off as he spoke. Tom
watched the childish form until it
disappeared among the trees.
Darkness had now fallen over
everything; the night birds had
ceased their chirping; Il voice in
the distance called anxiously:
" Billy, Billy, where are you,
child 7"
1t was Dorrie.
"What a fuss, to make about
lothin'w piped Billy, suddenly
making his appearance on the wide
porch, where the family had assem-
Jled, in search of the little truant.
Can't "A feller take walk by his
'elf 'thout all this row n
mot such wee man, as you,"
answered his tather-a kindly faced
Id farmer, as he seized his young
lopetnl by the arm, not roughly,
hough; for they were never rough
With Billy. He was such an odd
MIXTURE of gravity and comicality,
ense and nonsense, that he was d
eneral favOrite.
Pm out putty late" observed
Billy, gravely, "but 'twont happen
o more. Sister Dorrie, l think I'll
o to bed, now"
Dorrie arose from her low seat,
n the porch. Her face was very
ale, and there was q drawn
,ok about her pretty mouth.
om's non-appearance troubled her,
nd she was talking the disappoint- /
.ent hard. Billy began to feel a !
title uneasy. Child, as he was, he /
new that in Withholding TOMS i
essage, from his sister, he had 5
Dt done right. That which he had =
first, intended as a childish joke, !
ngan to assume larger proportions. g
he child was not bad-only way
ard, and passionately fond of .
asing, and he resolved to set I
rong right.
AS soon as Dorrie had accompa- +
ed him to the nursery, and pre- t
ired TO assist him in process of
srobing, he put his hand into his
,cket.
4" I'll give her the letter, now
make up tor my badness he d
id TO himself "but l must tease r
IT a little, first" \
He thrust both hands into his "