The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-12-11

smile at the sallles Of young lady at his
side, and also covertly watching lilly, who
was an Illustration of perpetual motion.
Between talking, laughing, dancing and
flirting, she had not a second to spare. She
smiled most sweetly on her two adorers,
but managed to vanish like sprite from
their immediate neighborhood. In vain
they made monuments Of themselves.
Tilly would not notice. But, as fate would
have 1t, she presently tore breadth Of her
dress across.
For the moment, In her annoyance, she
forgot everything but the accident, and,
with an apology to her partner, whlrled
out Of the Virginia reel and started for her
own room. How long she was pinping up
that breadth she never knew. When she
dared to stay away no longer she put out
her lamp and slowly-very slowly-began
todescend the stairs. OF course size at last
reached bottom stair, upon which she sat
down and dolsfully regarded the lines of
light under the parlor doors, as If they
would help her to conclusion.
1t was but moment she sat there, but
In that moment she was terribly startled
by sudden movement close by her in the
dark. Her hand was clasped in two others,
and a voice whispered:
"Tilly, want my answer. Aren't you
going to give it to me?"
Miss McEwens was struck dumb.
"Why, don't you speak? know it's
yOu;" and daring hand touched the short
curls on Tilly's forehead.
Miss McEvs ems would have given deal
to have been as sure of the identity of the
questioner. If he would only speak aloud.
or If some one would open one of the par
lor doors!
"rilly"-this time the whisper was ur-
gent-''its now or never with ME. II
you don't give me an up and down Yes
or No you'll never have the chance
again"
"Nell, then-yes."
The next instant there was an exclama-
tion, somewhere beyond in the dark space,
that sounded very profane. The coat col
lar of the arm of the individual nearest
Tilly was seized by third person and the
lover she had just accepted was whirled
violently against the opposite wall. There
was scutile in the dark
Tilly, little coward that she was, uttered
loud scream and ran back up stairs as
fast as her feet would carry her. Only two
hours, yet it seemed five To her, before the
door was shaken and Polls voice demand
ed admittance. Tilly sprang to the door.
"Oh, Poll" was her first anxious ques-
tion, ''did either of them hurt the other
and which did it?'
"All know is Johnson's down stairs
now, bound to wait till he sees YOU; and
Jones left double quick after the set-to.
Both of 'em was mad enough, if that's all,
but they want hurt to speak Of"
Once within the door of the deserted and
dsOrdered parlor, Miss McEwens did not
long remain in ignorance as to who her ac-
cepted lover was. Two arms were thrown
around her, and two lips shaded bv black
mustache were pressed to her own. Wheth-
er Miss McEwens thought regretfully of
the blue eyes that were lost forever, can
not tell. At any rate she smiled radiantly
enough to make Mr.. johnson forget his
bruised shoulders and sides, and when, half
an hour later, Mr.. johnson exclaimed,
GLOW on earth Jones ever got into that
hall without my knowing it, can't think
and what was the good of his pitching
into mep" she only answered with laugh:
"Oh, never mind Jones'"
"He couldn't stand it to hear you say
Yes to me, Tilly."
IL suppose he thought meant to say
Yes to him." was the innocent rejoinder.
HE might have known better"