Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-08-01
BILLY'S RUSE.
ICopyright, lSq5.1

Billy Weldon lounged up to the county clerks desk with a hand full of silver and 0 face full of mystery. The mystery dis solved to embarrassment when, obedient to his loudly whispered request, the clerk handed him marriage license. "Say! You'll keep this dark fer nc won't you, please?" he said entreatingly lingering the document as though it were a serpent.
 "Of course-if you say so, the func- tionary returned, smiling. Whats up, Billy? Got to run away with your girlp"
 "Naw! wisht had-'twould be easier! Yes, sight easier" Billy returned mop | ping his forehead hard. "You see, it's this way-pap's dead agin marvin. I've done hired ter him fer the whole year, and don t | see how I'm ever goin ter steal time ter slip round and git the passon, then streak it l ter the Widder Wilson's and wait till Sairy has got into her wedding frock." "Why not wait for Christmas?''
 "That was my nOtion but it don't work wuth a cent" he said. "You see, the frocks the troublo-its real silk. That frock cain't he let go out O fashion. Elf l won't come ter tstw, why, Jim Nixon is ready, willin and waitin, and though she'd ruther have me in the family shell U style."
 'It is a pretty hard ease," the sheriff said. He had strollcd in just as Billy be- gan to tell his woe ''If it would help you, Billy" he went on, "I'll summon the old man on the jury"
 The clerk cut him short "That won t work-hes too old, " he said. I've must think of some other way. It'll never do never in the world-to have so much mat rimonial capital idle"
 Billy's face fell.
 Ut beats me, 'he murmured. "Yes! It beats me clean. I'd take week off and never gredgo tho time, but the old man he drawed our contract, that of I lost any time needless, aginst his will and say SO, he could stop the whole half my wages he is ter keep tell Christmas. That's whut gifts mo whar the wool's short.'' "Your head is level, Billy" the sheriff said, grinning.
 Big meeting begins tomorrow. Go there and have the knot tied right in tho face of cveryhody,' Nod Marks again sug- gested, but Billy shook his head. ''I thought Q that" he said. But the Widdcr Wilson, she's SD cuSSrd high toned she won't have no Sunday marvin; says that $ po' white all over You see, ef jest only knowcd whar the old man would send me any pcrtiCkler day, so much as a week beforehand, 1 could git word ter Sairy. | and shed be all drrsscd and waitin-tho knot could be tied in no timc-but there ain't no chance O that Pears ter mo, be- twcenst the old man and the widdcr, I'm l in a bad TOW fer stumpS. "You are that, but don't give up, Billy! | We'll stand your friends and see you through, his three cun1idants choruscd between explosive laughs. After ten minutes of rapid conferences | the clerk drew forward a sheet of paper | with the official head and wrote: DEAR OLD FRIEND WEID0N-I hear from | Billy you prisoner to rheumatism. That | is very bad news tu me- as l was depending on you to bring the watcrmrlonS for our lawyers barbecue next saturday It's just the same | old thing-our yearly frolic. You have been | with us many time. I have asked Billy about l bringing the melons. He thinks it cant ht | done, says tine crop is pushing too hard, but | don t more than half believe him. Make haste | to get well. There is q heap want to tell you. Your friend, JIM PO;.H ASHTON. "Thcrc!" he said, his eye twinkling as ho handed Billy the mssivc. Mind, | young ma:l, you don't want to como to | this barbecue. Hang back as much as ever | you can and trust Us for the rest A slow and smiling comprehension dawncd in Biuy's face.
 "I'll be thar-rr tharabGuts, he said Cts the old place, I sFo>c:-thc Cave spring?-and the read ter it runs spang by tho Wilson gate.
 
 "Cain't sparo a day Crap so pushin | Who ever heard srch talk, you young nut | ton head Arah!' squire Weldon said cX. | PlOsivcly when he had read the letter | ''You'll go, sir! Yes! You will! Go like a gentleman, too and take niggcr tel | mind the wagon and toto watcrmelons ter | the crowd"
 II don't sec tho use of it." Billy main tained sturdily, though his heart was humping so with joy he could hardly stand. "Secms sorter hard ter me, you can mako mo lose day when don't want ter, and then I cain't stop fer nothiI less n you agree?"
 "That shows m heap tho smartest man O the two" tho squire returned, with $ chuckle. Billy, cf ever you git ter the | pint O running your father, hell give you the best hundred acres O land he. | got"
 Dusk was falling as Billy drove homo l from the barbecue. A radiant sOme ono il | lowered silk sat at his elbow. His three l friends had made his way smoother thar Oil-tho bride had been dressed, tho min | ister in waiting. As soon as the wedding I | spring. The Widder Wilson hcrsclf had in | sisted upon it as the least he could do by | way of showing his gratitude for the doZer | silver spoons tho lawyers had sent the
 bride.
 IIo had had |; day of uproariuus fun anC | fcaStinG. With the courage of it strong | in his veins he had resolved to take Inf, | wife home at once. But they ncarcd | the gate QualmS and trGmorS bcsCt him.
 In spite of them he walked boldly in
 holding Sarahs hand, and went straight
 up to his father
 l "Them lawyers sent you this-with bes I wishes and compliments, he said. | With gasp the old man grasped the sit
 nation. He raised himself difficulty iron
 his easy chair and held out his hand to tn,
 bride.
 "You're welcome, my gal!' he sait
 heartily. "In fact, anything would be
 welcome of it proved as you do-that tha
 thar boy O mine could have the sense te
 git ahead O his daddy. He done it thi
 time, clean and clear, but he had all thu
 lawyers in town ter help him. But he had moro sense than any O
 them-the sense to want me" Sarah saiC
 saucily, putting up her faco for q kiss
 which the squire gavc with the hearties
 good will.
 MARTHA MCCULLoCH WILLIAMS.
 Related.
 Tho traveller shaded his eyes with hi
 hand and looked anxiously about him.
 ''Is there a man in the village,' h.