Middletown transcript., 1898-10-22
now TILLY NAMED rHE DAY.

1uaL.S uoF PINK gown a-uILLIUs III au
out of the garden. Now if / can onl
Weedle her into takin' a mornin' ride
we'll see who's master of the situation
Two years now she's been putin M
off in that bewjtehin' way of her'n AMI
I'm tired of it. hain't been spendin
my winter evenin's readin' up abou
Napoleon Bonapare and General Taylo
and all of them other determined feller
for nuthin'. I've been altogether tot
meachin'. It's high time | put ny
foot down and made Tilly come to rea
son, and I'm a-goin' to do i'll"
| Jerry set his jaws grimly, sprang as
tride the saddle. whirled rapidly dowI
the winding road, and soon presented
himself, cap in hand, at the door of tht
Morgan homestead. Tilly herself ap
peared promptly. her comely face alive
with dimples and her bright blue eyes
dancing with mirth.
"Took run over to show you this
new machine o. mine," announced
Jerry with a sidew.se wave of the
hand.
81 saw yon coming up the hill," res.
ponded Tilly, demurely. "You looked
for all the world like big, long-legged
grasshopper" - with an irrepressible
giggle.
II only wish you darst try it a bill
and see what an easy runnin' concern
it is" pursued Jerry, sudden flush
martling his broad forehead and loosing
itself in his curly looks. 'sBut OF
course 'twould be risky, considerin' you
amt used to it, he adiei, apologetic.
| ally.
"Humpl there's never been colt on
the place that I couldn't bride and
ride, and 'tisn't likely Pm afraid of q
new.fangled continuance like that!" re-
piled Tilly, loftily.
swell, | s'pose you might try it, but
I warn you, it's dangerous business" "
hesitated Jerry. you'll have to take
in sail a bit,n with critical glance at
her newlystarched gingham. Tilly dar-
ted up the stairs and soon reappeared
in trim walking skirt, with jaunty
Tam o'Shanter pinned securely to her
shining brown braids.
After few preliminary failures, she
was securely seated and the tandem
glided smo othly along the shady coun.
try road, Tilly sat er eel, firmly grasping
the handlebars with her plump fingers
and thoroughly enjoying the novel ex-
perience.
"Pshawl this is as easy as riding Old
Roam to plow. Now I'm going home
to finish my ironing.''
"No, you're not, Tilly Morgan. You
won't go home until you have given a
plain answer to the question have
been ask in, off and on, for two years
or more." announced Jerry peremptor
lily, while his heart thumped heavily
against his ribs, and the roar Of the
Atlantic seemed Singing in his ears,
"Steady therew ar Tilly gave an indig-
nant bounce that threatened to capsize
the wheel.
Jeremiah Sanb ,rn, I'll never speak
to you againl There's Uncle Moses and
Aunt Debby and Dan out in their door
yard. I'll call for help. as true as l
live, if you don't stop this minute ! !"
seolded Till.
s'Hhey cam catch u.s." replied Jerry
coolly. gradually increasing speed.
Despite valiant threa t, Tilly sailed
by the open-mouthed trio with flaming
cheeks and downcast eyes.
There was long silence, while the
tandem bowled merrily along. The
psrspiration streamsd from Jerry's
crimson forehead. The SIN was mount
ing higher, the road was upgrade, and
Tilly was no light weight.
"Jerry!" she faltered at length, coax
ingly, "please take me homs."
'.You know the condition. Reckon
we'll reach CentreVille BY noon, at the
rate we're spinning" vouchedsafed
Jerry, uncompromisingly
Another prolonged silence.
"JerryW
"Well?"
"What do you want me to say2"
81 want you to name tie day when
you will coma and be mistress Of the
little home I've had ready and waitin'
for you for year and half" s1id
Jerry. sternly.
Tilly glanced about her uneasily.
Far in the distance she could see the
glittering church spires of Contreville.
This is too ridiculous, J;rryp
"WellP,
-"Will June Is suit you2"
Perfectly. Dismount and rest in
the shade for few moments and will
take you home at once"
Tilly meekly seated herself on
messy rock beneath a huge oak and
covertly watched Jerry from beneath
her long lashes. He was apparently |
engrossed in fecking every possible
grain of dust from the shining spokes
Of the tandem, but his eyes shone with
a triumphant light.
The long run home was performec in
dignifed silence.
lilly sprang lightly 70 her feat. II
thing you're just as m-m-mean as you
can be, Jerry, y she sobbed, as she flew
into the house and slammed the door. |
Safely inside, she hurried to tbe par
lor and peered through the blind. Jer-
~, with erect head and shoulders
squared. was speeding down the bill,
bis long legs performing most extraor-l