The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-03
rome that afternoon TO rake after The

conversation circumscribed before sud
denly found 1t a most difficult matter to
utter a sentence. jdclSy was so affected
that he couldn't even look 'Tilda's way.
At last Jacky, in view Of certain kinds
of cEestisements that he had received at
various times during his life. broke the
| stiffness.
i've got ter 60 back, 'Tilda." Then he
discovered tear in 'Tilda eyes, and add
ed; "Oh, 'Tilda, / wouldn't after all"
Il VIII too, Jacl1y Hopkins / amt one
| o Their kind that goes back on myself, and
more-n l do on anybody else. But on,
| Jaclyy, you will be true, won't yer?"
Now there had never been any very
| definite conVersation on matters concern
Ing love between this erring pair. Ac-
cordingy 'Tilda remark sounded grand
! ard grown up, and he solemuly answered:
Yes, I viii, 'Tilda-Hope ter die,
will"
Then 'Tilda almost picked him off the
| ground and kissed him square on the lips
| IL was the first time that operation had
| been performed on Jacky except in kiss
! ing games Its effect was to make him
| turn directly around and run as fast as his
little legs could carry 1im-and the tears
were running down his checks.
| The sensation of that kiss was not even
| duled by the chastisement, which follow
ei few minutes later, owing to his alb
sence from the hay field. Nor was it even
forgotten many years after, when Jacky
became man.
1t was not very long before Jacky heard,
with terrifying interest, the familiar voice
Of Matilda's mother.
"'Tildal 'Tilda! Where be you, 'Tilda?'
Then she came over into ne field, for
where Jacky was it was generally safe TO
conclude that 'Tilda might be discovered
also Her bony finger motioned Jacky to-
VarJs her and he capnp trembling and
fearful
"Hev yer seen 'Tllda anywhere's round
here?' she asked
Nom" Jacky answered, wuth his
tongue in his cheek. That question was an
easy one to answer; but life was fast be-
coming very terrible to him.
Mrs. Vnton passed on. This was the be-
ginning Of an agitation which swept over
the whole community in grand crescen-
do until it occupied The attention of three
adjoining townships. For two days JacSy
kept out of sight as much possible and
passed his nights in sleeplessness and
weeping. The pressure against his con-
science was becoming harder and harder
while the difficulties Of confe on were
growing greater.
He observed that If he had come for
ward with his information, he might have
maintained the p ace of a hundred farms
AS 1t was, the fields were deserted and
Jacky concluded that his reckoning wouli
be something awful. Added to all this was
an awful lonesome feeling, which he right
ly attributed to The absence of 'Tilda.
HIS little face was a picture Of grief,
and escaped no one; but it was set down
to the fact that he loved 'Tllda, or as the
neighbors put it: Poor little Jacky! He
did set great store by 'Tilda." So they
forebore mentioning the girl in his pres
ence.
But at last 1t came out. Mrs. Hopkins
had taken to putting him TO ped, for Their
little man is THAI meachin,' she said. So,
after his prayers had been said, he turned
himself TO the wall in an agony of tears
and blurted out:
'Tilda's ruined away ter Their cir
cusp'
Mrs. Hopkins comprehended it all in a
minute. She did not wait to give Jacky
his deserts, and left him in a storm of
tears in which he sobbed himself TO
sleep.
1t was hard for the little fellow to hold
up his head during the next few days.
THAT Hopkins boy became quite as much
a part Of the history of the town of Tres
colt, as 'Tilda herself The world looked
very solemn to Jacky but 1t was positive
" frightened, when the truth became
known to him.
1t seemed that the circus had q novel way
Of escaping creditors, which involved an
entire change of name at stated periods.
This generally happened when it moved
from one state to another. So McAlpin's
Combine, Colossal Hlppodrome and Con-
summation of Wonders emerged, when 1t
crossed the Connecticut river inp YER
mont, as Fontaine's Equine Aggregation
and Grand Galaxy of Marvels.
The circus people said they had nothing
wha tever 20 do with McAlpines show
which was true as far as their bills went,
and they knew nothing Of such a person
as 'Tilda.
The months grew and the year ended.
Jacky was growing taller and soberer.
This sad episode in his life had left a deep
impression. And then one by one the
years were added, and all hope of ever
knowing the fate of 'Tllda vanished from
The hearts OF Trescott-all except one.
Nv.
When the enraptured 'Tflda had feast
ed her heart on the wonderful feats Of the
bareback riders and trapeze performers,
she was more convinced than ever that
she was made ter jine Their circus" Aft
er the show was over she asked to see
"ther man that bossed Their show" The
attendant smiled and humored her whim.
The manager was also in contented
state OF mind and punctuated 'Tilda's en-
thusiasdc account of her exploits with
outlaws, both loud and hearty.
WAL, leetle cyril" he said, with per-
ceptible Southern accent, "ah kinder reck-
on you would amount ter suthln' of yeou's
ter be given a chance, You seem purity
peart. Wen try yer. Give yer some
trainin-an' plenty o work ter do. But
yer kyant edzaetly jine this ere show.
Wen he a new combination when we git
over Their river, about forty miles in Their
interior Now yer must remember yer
haint anythin ter do with McAlDine's
combination. win yer?"
Tilda was ready TO do anything, and she
soon found that she had to do everything.
No one seemed to be able TO find time 10
give her any training-but she did have
something 10 eat and place to sleep Each
night, when she cried herself TO sleep. her
last thought was OF little Jacky
The little prisoner of the caravan, as
the years rolled on, found herself doing
the things she rad fondly dreamed of in
her childish ambiuoEs, under a high
sounding name. But sometimes in her
sleeping dreams. she saw the green hills
and wandered over the fields with Mite
Jacky; and Always when she walked the
tears would come 10 her eyes