The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-07-31

good standin' did happen round thar
then. with a license ter marry folks
snug In his pocket"
"Hey, there! You. Billy! Who's go
in ter run off with your the squire
demanded, his eyes twinkling. Billy'S
bashfulness was proverb all through
the countryside. The squire was
put up imploring hands, whispering
louder than ever. "Lordy, squire, will
you be shore ter tell her never took
and told your"
"I'll give you ten ter tell me who she
is." the squire retorted, chuckling. "I'll
even make 1t a yoke O. young steers,
Billy; got 'em In a trade terday and
hain't got no other earthly use fer
EN-"
"That's temptin', but she's done
swore me not ter TELL" Billy returned,
hopping his face Then, after a glance
over himself. he giggled and asked
"Ain't these clothes pretty noisy,
squire? l told the clerk up at Free
ways ter gimme the loudest"
"Why, what fer?" the squire asked.
letting his bewildered eyes run over a
green and red cross barred suit, pink
shirt, blue dotted scarf and straw hat
banded with red. yellow and black.
Seems ter me you want things on the
dead quiet AS it is-well, everybody II
think there's cyclone comm"
"Jest so. And git out O. the way fer
It." Billy retorted, chuckiing more than
ever. '"Thar's bound ter be some
stompin' and whoopin and roarin' and
chargin'. In short. and wanted a suit
that would harden me ter anything
Eff you think these is rale tarrifyin',
I'm as proud as June bug that has
Jest cut wings"
They had been standing apart. The
crowd surged up around them. sending
Billy off as fast as his long legs could
carry him. Looking after him. the
squire whistled. saying In the privacy
of his beard. "Son. I'll be ON hand all
right"
A big spring burst out beside the
crossroads, thus helping it to mark the
intersection Of district, state and coun-
ty lines. Now it is plain why the
squire's jurisdiction extended over but
one of the four corners. A frog pond
innocent of shade took up the most
part Of his territory. but he stuck to 1t
calamity until he saw cloud Of dust.
visible mile away, resolve itself into
a light buggy drawn by span Of
painting horses.
Opposite the state boundary post
the buggy stopped short Instantly the
squire gave shout: you, Billy, drive
on down In the pondl l won't be shore
O. my authority until you're where the
waters belly deep ter your horses"
''Hush-sh" a voice from the buggy
said-Billy's voice, smothered and Sc
pulchral "Sh-sh-sh! CANT you under
stand, squire. l amt dom none o
this?"
'Then who in thunder oh. | seer
the squire said. with long whistle
The buggy was moving obedient to his
orders. Thus he saw inside its hooded
depths. Billy sat there, glorious In his
noisy new raiment. the pattern of fet
tered bliss He was bareheaded and
had one hand tied fast by an embroid
cred handkerchief to rib In the bug
gy top. The other was handcuffec
with silk bandanna to the wrist OF q
very pretty girl, who sat beside him
reins In hand, her checks twin damas
roses, her eyes dancing with mischief
Who have you got therer' tn
squire demanded, restrained from eS
plosive laughter by the elfn innocenc
of the girls face. Billy groanec
why don't you ask who's got me?
he said I'm Jest a-dyin' ter tell yo
her names Anne Blair, and-and sh
wants you ter marry me ter her for
ever her pappy can ketch her"
''And be quick! Thar's pap a-whooI
in now at top O the red hill,
Anne supplemented. The squire tishe
out the license, scrubbed furiously 70
ten seconds, cleared his throat an
went through the marriage ceremon