Tillie: A Mennonite Maid

d to account for her misdeed that her father discovered her deception as to the owner of "Ivanhoe." At least he found out, in talking with Elviny Dinkleberger and her father at the Lancaster

use, were entirely conscientious), Jacob Getz was strongly and deeply attached to his wife and children; and his alarm at Tillie's illness, comin

e would have seen no reason why Tillie should wish to shield her, and, in the second, it was inconceivable that a teacher at William Penn should set out so to pervert t

little friend? The Doc, evidently, was in league with Tillie! What could it mean? Jake G

t tell Tillie of his discovery, for the

ough to be out of bed, did he venture to tel

which she turned to him was fear for Miss Margar

he gruffly said, "if you tell me t

her knees. Her stepmother was busy at the table with her Saturday baking; Sammy was giving the porch its Saturday cleaning, and

Tillie? Whose boo

nd her very lips were wh

at the table turned and stared in dull amazement at this unheard-of defiance of the head

multuously. Bat she kept her ey

t you want to

n't,

if you can't! Now you might as well tell me rig

nd the tears rolled slow

you say it

nly person I t

ay the person it WAS? Ans

. She was still too weak from her fever to bea

d's weakness, "I won't bother you with it no more NOW. But you just wait til

rs. Getz, as the sound of whe

d went to the door, "I just wonder what he's got t

ssus," he briskly addressed the mother of the brood, pushing his hat to the back of his head in lieu of raising it. "And how's the patient?" he inquired with a suddenly professional air and tone. "S

retorted Mr. Getz. "What fur did you lie to

ntin' this here kid about THAT yet? A body'd thi

that there novel-book was, and why you

onded the doctor. "That

ading cry from Tillie. "Don't

on the face of the father grown dark with anger at his child's undutiful interference. "You're got this here

she's well oncet! You just answer fur

there book belonged to ME and Tillie len

oo, looked on with a dull interest, as she leaned her b

followed the next instant by an overwhelming sense of her own wickedness in thus conniving with fraud. Abysses of iniquit

ol Board's wrath and indignation, and how unimporta

was yourn?" Mr. Getz pre

" said the doctor glibly, and with evident relish, "it might spoil my

it was Elviny's! You put her

foller it up any, Jake, and tr

ion. But I thought you had anyhow morals. And I didn't think, now, you was a

hat there book of mine where you burnt up, to your doctor's bill, unlest you pass me

ly discipline or to pay the price of the property he had destroyed-one o

Book to Tillie, Doc, and I ain't payi

t my bill easy or stiff accordin'

r 'n yours, Doe, my passin' m

d moral. I ain't sayed my prayers since I am old enough a'

s put off of church!"

WENT off. I took myself off of church befo

is slate-pencil on the window-sill with a table-knife, "you stop right aways sharpenin

the knife and thrust the

ed irritably, "What is it to YOU if I teach my

sickness with this here thing a're

it, leavin' her lend

e, seein' I was the instrument in the hands of Prov

now if you're lyin' or not

still, myself. But there's one thing you KIN be cocksure o

to bother her about," sullenly granted Mr. Getz. "And as fur punis

There's one thing I 'll give you, Jake: you'r

Mr. Getz ang

pulling his hat down to his eyebrows, preparatory to leaving, "

r ever tellin' m

now and again, to a feller like you! Well, well," he soothingly added as he saw the black look in the father's f

l be well till a day or two, now, and back to school-IF she's ke