Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-06-23


considered it best to keep quiet.
Dick, said Tom to me at dinner one day,
"this is December, is il not 20
December Yes"
Every cold weather for December
"Well, rather "
ter of something warmer than this old great
coat Of mine"
"Of course you would. I've said 50 often.
You should get one of those Highland cloaks;
they look very comfortable; they are fashion.
able too" And Tom actually came home that
evening, in one, presenting, must say, a
very imposing appearance.
And now Tom, who could not be coaxed out
of the house except in college hours, eyinced
a sudden propensity for afternoon walk
positive passion for them. ''Dick," he would
say at the very time when used to enioy a
read by the FIRE; ''Dick, put on your hat, and
let us have a STROLL"
/ went, but il was not a stroll. 1t was any,
thing but stroll. 1t was a regular unvaried
walk to Royal Circus, twice round the circus,
and back again. 1t was the coldest and bleak.
est and most dismal round which could have
been selected, Yet this route Tom would take.
and no other. Soon, however, he gave over
asking me to go-seemed anxious, in fact, that
L shouldn't go. One day, in particular, he
suddenly appeared fully equpped, and said
"Well, am off on a stroll -
ait one minute, said /, "and shall be
with you
''DOn't mind" said he; 81 shan't be long.
1t looks as if it were going to rain, " and huP
ried out. The afternoon wore away-tea time
came, yet Tom had not returned He didn't
return till half past ten.
"Halloo, Tom, you have taken a tolerably
long stroll to-night1''
''Ah. looked up to see my aunt. She's not
very well just now"
'sYour aunt"
AUNT Paterson-mother's sister 1 didn't
think you knew her."
l certainly did not-had never heard Of her
to my knowledge.
Next day when we had finished dinner. we
drew our chairs to the freside, and proceede ed
to make some observations on the condition of
Italy.
''0h, hang it," cried Tom, clappinp his hand
70 ms coat-Pocket, II have forgotten to post
He threw on his hat and cloak. and sss off
Half past ten again before he returned.
'Halloo, Tom, said, "you have taken a
tolerably long time to post that letter"
NO; was up seeing my aunt"
night?" ''' "
say, if anything"
quiet pipe" " -'' :
mot tonight, thank you
what" / exclaimed in considerable as,on-
ishment, for Tom smoked every night with the
regularity of clock-work. ''Not smoke before
going to bed!'' ''''-'
mo; L find that it is not agreeing with me.
L see DR.. Prout shows that it ruins the consti-
tutiOn.''
So Tom retired, and sat and smoked alone.
wondering whether Tom could be insane, and
inc yoAa
pected to end.
Next night was up making some arrange
riage.
Tom Pidger is,''
Tom Pidger!" where did you see him.
"Mhy, he took tea with US at Mrs. Purdie's
last night '' .
Mrs. Paterson's, you mean"
Mrs. Purdie's, Royal Circus. Julia. Won
know, was school companion of mine. We had
sucn iun breaking the pipes in Toms pocket;
ana al last, Julia made him get down on his
knees and promise that he would never smoke
again"
"Ah.'' said I, as the secret of Toms meta.
morphosis and his aunt's illness ~ began to
daWn upon my mind; chow does Tom come to
know Julia Purdie?''
"He met her on the train coming from Glas-
gov some weeks ago, and fell in love with her.
suppose, and she-(but you must not tell him.
remember )-she fell in love with Tom. Poor
thing. she loves him to distraction, believe.
U, Tom is there almost every afternoon
This was precious news Keeping it to nv
self, however, L went home and found Tom sit
ting ruminating over the fire.
"An, Tom, thought l should have caught
you smoking"
'No, Dick, you won't catch me at that again
see, said he gravely, tapping himself all
over the waistcoat, "that am better without
it already"
Dear me, already! Then DR.. Prout must be
quite correct. Oh! by the way, / have sad
news for you, tonight.
what" enquired Tom, with very long
face.
81 hear that your aunt is dead.''
chair and giving me look of curious SURPRISE
which is quite indescribable
"Dead and gone, Tom, is your Ioor aunt
your mothers sister, you know, Mrs. Pater-
son--not Mrs. Purdie-oh, no!''
You should have seen Toms face all this
time Shame and merriment, curiosity and
chagrin, chased each other off and on, so rap
IDLY that they sometimes appeared to be all
ludicrous prevailed, and Tom broke into shouts
OF laughter which it would have done YOUR
heart good to hear. He looked very red in the
face, though being clearly a good deal ashamed
Of himself be made me tell how the secret
had come out, and finding that it really was
out be became quite gushing He made me
SIT by him at the 6reside and gave a minute
an1 eircumstantial account of the whole trans
action-how in returning from Glasgow by ex-
press, he found himself in the same carriage
with fine old gentleman and his daughter
such beautiful girl, Dick l''-how he and
the Old gentleman conversed, and she listened
listened with such interest that he thought
within himself, "Well, here is a sensible eirl.
for once" Then how the old gentleman en-,
soonced himself in q corner and fell asleep, and
Tom found that he could not keep his eyes of
the young lsdy-"the most beautiful girl Dick'
and more than that he caught her every now
and then peeping silly at him, and when he
caught her how she blushed "And L do be-
lieye," said Tom, "that / blushed too, I felt
such a-such sort of funny all over, YOU
know. said Tom, with an explanatory wave
of the hand
Then how the old gentlemen woke ND when
the tickets were called for, and chatted again,
and presently discovered to the surprise and
delight Of all parties, that he and Tom s uncle,
not Mr. Patterson, but a real uncle this time,
mad served together in India. SO he made
Tom shake hand with his daughter, and gave
MN ms card, and told him to call whenever he
happened TO be in the neighborhood of Royal
circus. Iom then proceeded with the subse-