Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-11-06
" No." said Tom rOguishly.

! Tue rest Oh my TtldlIOuS Iuc uOuSG UelON
is as empty as haunted hall.
AL gone to welcome that horrid, poky
old Prof. La Place who has gracously iudi
Gated his willingness to pass few weeks with
Us. Tom, do hate that man p
Hate him what for ?"
40, don't know I'm sure he is a snuff
dried, conceited old wretch, and I'll wager
box of gloves he wears SpeCtaceS p
Nonsense, Mary why, he's only twenty
six p
4 don't care-I know he's rheumatic and
wears spectacles for all that. And Tom now
if you'll never breathe word of this"
won't, upon my honor" said Tom.
Well, then, papa has actually got the idea
into his dear old head that | should make d
nice wife for the professor and-and-o
Mary turned away with crimson Indignation
flashing in her checks.
1t is too bad Of you to laugh, Tom. |
never, neUr will marry the man p
" | wouldn't II | were YOU" c0uSOled Tom.
But, Cousin Mary, wait and see the man
before you decide. He may he quite a decent
fellow"
" No !" said Mary, shaking her head and
biting her cherry lips firmly " hate him be-
forehand !"
"W aat spitefu little pussy you are,' said
her companion, laughing.
No. indeed Tom. I'm not !" aud the blue
ewes became misty. love papa and Ruth
dearIy-aud | love almost everybody | like
gou Tom, but hate Prof La Place ! And
/ want you TO promise Tom, that you'll stand
nv friend, aud not allow him to tease oe into
walks or rides, or tete a-ttfes of any kiGd =
VIII you?
Womb be If she had asked him to pre-
cipitale himself out of the pear tree upon the
stone steps below, with those blue eyes fixed
on his, he'd have done it ! ANY man of taste
w0ld.
Il promise" he said and they shook hands
On it.
What a cosy place for a chat that gnarled
old tree was Aud when they had talked
over everything they could think of, it was
the most natural thing in the world that Tom
should recover the book which had slipped
down into network Of tiny boushs, and read
poetry to his pretty cousin in the deep mU>i.
cal voice that madens love to listen to ! nd
Mary sat there, watching the ietty curIs blow.
iug to and fro on his broad white brow, and
the long, black asheS almost touching bis oil
i've cheek. And she thought how very, very
handsome Cousin Tom was, and how much be
had changed in the ten years that had elapsed
since she had seen him and she wondered
whether Tom was engaged to any pretty Girl
--somehow she hoped not Now, why couldn't
Tom have been rich like that Prof. La Place,
instead Of u poor young medical student and
And when the large black eyes were sud
denly lifted to hers, Mary felt as though he
had read every thought OF her mind, and blush
cd scarlet:
Come, Tom" she chattered, to hide her
confusion, "wt'ye been up here long enough.
Help me down, and I'll show you the old sun
dial that we used to heap up with butIercups
when we were Children
What tiny, insignificant, little Mary she
felt, leaning on the arm of that tall cousin
Aud how nice it was to have the stately head
bent down so courteously to catch her soft ac
ceuls-for somehow Mary had forgotten her
Sauciuess and grown WondegUusly shy
A rumble of wheeIs--it was the returning
carriage, aud Mary clung to Toms arm
"T The awful professor !" she Whispered
" Now, Cousin Tom be sure you stand by he
through everylhiug."
ITO my lie 5 end = was the whispered an
swer and Mary felt herself crimsouing much
as she stroye to ropress the tell-tale blood
But there was no one III the barouche, save
Mr.. Thorne and Ruth, as it drew up Oh the
grand sweep, beside the two cousins.
"Where is tie Professor ?" questioned Miss
Mary.
" lie was not at the depot" said Ruth
"and -
But Mr. Thorne had sprang from the car
riage, and c!asped both the strangers hands
in his
La Place is it possible? Why have
just been looking for you at Mill Station :"
Il am sorry have iDconveuenced you,
sir" was the reply hnt came by the way
of Wharton, and walked over this morning"
,vor mind now SD vDu ofply hero =