The Van Buren press., 1870-03-22
NOs9

Phil!
! Mrs. Charlton, with o little shout OF
delight, rushed forward to welcome him.
and when he had replied to her eager
greeting, he looked past her at George.
1t was as if eye met eye. and thought
leaped up to answer thought, but they
only bowed gravely to each other. and
uttered the few words that politencss de-
manded, and then. half bewildered by the
surprise, and the sudden tufnult 10 her
heart. George silently preceded him into
the dinning-reOm.
Nov. Phil, what have you been do
ing Z" said Laura, as soon a. her hus-
band was fairly launched in the carving
Of the turkey. Has business been go
ing wrong, or what is 1t that makes you
look ten years older than you did last
summer 2 And why haven't you writ
temp think it was really unkind net 70
let US hear from you, even once"
"Even once may he nnee too often,"
said Phil, sarcastically, and then, as II to
atone for his disgrceable remark, he
plunged into glowing account Of tbs
business trip he had made, talked ofpoli-
tics, the times, anything, everything ex-
cept last summer, and the reason be hsd
not written. George. sitting spposits
to him, tried to eat her dinner in stately
indifference, but succeeded only in look
ing very dreamy and demure, ~ she tri.
fed with the morsels on her plate.
Phil asked for Tot, finally, and when
the desert came. she was brought down
in all the glory OF a new white dress and
crimson cash. She was shy of him ct
first. but soon recognized him as an old
friend, and gamboled about him like .
playful kitten.
"What darling she is," said he, ad.
miringly, and began to search in his
pockets for something to please her, ,6nd-
ing nothing but an old carte de r1ise OF
his own; but that was joy for Tot, who
doated on pictures. She seized II with
gurglc Of baby delight, and made sif
she would cat it up at ence.
30, don't tear 1t, Tot. don't tear it,
exclaimed Mrs. Charlton, "brinE II 10
mamma, and let her keep it for you"
But that was not Tots idea, and she
raced up and down the room with her
treasure, stopping at last on the floor ia
the corner by an ottoman. A homa made
ottoman 1t was, one Mrs Charlton had
eontrived herself, by mailing bright bits
Of carpet on aa old box. Tot tipped It
over, and began tagg;ng q. the carpet
with great energy.
"How comical children are" said Mr.
Charlton, looking after her. ."Now that
old ottoman is as good to her as q new
conntry to explore would be to DR.. Liv.
ingston. What is she doing. Laura2
Hiding that picture away, upon my
wordw And he hastened to stop her
"Why. there are more things in here~
he exclaimed; "it's a regular treasurs
house" ~ q..f.sib
Heres an old yellow envelope, to BE-
gin with" And. with thumb and finger.
he drew it out from between the ottoman
cover and the wood.
90, my memorandum" cried Mrs..
Charlton, running across tho room TO get
it, "lt's list Of all l bought last Tues.
day, and 0, declare, IL here isn't the
Ave dollar bill | thought | had lost tuck
ed into the envelope. How careless in
me !"
Here's half cookey," said Mr..
Charlton, making further explorations,
and a leaf out ofthc primer and what's
this? A letter for you. Georgie--you
must have dropped II somewhere, and
Tot has hidden it away here"
"a letter for me" she exclaimed, ,coms
ing forward.
"Ycs, and on my word the seal isn't
broken. Well, Miss Tot, this is very
fine. The letter may have lain there six
months, ever since tho child first learned
to walk. only hope 1t wasn't an invi.
tation to party"
George was reading Il with dilating
eyes and wondering blush on her checks.
Phillip approached and glanced curious.
ly at the envelope, postmarksd several
months before.
$50 you never got it !" he whispered;
"what would your answer have bean II
you had y CA y.
For an answer she turned and clasped
his hand. True love never runs smooth,
and that was doubtless the reason why
unconscious little Tot, following some
hidden guidance Of nature, had seisod
the waiting letter Of appeal. and put Y
safely away, till months Of delay and
doubt had tried poor Georges hear, and
proved it pure gold at last.
"Well," said Mr. Charlton, after Brief
comprehending look at the radiant pais,
:" this is what you call happy New Year.
suppose 7" And wasn't IL?