Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-06-17

III
49, ---ss-- --s. -
r delighted countenances and the buzaDnd
W rustic and din and clatter of crowd nnt
= had dismissed dull care for the nonce, ari
y was bent on making a night of it.
- Tom Shelley was there, and SO was Luc
=, Ware. The former was surrounded h
friends and new acquaintance eager (,
. congratulate him on a recent important
4 event-namey, his admission rs nartnc.
u with Mr.. Dunning.
/; 'Dunning & Shelley has very respec.
table eound,' said one.
Accept my congratulations on your good
fortnne,' said another.
! Wei, Tom, your luck has come at last. ,
, ou deserve your luck-every bit of it,
were the words of an old friend.
Tom received all this with due grace and
nodesty. A few yentured to sound him.
10 Test his intelligence, but were cpeetlily
satisfied on that score. lie was thought
tul reader, and possessed stock of books
that many OF those around him would have
done well TO substitute for the unwhole-
some sweetmeats with which they were
wont to rcgale their minds.
In the meantime Tom Is solluuizinp
mentally He is growing restive, and
wonders how she will receive him-whether
his good fortune will make him more at
traCtive to her. And if 1t does, and il GER
! tain hopes ho has cherished are fulfilled
| will it be he that wins her, or something
J else? Will it be cash match Or q love
lnatchp Or won't it be any match at all,
AID is such speculation idleY These were
pe.plexing questions, and Tom found him
sell Unable 60 consider them with that cool
ness # Judgement he had resolved with
himsof to bring to bear ON the matter.
| AT IaA Tom 1proonba6 ba,- opd nc h,
drew neat felt q choking thrill. She was
lust rs beautiful as ever, and give him
glance out Of her liquid black eyes that
rippled up from under the long lashes like
q flood ofsunlieht.
But in spite OF the wild center into which
his blood was fired, he babe hsr good even
ing, touched her gloved palm, and uttered
some commonplace remark with very
| praiseworthy nonchalancc.
just Then set was forming to dance,
aud ono couple was warting. OF course
Tom asked Miss Ware for the honor, etc.,
and the two marched on the floor.
You will allow me to express my pleas
ure u. your new advancement, will you
| notp' she asked in tone in which there
was lust shade Ct tremulousness.
oh, certainly, ifyon take enough inter-
! est in me TO feel any pleasure at it,
why, of course / do. always feel ins
terested in those deserving Of success
Her tone was charmingly frank now.
'Oh, that's it, is itp' said Tom, q little
disappointed. The sparkle in Miss Wares
eyes dilated little.
We'll, got it by hard work. he said.
! I went back to my greasy machine-shop
that time, as you bid me-
What do you meanP'
'uayo you forgotten about It? 1t was
| when you went to New Y orls visit you aunt.
Rou lost your button at the depot, you
know, and told me to go back to my greasy
machine-shop if couldn't find it,
Miss Ware blushed scarlet. oh, do not
speak Of that 1t was very rude in me-
supposed you Ind forgotten it. l was
only in fun
But wasn't Toms tone was rather
stern, and Lucy looked up quickly. Il
made VOW then.'
'Oh dearl hope wasn't the means of
yonr making VOW
DO your And suppose you were-what
thenp If there anything so very alarming
about makiug vowsp'
Il don't knew. They're so very seldom
kept
'Ah, but this one is partially fulfilled
already, and will be entirely some time.
That is, only one thing can prevent it,
| Miss Lucy did not ask what that one
thing was, but grew reserved, and during
the rest of the Quadrill did not look into
TOMS face with her previous unembarrass-
cd freedom. The conversation had been
carried on disjointedly during the pauses
in the dancing. When the last figure was
finishing Miss Ware said:
oh dear, am so tired ofdaucing! Let
us walk in the other room, ind see what the
children are doing.'
| Her hand still rested on TOMS arm. and
they went their way into another apartment,
where merry throng of boys and girls
were partaking Of the pleasures of that old
and exciting game, 'Buttonl buttonl who's
got the buttonf'
| That's good old game sAld Lucy,
glancing at the Children.
| 'Buttonl huttonl who's got the buttonr
came in ringing tones from one of the play
| ers.
1--we got it!' exclaimed Tom.
| No, Sir; I've got it myself l'shouted q
merry, blue-eycd girl, betrayed in to lifting
out her secret.
A little scene of confusion followed, and
then the gamo went on.
Lucy Ware Ind looked up ut Tom in
surprise.
| what made you say thst p'she asked.
'Cecause ii is true he answard, looking
at her with mischievous twitch Of the eye.
Miss Lucy looked puzzled.
DO you want TO see it2'
Yes she answered with doubtful look.
lie reached in his pocket, and help some
thing out in his hand.
'Why,' she exclaimed in amazemen,
that's mine Where did yon get itr It's
the one LOST
Il know it,
She blushed vividls, and was utterly
mystflCd.
Please explain, sho said.
oh, there's not much toeXplan. lplck-
cd it up when you lost it that time.
i And why did you not give it TO mel'
i preferred to keep il. | took it 10 my
greasy machine-shop.
please don'tl'
Tom laughed aud grew immediately
sesious again. lilo had To screw his cour-
ago up to the sticking point TO utter the
next words,
4 kept il because loved your he whlsp-
cred.
'Ohl Aud Miss Lucy hid her face In her
hands, while her heart beat violently.
And haven't gol over II ye,p he said,