The Van Buren press., 1873-08-05


and needles for Tom vas looking med.
itatively across at me, and thonsb tha
was Just way of his, it seemed now al
/ if he were reading in my faea that The
opinion was mine, and that had been
meddling in what did not concern me.
/ felt myself, for very veSatIon, getting
redder every moment, till it grew intol
erabls.
"Itisso warm here" said, for an
excuse, turning toward the French win
dow, / am going to get breath oi
air
went out into our little strip OF gar
den ground Tenn followed. thought
l should never have better sppsrtuni
ty TO say what had it in my mind ,o
say, so | waited for him by the bench un
der the old pear tree. sit down here
Tom, " said, i've something to say
to you.
"Have you ?" said Tom; chats odd,
I for well, never mind that, just yet
What is it, May p
/ tom, " | said. still sursr now he had
nisjudged me, and mere resolved to set
/ him right, 81 want a place,
a place p repeated Tom puzzled, as
well he might be, by this sudden and in
definite announcement; I" whhat kind of
a place
II don'l know" | said, for, indeed,
my ideas were ofthe vaguest :" thot
you might, being in the way of these
things Now, pray, Tom, | went On
quickly, don't fancy | am disconnected
or anything of that sort; the truth is,
ever since left of school have wanted
something to do, and had it in my mind
to speak to you about it. "
With this | looked at Tom, fearing he
might be vexcd but he did not look
vexed, only pre- occupied
81 do knew of place, as it ithappons, y
he said, after a while, only I'm net sure
how it will suit you. "
That's soon seen, y said |. What
is It like1 p
"Well, it's sort of-of general use.
fulness-"
"What, it must he to run errands,
said |, laughing "And where is 1T
Tom p
"Well said Tom, hssitating again,
it's with me.
How very nice ~ exclaimed. a" How
soon can have it p
"The sooner, the better, so far as |
am concerned, " said Tom, and with that
he turned round and looked at me, and
directly met his eyes | knew somehow,
all in u moment what it was he meant;
I lr,l. thut | onull
have passed all my life with viii Broom
ley, and why | could not.
am sure Lefty Walters, who inter
rupted us Just then, must have thought
my wits were wandering that evening,
and, indeed they were; for was com
pIetely da2ed with this sudden turn
things had taken. But Tom, who had
the advantage OF ne there, took it quite
coolly, and laughed and talked with Let
ty Just the same as ever till she went
away.
1t was pretty late when we went in
Mother sat where we had left her, knit
ting in the twilight
Wasn't that Lefty Walters with you
while ago p she said, as we came up.
Yes, " said I, with 8 confused feeling
Of an explanation OF something being nee
cssary; "she just came to bring new
crochet pattern she promised me-
H m !" said mother, as much as to
say she had her own ideas as to what
Lefty came for
Tom had been wandering about tho
room in an absent sort Of fashion, taking
up and putting down in the wrong places,
all the small objects that fell in bis way.
He came up and took Il seat by mother
became Of sudden very busy with the
plants ia the window; tor knew he was
going to tell her.
wish Inc JOY, Aunt Anne" said be,
:" it's all settled. -
Settled, is it7" said mother, in any
thing but joyful tone. $50 it's as !
suspected all along. Well, you have my
bert wishes, Tom perhaps, you may be
happy together, after all, I'm sure hope
so"
This wasn't very encouraging sort of
congratulalion. and Tom seemed rather
taken sback by it,
I'm sorry you're not pleased y he
sad. alter pausd, u"u an luea soHc-
how you would be
Il don't know from what you judged
But there, it's no use crying over splIt
milk You'll be married directly, | pre-
sumo; ! must be looking out for a
house, ~ and mother strokcd her nose re
nectively with knitting needle.
What for? said Tom, 81 thought
Of keeping on here all the same. "
Il never supposed otherwise, said
mother. "Of course ! did net expeetto
turn YOU out Of your own house.
But what is the need OF looking out
for another, then ?
"Why, for myself
For Yourself" repeated Tom, IN a
tone OF utter amazcment Going to
leave us-just now7 Why, Aunt Anne,
never heard of such a thing
Now, Tom, said mother, sp aking
very fast, and making her needles ny in
concert, we might as well como to an
understanding at oace on this subject !
am fully sensible Of your past kindness
now Just let me finish--I say appre.
cate it, and have tried to do my duty by
YOU in return, as hope ! should always
be ready to do. wish all good to you
and your wife, and shall be Z lad to help
her if ever can, but TO live IN tue same
house with her is what would turn out
pleasantly for neither of US, and, once
for all, cant do it.
Aunt Anne, said Tom, pushing hack