Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-06-05

l. 0O1 y AhOW5 L ofbtNAg 4Ol. l1NlCOo,
my ideas were of thevaguest. "Ithought
you might Ad being gin. in the To way Of those hose
on quickly, "don't fancy l am discon-
tented, or-or anything of that sort the
truth is, ever since I left off school 1
have wanted something to do, and had
it in my mind to speak to you about it."
With this 1 looked at Tom, fearing he
might be vexed but he did not look
vexed, only. ~preoccupied.
81 do know of a place, as it happens"
he said, after awhile, "only I'm not
sure how it would suit YOU"
"That's o o SEEM" said I. "What
is it like ?"
"Well, it's a sort of-of general use
fulness-"
"Why it must be to run errands,"
said I, laughing. "And where is it,
Tom?"
"Wel1," said Tom, hesitating again,
its with me-"
elbow verynice !" Exclaimed. "How
soon can I have it ?"
"The sooner the better, so far as I
am concerned" said Tom, and with that
he turned round and looked at me, and
directly I met his eyes I knew some
how, all in a moment, what he meant !;
and I knew, too, both that I could not
have passed all my life with VIII Broom
ley, and Why I could not.
1 am sure Lefty Walters, who inter-
rupted us just then, must have thought
my wits were wandering that evening,
and, indeed, they were /; for I was com
pletely dazed with this sudden turn
things had taken. But Tom, who had
the advantage of me there, took it quite
coolly, and laughed and talked with
Lefty just the same as ever till she went
away.
It was pretty late when she went in.
Mother sat where we had left her, knit
ting in the twilight.
Wasn't that Lefty Walters with you
a while ago." she said, as we came up.
eyes," said I, with a confused feeling
of an explanation of something being
necessary "she just came to bring the
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 the
room in an absent sort of fashion, tax
ing and putting down in the wrong
places all the small objects that fell in
his way. He came up and took a seat
by mother. I became of a sudden very
busy with the plants in the window ;
for | knew he was going to tell her.
Wish me Joy, Aunt Anne" said he,
" it's all settled"
"Settled, is it?" said mother, in any
thing but a joyful tone. $50 it's as I
suspected all along. Well, you have my
best wishes, Tom perhaps you may be
happy together after all; I'm sure I hope
So"
This wasn't q very encouraging sort of
congratulation, and Tom seemed rather
taken aback by it.
"I'm sorry you are not pleased" he
said, after a pause 1 had an idea
somehow you would be-"
81 don't know from what you Judged.
But there, it's no use of crying over
split milk. You'll be married directly,
1 presume T; I must be looking out for a
house." and mother strOked her nose re-
fectively with a knitting-needle.
"What for ?" said Tom 81 thought
of keeping on here all the same"
81 never supposed otherwise" said
mother "Of course I did not expect to
turn you out of your OWE house."
"But what is the need of looking out
for another, then?"
why, for myself"
"For myself p repeated Tom, in a
tone of utter amazement. "Going to
leave us-just now? Why, Aunt Anne,
I never heard of such a thing"
"Now, Tom," said mother, speaking
very fast, and making her needles fly in
concert, eve might as well come to an
understanding at once on this subject.
I am fully sensible of your past kind
ness now just let me fnishI say I
appreciate it, and have tried to do my
duty by youi in return, as 1 hope I should
always be ready to do. 1 wish all good
to you and your wife, and shall be glad
to help her if ever I can, but to live in
the same house with her is what would
turn out pleasantly for neither of us,
and, one for all, 1 can't do it,"
"Aunt Anne" said Tom. pushing
back his chair, and staring in mothers
excited face, "either you or I must be
out of our WITS"
"Its not me, then, at any rate" re-
torted mother, getting nettled.
Amusement and certain embarrass-
ment had kept me a silent listener so
far, but there was 10 standing this ]
tried to speak. but could not, for laugh
ing.
81 think you are all out of your wits
together" said mother, turning sharply.
What ais the child? it's no laughing
matter"
"You don't understand each other, .
I gasped "oh, dear /! tits not Lefty
-oh-oh, dear p and relapsed again.
"Not Lefty p repeated mother, turn
ing to Tom. "Then why did you tell
me so 2"
81 never told you So" said Tom.
why, yes you did, persisted mother.
"You came in and told me you were
going to be married"
"Yes, SO I am" said Tom, still al
cross-purposes.
Nov, Tom DEAN" said mother,
rising and confronting him, "what dc
you mean? soho is going to be youl
wife ?"
"Why. Nav. of course" answered