The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-06-12

and the morning words fiad put III I'D
clearer light, since it had been used as
an argument against Tom marrying. |
knew that mother had spoken earnestly,
believing that such a step would not be
for his happiness; but was not the best
Judge Of that? I knew him if reflection
would should bring him round to nv
opinion. to be perfectly capable cf quiet
" sacrificing his own wishes for my sake,
who had not the shadow of a claim on
him; so it must be my part to prevent
his own kindness being turned against
now Still it was not so easy to gee how
| was to provide for myself, in case it
should become advisable What could |
do? Draw, sing and play tolerably, but
in manner not TO compete with the
hosts that would be in the field against
me. Literature? I had read so many
stories whose heroines, with dash of
the pen, dashed into wealth and fame
That would be very nice, only was
not the least BIT literary; | had never
even keeps journal. which is saying
great deal FOR girl in her teens The
fine arts. then, being out OF the question
for me, what remained? There was
some clerksllip, or place in some family
and-and there was Will Breemlyi
That may seem like going away from
the point, but it was not was matter
offact, but could see well enough what
was going on right in my eyes, and / had
pretty clear idea of what was bringing
Will 10 the house so often as he had
taken to coming lately. There was sit
uation then, that would give NE the
home life | like best, and felt myself
best suited for +, but would it answer in
other respects? [ overcast the long seam
| [ was sewing twice over, l was so busy
trying to make up my mind whether |
liked Will Broomly we'll enough to pass
my whole life with him; and even then
l had not come to any decision, when |
was called down stairs to Lefty Walters
Lefty was the prettiest, | think. of all
my friends, and certainly the liveliest.
Tom called her the tonic" and used to
laugh heartily at her bright speeches.
/ suppose it was this that made mother
fix on Lefty as his choice When came
into the sitting room, | found kind of
cross-examination going on. 1t was
amusing to anybody in the secret, as
vas, to watch mothers artful way of con-
sinuaily bringing the conversation round,
as if by chance, to bear on what she
wanted to know. But it all amounted
to nothing, either because Lefty was too
good fencer, or because she really had
nothing to betray. But, when Tom
came home, mother took care to men
ton that Lefty had called.
"What, the tonic2'' said Tom. TOO
bad I missed her. -
But for your choice being already
made" said mother, with a covert scru-
tiny of his face. 81 dare say you might
have as much of the tonic as you liked. !"
''But | 90 on the homeopathic princi-
pie. you know" answered Tom with a
twinkle in his eye.
After that mothers belief in Lefty S
outlines wavered. Her suspicious were
transferred from one to another Of our
acquaintance, but always with the same
unsatisfactory result.
It passes my comprehension" she
said to me, desparipgly, one day. II am
positive I could tell the right one by
Toms face in minute, and yet have
mentioned everybody we know"
g Perhaps it is somebody we don't
know 1 suggested; "some friend of
his we have never seem"
"What! a perfect stranger?' said
mother, sharply. Never talk to me.
child; Toms not capable of that
was silent, for | did not want to wor-
~ her; but that was my opinion all the
same.
The same eyening-it was rather more
than week since Tom had hurled the
thunderbolt of his at us-mother began
about il openly.
" When are you going to introduce
your wife to Us, Tom / suppose you
have come to an understanding by this
time p
"Oh, there's no hurry" Tom said as
he had said before; but this time he did |
not speak quite so cheerfully. The fact |
is, | have a rival" he continued with q
little hesitation.
"a rival?" repeated mother, with IN
feeling briskness.
Yes, young fellow-younger by a
good deal thanI am, and Tom S face
assumed an absurdly doleful look. "He
IS always there now. | confess | don't |
see NY way clear; In waiting for her to
make up her mind
. Aud she's waiting, most likely, for
you to make mp your 5. said mother.
in her propensity to right
that she was playing the enemy's
game.
There's something in that that never
occurred to me- said Tom. his face
frightening. Mothe. saw her mistake,
md made countermove at once.
" But the ways of my time are old
ashioned DOW young ladies, nowadays
AXE matters into their own hands. IF
he cared Tor you, you may be pretty
ure she wouldn't have waited till this
ime to let you know it-this is, | Judge
Y tie girls | am in the habit of seeing
ut if this one is a stranger to me, I
annot pretend to form any opinion of
er. of course
OF course, repeated Tom.
" Not that | have any such idea, re-
umed mother, growing warmer; 4
ave said and say again. that to bring a
erfect stranger under this roof is not my
pinion of you, Tom.
felt my mothers words like so many
ins and needles for Tom was looking
across at me. and, though
t was way his, It seemed now as if he