Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-09-03

"Settled, is it2" said mother, in anything
but joyful tone. 80 It's az / suspected
all along. Well, you have my best wishes
Tom perhaps you may bo happy after all,
I'm sure hope So"
This wasn't a very encouraging sort Of
congratulation, aud Tom seemed rather
taken aback by it.
I'm sorry you're not pleased" he said,
after a pause had an idea somehow you
would be-
"I 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 stroked her nose redectively
with knitting.needle.
What for ?" said Tom; o" thought Of
keeping on here all the same"
"Inever supposed otherwise, said mother
|" OF course | did not expect to turn you
out Of your own house.
But what is the need Of looking out
for another, then2"
why, for MYSELF
For yourselfm repeated Tom, in a
tone Of utter amazement. Going to leave
us--just now Why, Aunt Anne, / never
heard Of such a thing :"
Now, Tom, said mother speaking very
fast, and making her needles fly in concert,
" We might as well come TO an understand.
ing at once on this subject. l am fully
sensible Of your past kindness--now just
let me inish-I say appreciate 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 glad to help her if ever | can, but
to live in the same house with nor is what
would turn out pleasantly for neither Of Us,
aud, once for all, | cant do it,
Aunt Anne, said Tom, pushing back
his chair, and staring in mothers excited
face, either you or | must be out Of our
Wits
It's not me, then, at any rate, 80 retorted
mother, getting nettled.
Amusement and certain embarrassment
had kept me n silent listener so far, but
there was no standing this; | tried to
speak, but could not, for laughing.
think you are all out Of your wits
together" said mother, turning sharply.
" What ails the child it's no laughing
matter"
You don't understand each other" |
gasped oh, dear tits not Lefty
oh-oh, dear J" and relapsed again.
Not Lefty ?" repeated mother, turning
to Tom. Then why did you tell me so p
never told you so,' said Tom.
Wbv vng v.o,, 1;I - I'll ,.,.4L..-
You came in and told me you were go
ing to be married"
"Yes, so | am" said Tom, still at cross
purposes.
Now, Tom Dean" said mother, rising
and confronting him, what DO you mean
who is going to be yourwifo?n
"Why, May, Of course" answered Tom.
May - and then after pause Of inox-
pressibo astonishment, it was mothers turn
to laugh. "Do you mean to say, Tom, it
was that child you were thinkingof all tho
while?"
"Why, who else could it BET" said Tom,
simply.
"Well," said mother. 81 ought to have
remembered you never did do anything
like anybody else But, still, why in the
world did you go to work in such round
about way?"
81 wanted to see how you took to my
idea, " said Tom.
" And how did you suppose we were to
guess your idea meant May mother asked
"Who else could it be ?" repeated Tom,
falling back on what he evidently found an
unanswerable argument. 1t was no use
talking to him. Mother gave it up with a
shake Of the head.
"And you won't want another house
then, Aunt Anne ~ said Tom, suddenly.
That set mother off again; Tom joined with
her, and altogether | don't think we ever
passed a merrier evening than the one that
made us acquainted with Toms wife-Ap-
pleton's Magazine,