Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-07-04

lucas were OF The vaguest. VI thought you
might, being in the way of those things.
Now, pray, Tom," I went on quickly,
"don't fancy am discontented, or-or any
thing of that sort the truth is, ever since
L left off school have wanted something
TO do, and have had it in my mind to speak
to you about it,"
With this 1 look ed at Tom, fearing be
might be vexed but he did not look vexed;
only preoccupied.
81 do know a place, as IL happens" he
said, aller while, "only I'm not sure how
It would suit you"
"That's soon seen," said /. "What IL it
like?"
swell, it's sort of of general useful
ness g."
"Well, il must be to run errands," said,
laughing. "And where is it, Tom?"
"Well," said Tom hesitating again, "it's
with me-"
''Ilow very nicer I exclaimed. "How
soon can I have it?'
"The sooner the better, so far as | am
concerned" said Tom, and with that he
Trned round and looked at me. knew
somehow in a moment, what it was he
meant; and ! knew too, both that could
not have passed all my life with viii
BROMLEY, and why / could not.
'Iam sure Lefty Walters, who interrupt
cd us just then, must have thought nv
wits were wandering that evening, and, in
deed they were; for was completely daz-
ed with the 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.
1t was pretty late wien we went in.
Mother sat where we had left her, knitting
in the twilight.
wasn't that Lefty Walters with you a
while ago?" she said, as we came up.
"Yes," said I, with confused feeling of
an explanation of something being neces-
sary; she just came TO bring the new
crotchet-pattern she promised me.'
"H'mr' said mother, as much as TO say
that she had her own ideas as to what Let
ty came for.
Tom had been wandering about the room
in an absent sort of fashion, taking up and
putting down in the wrong places all the
small objects that fell in his way. He came
up and took seat by mother. I became
of sudden very busy with the plants in
the window for knew he was going TO
tell her.
"Wsh me JOY, Aunt Anne" said he
"Ips all settled"
"Settled, is il ?" said mother, in anything
but joyful tone. $50 it's as I suspected
all along. Well, you have my best wishes,
Tom; perhaps you may be happy togeth-
er after all, I'm sure hope So"
This wasn't very encouraging sort of
congratulation, and Tom seemed rather
taken aback by it.
"I'm sorry you're not pleased" he said,
after pause; 81 had an idea somehow
you would be-"
81 don't know from what you judged.
But there, it's no use crying over spilled
milk. You'll be married directly, | pre-
shme; must be looking out for "A house."
and mother stroked her nose reflectively
with knitting needle.
"What for?" said Tom; ~ thought of
keeping on here all the same"
81 never supposed otherwise, said moth
er. "Of course did not expect to turn
you out of your own house."
"But what is the need of looking for an
other, then?"
"For myself"
"For yourself!' repeated Tom, in a /, ne
of utter amazement. "Going to leave us
just now? Why, Aunt Anne, who ever
heard of such Il thing?"
"Now Tom," said mother, speaking very
fast, and making her needles fly in concert,
"we may as well come TO an understand
ing at once ON this subject. | am fully
sensible of your past kindness now let
me tnish-I say | appreciate it. and have
always tried to do my dirty by you in re-
turn, as l hope should always be ready TO
do. | wish all good 10 you and your wife,
and shall be glad to help her if ever | can,
but to live in the same house with her, is
what would not turn out pleasantly for
either OF us, and, once for all, l can't do
it,"
"Aunt Anne said Tom, pushing back
his chair, and staring in mothers excited
face, "either you or must he out of our
wits"
'Its not me, then at any rate" retorted
mother, getting nettled.
Amusement and certain embarrassment
had kept me silent listener, so far but
there was no standing this I tried to speak,
but could not, for laughing.
~ think you are all out of your wits to-
gether," said mother, turning sharply.
"What ails the child ! it's no laughing mat
ter'
"You don't understand each other"
gasred "oh dear! tits not Letty-oh-
oh dear T. and relapsed again.
Not Letty?" repeated mother, turning
TO Tom. ''Then why did you tell me so P"
~ never told you so," said Tom.
"Why, yes you did," persisted mother.
"You came in and told me you were going
n be married"
"Yes, so ann said Tom, still at cross
purposes.
"Now, Tom Dean" said mother, rising
and confronting him, "what do you mean I?
Who is going to be your wife?'
"Why, May, of COURSE" answered Tom.
"May!' and then after pause of mex
pressible astonishment, il was mothers
turn to laugh. do you mean to say, Tom,
1t was that child you were thinking of all
the while?"
"Why, who else could 1t be?" said Tom,
simply.
"Well," said mother, II ought to have
remembered that you never did anything
like anybody else. But, still why in the
world did you go to work in that rounda-
bout way?"
81 wanted To zee how you took TO my
idea" said Tom.
"And how did yon suppose we were TO
guess your idea meant Mayr" mother
asked.