The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1873-08-20

4HeF0 SOHebHluB III lHdJ Jndb new
or occurred to me-" said Tom, his face
Frightening. Mother saw her mistake,
and made counter move at once.
"But the ways of my time are old
fashioned now; young ladies, now-a-
days, take matters into their own
hands. IF she cared for you, you may
be pretty sure she wouldn't have wait
ed till this time to let you know it
that is, l Judge by the girls l am in
the habit of seeing; but if this one is
stranger to me-" (here mother
riveted her eyes on Toms face; oh,
dear, my unfortunate word y eff she
is an entire stranger, cannot pretend
to form any opinion of her, of course"
"Of course" repeated Tom, absent
ly.
"Not that / have any such idea,"
resumed mother. growing warmer II
have said, and | say again, that to
bring u perfect stranger under this
roof is not my opinion of you, Tom"
felt my mothers words like so
many pins and needles; for Tom was
looking meditatively across at me, and,
though that was just way of his, it
seemed now as if he were reading in
my face that the opinion was mine,
and that l had been meddling in what
did not concern me. I-felt myself, for
very vexation, getting redder every
moment, till it grew intolerable.
'It is so warm here" l said, for an
excuse, turning toward the French
window. 81 am going to get breath
of air."
went out into our little strip of
garden ground; Tom followed. l
thought ] should never have a better
opportunity to say what had it in
my mind to say, SO l waited for him
by the bench under the old rear tree.
"Sit down here, Tom," l said, "I've
something to say to you"
| "Have you ?" said Tom "that's odd
for L. Well, never mind that just
yet. What is it, May?"
"Tom," l said, still surer now he
had misjudged me, and more resolved
to set him right, al want place."
"a placer" repeated Tom, puzzled,
as well he might be, by this sudden
and indefinite announcement; "what
kind of placer"
81 don't know" said, for, indeed,
my ideas were of the vaguest. 81
thought you might, being in the way
of those things. Now, pray, Tom," !
went on quickly, "don't fancy 1 am
discontented, or-or anything of that
sort; the truth is, ever since left of
school l 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 preoccu-
pied.
| 81 do know of place, as it hap
pens," he said, after a while, "only
I'm not sure how it would suit you.'
"That's soon seen," said /, "what ia
it like ?''
"Well, it's a sort of-of general use
fulness--"
at must be to run errands," said I
laughing. "And where is it, Tom p
i "Well," said Tom, hesitatingly
again, "it's with me-"
"The sooner the better, so far as ]
am concerned" said Tom, and with
that he turned round and looked al
me, and directly met his eyes knew
somehow, all in a moment, what he
J meant; and I knew, too, both that ]
J could not have passed all my life with
, Will Broomly, and why I could not
l am sure Lefty Walters, who inter.
rupted us just then, must have
thought my wits we're wandering that
evening, and, indeed, they were; fol
| was completely dazed with the sud
den turn things had taken. But Tom
J who had the advantage of me there
took it quite colly, and laughed and
talked with Lefty just the same as
{ ever till she went away.
1t was pretty lare when we went in.
Mother sat where we had left her
knitting in the twilight.
Wasn't that Lefty Walters with
you while ago ?" she said, as we
came up.
EYES," said I, with confused feel.
ing Of an explanation Of something
being necessary; "she just came to
bring the new croohet-pattern she
promised me-"
"H'ml" 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 up 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. 1 became of sud
den very busy with the plants in the
window; for knew ne was going to