Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-06-12

W caCu OLueC as IuOLueE anu UauSuCet
could be. She was the second wife oil
my father, who, like most ministers
had been richer in grace than it goods
and had left us at his death with very
little to live on. Then it was that
Tom Dean had come forward, and in.
sisted on giving home To his aunt
and me, whom he had scarcely seen a
dozen times in his life before. That
was exactly like Tom-''qneer Ton
Dean" as his friends were fond of say.
ing, "who never did anything like any.
body else" l Isuppose, in spite Of his
clear head for business, there was nc
denying he was whimsical: but l am
sure, when l think of his unfailinp
generosity and delicacy, l can't help
wishing that there were q few more
such whimsical people in the world
Naturally, at the time I am speaking
OF, my opinion had not been asked
all 1 had to 40 was TO 60 where mother
vent, and while she gave her energies
70 the housekeeping, gave mine to
growing up, which by this time l had
pretty well accomplished. But per-
haps for that very reason-for one
sees with different eyes at twelve and
eighteen-my position in the house be.
gan to seem unsatisfactory to me ; and
the morning words put it in = clearer
light since it had been used as an ar
gumnet against Toms marrying.
1knew that mother had spoken honest
ly, believing that such . step would
not be for his happiness but was not
he the best judge of that3 Iknew
him, if reflection should bring him
round to her opinion, to be perfectly
capable of quietly sacrificing his own
wishes for my sake, who had not the
shadow of claim on him; so it must
be my part TO prevent his own kind
ness being turned against him now
Still, 1t was not SO easy TO see how l
was to provide for myself, in case it
should become advisable. What could
do? Draw and sing, and play
tolerably, but not in n manner 70 com
pete with the hosts that would he in
the field against me. Literature? l
had read SO many stories whose hero
ines, with a turn of the pen, dashed
into wealth and fame. That would be
very nice, only was not the least
bit literary: had never even kept a
journal, which is saying q great deal
for girl in her teens. The "fine
arts" then, being out Of the question
for me, what remained? There was
some clerkship, or place in some
family, and-there was Will BROMLEY
That may seem like going away
from the point bat it was not. l was
but | could see we'll
enough what was going on right under
my eyes, and l had a pretty clear idea
Of what was bringing Will TO the house
so often as he had taken to coming
lately. There was situation" then,
that would give me the home-life lik.
ed best, and felt myself best suited
for but would it answer in other re-
spectss overcast the long seam l
was sewing twice over, l was so busy
trying TO make up my mind whether 1
liked Will BROMLEY well enough to
pass my whole life with him; and
even then | had not come TO any decis-
ion, when was called down stairs to
Lefty Walters.
Lefty was the prettiest, think, of
all my friends, and certainly the live
liest. 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. l
found kind Of cross-examination 20
ing on. 1t was amusing TO anybody
in the secret. as l was, 70 watch
mothers artful way of continually
bringing the conversation round, as II
by chance, to bear on what she want
ell 10 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.
tion that Lefty had called.
"What, the tonic 2" said Tom. TOO
bad l missed her."
But for your choice being already
made" said mother, with a covert
scruntiny of his face, ~ dare say you
might have AS much tonic as you lik-
ed"
''But l 90 on the homeopathic princi-
pie, you know" answered Tom, with u
twinkle in his eye.
After that, mothers belief in Letty's
outlines wavered Her suspicious
were transferred from one to another
of our acquaintance, but always with
the same unsatisfactory result.
ut passes my comprehension she
said to me, despa:ringly, one day." l
am positive l could tell the right one
by Toms face in q minute, and yet
have mentioned everybody we know"
perhaps it is somebody we don't
know" | suggested, ''some friend of
his We have never seen."
what perfect stranger" said
mother sharply. "Never talk to me,
child; Toms not capable Of that"
Twas silent, for l did not want to
worry her but that was my opinion all
the same.
That same evening-it was rather
more than week since Tom had hurl-
ed that thnnder-bolt at us-mother
began about it openly.
"When are you going to introduce
your wife to US, Tom? I suppose YOU
have come to an understanding by this
timer"
"Oh there's no hurry" Tom said, as
he had said before; but this time be
did not speak quite so chesrfdlly.
"The fact is" he continued, with lit
tie hesitation, "there-there's q rival in
the case"
"A rival?" repeated mother, with
unfeeling briskness,
"Yes, q young fellow-younger by q
good deal, than 1 am" and Toms fsce
assumed an absnrdly dolefal look.
''He is always there now. / confess
don't see nv way clear, I'm WAITING