Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-06-24

mOlHeT NJ u ullIisieI WluOW, was Ho'
much given to the idle mirth that is as the
cracking of thorn. under a pot. but now
she leaned back and laughed till the tears
stood in her eyes.
"Well,n she said, Iii it was anybody
else, | should say he was cracked, but
you never were like other people. aud
you never will be, Tom Dean. But at
least you have fixed on the lady ?"
"Oh, yes" answered Tom? "but il
YOU will excuse me Aunt Annie, | would
rather not say anything about her. just
yet; for, il anything should happen. i,
wouldn't be pleasant for either party. you
know" With this veiled allusion to his
possible rejection. Tom took his hat and
LETT the room.
Our household was rather queerly put
together. There was no particular rea.
son why should have been OF il al all :;
| Tor l was not related TO Tom, nor even 10
mother as | called her. though | am
sure. we were as dear to each other as
mother and daughter could be. She was
the second wife of my father, who like
most ministers, had been richer in grace
than in goods. aud had left us at his
death with very little 10 live on. Then il
was that Tom Dean had come forward,
and insisted on giving II home to his aunt
and me. whom he hai scarcely seen n
dozen times in his life before. That was
exactly like Tom-'queer Tom Dean, as
his friends were fond of saying. who
never did anything like anybody else
| suppose in spite OF his clear head Tor
BUSINESS. there was no denying he was
whimsical; but l am sure. when l think
OF his unfailing generosity and dslicacy.
| can't help wishing there wero few
more such whimsical people in the world.
Naturally. at the time / am speaking OF.
my opinion had not been asked; all
had TO do was TO go where mother went,
and while she gave her energies to the
housekeeping. give mine 10 growing up.
which by this time had pretty well &C.
somplished. But perhaps for that very
reason-for one sees with different eyes
at twelve and eighteen-my position in
the house began TO seem unsatisfactory TO
me; and the morning words put it in
clearer light since it had been used as an
argument. against Toms marrying. l
knew that mother had spoken honestly,
believing that such = step would not be
for his happiness; but was not he the
best Judge Of that? l knew him. if re.
fection 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 par, TO prevent his
own kindness being turned against him
now. Still, il was mol so easy TO see how
was 10 provide for myself, in case ii
should become advisable. What could |
do? Draw and sing. and sing aud play
tolerably, but not in manner to compete
with the hosts that would be in the field
against me. Literature had read so
many stories whose herones. with
turn OF the pen, dashed into wealth and
fame. That would be very nice, only-I
WAS not the least bit literary; had never
even kepts journal, which is saying
great deal Tor girl in her teens. The
fine arts, then, being out af The question
tor me. what remained? There was
some clerkship. or place in some family,
and-there was viii Bromley!
That may seem like going away from
the point, but it was not | was matter.
otfact, but could see vel! enough what
was going on right under my eyes, and
had pretty clear idea Of what was bring
ing W i'll 10 the house so often Us he had
taken to coming lately. There was u
situation, then, that would give me the
home lite l liked best, and felt myself
best suited for; but would it answer in
all respects? l overcast the long seam
was sewing twice over, was so busy try.
ing to make up my mind whether | liked
Will Bromley well enough to pass my
whole life with him and even then had
not come to any decision. when l was
called down stairs to Lefty Walters.
Lefty was the preltiest. ! think OF all
my friends. and certainly the liveliest.
Tom called her the "tonic," and used to
laugh heartily Mt her bright speeches. l
suppose j; was this that made mother fix
on Lefty as his choice. When | came in
to the sitting room. found kind Of
cross examination going on. It was
amusing 10 anybody in the secret. as
was, to watch mothers artful way of con.
tinually bringing the conversation round.
as IL by chance. to bear on what she
wanted to know. But it all amounted 10
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 mention that
Lefty had called.
"What. the tonic ?" said Tom. TOO
bad missed her,"
"But for your choice being already
made, said mother with a covert scrutiny
of his face. Il dare say you might have
had as much tonic as you liked
"But 20 on the homeopathic principle
you know, )" answered Tom, with twinkle
in his eye.
After that, mothers belief in Letty's
outlines wavered. Her suspicious were
tranofarrad from, one IN another of her