The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-10-23
you a while ago?' she said, as W.
came uD.

sYes,' said 1, with confused feel
ing of something being necessary
she just came to bring the new
crochet-pattern she promised me-
sH'm 7 said mother, as much as tt
say she had her own ideas as to wha
Lefty came for.
Tom had been wandering abou,
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. / became
OF sudden very busy with the
plants in the window for knew he
was going to tell her.
| swish me joy, Aunt Anna said
he, it's all settled.
Settled, is it?' said mother, in
anything but joyful tone. $50 it's
as | suspected all along. Well, you
have my best wishes, Tom perhaps
you may be happy together after all
Pm sure hope so.'
This wasn't very encouraging
sort of congratulation, and Tom
seemed rather taken aback by it.
Sim sorry you're not pleased he
said, after pause Il had an idea
somehow you would be-
Il don't know from what you judg.
ed. But there, it's no use crying
over split milk. You'll be married
directly, Ipresume must be look
ing out for house, and mother
streked her nose rejecting with a
knitting-needle.
'What for p said Tom; Il thought
of keeping on here all the same.'
Il never supposed otherwise said
mother 'Of course l did not ex
pect to turn you out of your own
house,
But what is the need of looking
out for another, then?'
'Why, for myself
'For yourselt!' = repeated Tom, in
tone of utter amazement. 'Going
to leave as-just now? Why, Aunt
Anna, / never heard of such q
thing!'
Now, Tom, said mother, speak
ing very fast, and making her need
les fly in concert, we might as well
come to an understanding at once on
this subject. l am fully sensible OF
your past kindness-now just let me
tinish-I say l appreciate it, as l
hope should always be ready to
do. l wish all good to you and
your wife, and shall be glad to help
her if ever l can, but to live in the
same house with her il what would
turn out pleasantly for neither of us,
and once tor all, l can't do it,
Aunt Anna, said Tom, pushing
back his chair, and staring in moth
er's excited face, 'either you or l
must be out of our wits
It's not nae, then, at any rate
retorted mother, getting nettled.
Amusement and certain embar.
rassment had kept me silent listen
er so far, but there was no standing
this; l tried to speak, but could not,
for laughing.
4 think you are all out of your
wits together said mother, turning
sharply. what ails the child ? it's
no laughing mstter.'
you don't understand each other,
l gasped; 'oh, dear! tits not
Letty-oh-oh, dear!' and relapsed
again.
Not Lettyf repeated mother,
turning to Tom. Then why did
you tell me so p
Il never told you so,' said Tom.
'Why, yes you did, persisted mo.
ther. You came in and told me you
were going to be married.
'Yes, 80 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
your wife p
'Why, May, of course answered
Tom.
May! And then, after pause OF
inexpressible astonishment, it was
mothers turn to laugh. DO you
mean to say, Tom, it was that child
you were thinking of all the while p
why, who else could it be p said
Tom, simply.
'Well,' said mother, 4 ought to
have remembered you never did do
anything like anybody else. But
still, why did you go to work in such
a roundabout way p
Il 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 p repeated
Tom, falling back on what he evil
IDENTIFY found an unanswerable argu.
ment. 1t was no use talking to him.
Mother gave it up with shake OF
the head.
'And you won't want another
house then, Aunt Anna?' said Tom,
suddenly. That set mother of
again; Tom joined with her, and
altogether l don't think we ever pass.
ed merrier evening than the one
that made US acquainted with Toms
Wife.-Appleton's.
ELDAD MlNKlNS.