The weekly Shasta courier. [volume] (Shasta, Calif.) 1872-190?, 1873-06-14


| was not the least little bit literary | had
never even kept Journal, which is saying
a great deal for girl in her teens. The
46ne arts, then, being out of the question
for me, what remained? There was some
clerkship, or place in some family, and
and there was Will BROMLEY ~" ~
That may seem like going away from the
point, but it was not. was matter-of- fact
but could see well enough what was going
on right under my eyes, and had pretty
clear idea of what was bringing VIII to the
house SO often as he had taken to coming
lately. There was situation" then, that
would give me the home-life | liked best
and felt myself best suited for; but-would
it answer in other respects? Il overcast the
long seam was sewing twice over, was
so busy trying 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 | was
called Downstairs to lefty Walters.
Lefty was the prettest, 1 think, of all my
friends, and certainly The liveliest. 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 sit
ting room, | found kind of cross examina-
ton going on. 1t was amusing to anybody
in the secret, as was, 10 watch mother $
artful way of continually bringing the con-
yersatiOn round, as if by chance, to bear on
what she wanted to know. But it all
amounted to nothing, either because Lefty
was too good fencer, OF because she really
| had mt Hmm 70 hotror Rut Union 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, 9 I dare say you might have as much
of the tonic as you liked
But go on the homeopathic principle,
! you know" answered Tom, with twinkle
in his eye
After that, mothers belief in Letty's
guiltiness wavered. Her suspicious were
transferred from one to another of our ac
quaintance but always with the same unsat-
isfactory result.
4" 1t passes my comprehension" she said
to me, despairingly, one day. I am posi-
tive could tell the right one by Toms face
in minute, and yet | have mentioned every
body we know"
perhaps it is somebody we don't know, y
suggested some friend of his We have
never seen"
What perfect stranger?" said moth
er, sharply. " Never talk to me, child !;
Toms not capable of Mdt!"
was silent, for did not want to worry
her but that was my opinion all the same.
The same evening-it was rather more
than a week since Tom had hurled that
thunder-bolt of his at us-mother began
about it openly.
when are you going to introduce your
wife to US, Tom? l suppose you have come
to an understanding 10y this time ?"
"Oh, there's no hurry" Tom said, as he
had said before; but this time he did not
speak quite so cheerfulIy. The fact is" he
continued, with little hesitation, there
there's rival in the case"
ing briskness.
Yes, young fellow-younger by good
deal than | am" and Toms face assumed
an absurdly doleful look. He is always
there now. confess don't see my way
clear I'm waiting for her to make up her
mind"
And she's waiting, most likely, for you
to make up yours" said mother, forgetting,
in her propensity to right matters, that she
was playing the enemy's game.
"There's something in that that never
occurred to me-, said Tom, his face bright
ening. Mother saw her mistake, and made
a counter move at once.
:" But the ways of my time are old fash
toned now; young ladies', nowadays, take
matters into their own hands. If she cared
for you, you may be pretty sure she wouldn't
have waited till this time to let you know
it--that is, judge by the girls | am in the
habit of seeing; but if this one is a stranger
to me" there mother riveted her eyes on
Toms face; oh, dear, my unfortunate
words J If she is an entire stranger, l can
not pretend to form any opinion of her, of
course"
"Of course repeated Tom, absently.
Not that have any such idea" resum-
ed mother, growing warmer; )" i have said,
and | say again. that to bring perfect
stranger under this roof is not my opinion
of you, Tom"
felt mothers words like so many pins
and needles for Tom was looking medita-
lively across at me, and, though that was
just a way Of his, it seemed now as if he
were readiag in my face that the opinion
was mine, and that had been meddlng in
what did not concern me. felt myself,
for very vexation, getting redder every mo-
ment, till it grew intoerable.
1T is warm here" said, for an excuse
turning toward the French window. Il am
going to get breath of air.
went out into our little strip of garden
ground; Tom followed. thought should
never have better opportunity to say what
| had in my mind to say, SO | waited for
him by the bench under the OLD pear-tree
Sit down here. Tom,' said, I've some
thing to say to YOU --
Have your" said Tom I" that odd, for
I Well, never mind that, just yet. What
is it, May"
Tom l said, still snrer now he had
misjudged me, and more resolved to set him
right, = want place"
A placer" repeated Tom, puzzled, as
well he might be, by this sudden and indef-
mite announcement; what kind Of q.
place." 81
{" don't know" l said, for, indeed, nv
ideas were of the vaguest. d. thought yb3
might, being in the way of those things:
Now, pray, Iom,'' I went on quickly, don't
fancy l am discontinued, or-or any thing
of that sort; the truth is, ever since | left
off school have wanted something to do,
and had it in my mind to speak to you
about it,
With this looked at Tom, fearing he