The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-06-12

tire stranger,I cannot pretend to form ar
opinion of her, of course"
"Of course" repeated Tom, absently
"Not that | have any such idea," re
sumed mother, growing warmer;'.I have
said, and say it again. that to bring a
stranger under this roof is not my opinion
of you, Tom"
/ felt my mothers words like 50 many
pins and needles; for Tom was looking
meditatively across at me and. though that
was just way of his, it seemed now IS If
he were reading in my face that the
opinion was mine, and that had been
meddling in what cid not concern me.
felt myself, for very vexation, getting
redder every moment, till it grew intoler-
able. IL a a3llh "a .aa..fH ~ 5
r"It is SO warm here" said, for an ex-
cuse, turning toward the French window.
am going to get breath of air."
went out into our little strip of gar
den ground; Tom followed. thought I
should never have a better opportunity
to say what had in my mind to say, so
waited for him by the bench under the
old pear tree. "Sf down here, Tom," |
said, "I've something to say to ysu."
"Have you?' said Tom, that's odd, for
I-Well, never mind that, Just vet. What
is il, May?" go"
"Tom," l said, still surer now be had
misjudged me, and more resolved to set
him right, "I want place."
"a placer" repeated Tom puzzled, as
we'll he might be, by this sudden and in
definite announcement; "what kind of a
placer"
II don't know" I said, for indeed, my
ideas were of the vaguest. ~ though
you might, being in the way of those
things. Now, pray, Tom," went on
quickly, dent fancy am disconnected,
or-or anything of that sort. the truth is,
ever since lett off school have wanted
something to do. and had it in my mind
to speak to you about it,"
With this l looked at Tom, felring he
might he vexed; but b. did nGt,look vex-
ed only preoccupied. 1e' e0
II do know of place as it happens
he said, after while, "only I'm not sure
how it would suit you" .
That's soon seen" said l. "What is il
likeG"
"Well, it's a sort of-of general useful.
ness"
why, it must be to run errands," said
I, laug ching. sand where is it, Tomg"
"Well," said Tom, hesi,atingly again
its with me-"
How very nice ~ l exclaimed. Chow
soop cal have it?"
"The sooner the better, so far as l an
concerned" said Tom, and with that be
turned round and looked at me, and di
rectly I met his eyes knew somehow. al
in moment what it was he meant; and
knew too, both that I could not have
passed all my life with Will Broomly, and
why could not.
am sure Lefty Walters, who inter
ruptet US just then, must have though
my wits were wandering that evening
and, indeed, they were; for was so com
pIetely daze with the sudden turn thing
had taken. But Tom. who had the ad
vantage Of me there, took it quite cody,
and laughed and talked with Lefty JUS
the same as ever till she went away.
1t was pretty late when we went in
Mother sat where we had left her, knit
ting IN the twilight.
"Wasn't that Lefty Walters with you 1
while ago?" she said, as we came up.
eyes said l, with confused feeling
of something being necessary; "she jus
came to bring the new crochet pattern
she promised me-"
"H'm!' said mother, as muck as to SAY
sha had her own ideas as to what Lett,
came for.
Tom had been wandering about The
room in an absent sort of fashion, taking
up and putting down in the wrong place
all the small objects that fell in his way
He came up and took seat by mother.
became of sudden very busy with tn
plants in the window; for knew he wa
going to tell her.
"Wish me joy, Aunt Anne" said he