The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-07-09
COUDERsPORT Pa WEDNESDAY, July 9. 1873

ton round. as if by chance, to bear
on what she wanted to know. But
it all amounted to nothing, either be-
cause 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 l missed her
But for your choice being already
made,' said mother. with a covert
scrutiny Of his face, 1 dare say you
might have'a much of tn tonic as
you liked
! But ! 90 on the Homeopathic prin,
ciple, you know answered Tom.
with twinkle in his eye.
After that, mothers belief in Let
/ tvs outlines wayered. Her suspi-
cions were transferred from one to
another Of our acquaintance, but al
ways with the same unsatisfactory
result.
1t passes my comprehension.
she said to me. despairingly. one day.
i am positive l could tell the right
one by Toms face in minute and
Yet have mentioned everybody we
/ know
Perhaps it is somebody we don't
know | suggested; some friend of
his we have never seem.
what! a perfect stranger% said
mother sharply. Never talk to me,
child; Toms not capable of that!'
/ l 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 thunderbolt Of his 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 time?'
| sOh. there's no hurry Tom said.
as he had said before; but this time
he did not speak quite so cheerfuily.
The fact IS he continued with a
little hesitation, 'there-there's a IL
val in the case
| \ rival replied mother, with
unfeeling briskness.
'Yes, a younger fellow-younger
by a good deal than ] am, and
Toms face assumed an absurdly
doleful look. He's always there
now. l confess l 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 play.
/ ing the enemy's game.
There's something in that that
never occurred to me- said Tom, his
/ face frightening. Mother saw her
mistake and made counter move
at once.
But the ways of my time are old
fashioned nov; young ladies nova
DAYS 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
(here mother riveted her eyes on
Toms face; oh. dear, my unfortu-
nate wordsD If she is an entire
stranger, l cannot pretend to form
any opinion Of her. of course
of course repeated Tom, alb
sently.
Not that have any such idea.
resumed mother, growing warmer
/ have said aud | say it 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 look
ing meditatively across at me. and
though that was just a way of his. il
seemed now as if he were reading in
my face that the opinion was mine
and that l had been meddling il
what did not concern me. l felt
myself, for very vexation, getting
redder every moment. till it grew in
tolerable.
1t is so warm here | said. for al
! excuse, turning toward the Frencl
window, / am going to get a breatl
Of air.
| went out into our little strip o
garden-ground; Tom followed.