The Van Buren press., 1873-08-05

OplnIOn nau not Oeen asked , all l had u
do was to go whore mother went, and
while she gave her energies to the house
keeping, give mine TO growing up, whicl
by this time | had pretty well accom-
plished. But perhaps for that very rsa
son-for one sees with different eyes a
twelve and eighteen-my position in tn
house had already begun to seem unsat
lsiactory to me and the mornings word
put it in clear light since it had bee
used as an argument ageinst Toms mar
rying. ! know that mqrar haa n he
honestly, believing that's III sstep woul
not be for his happiness; but was net h
the best judge Of that? knew him,
reflection should bring him round to-hs
opinion, to be perfectly capable Of quiet
ly sacrificing his own wishes for my sake
who had not the shadow Of claim el
him; 50 it must be my part to preven
his own kindness being turned agains
him now. Still, it was not so easy to sc,
how | was to provide for myself, in cas-
it should become advisable. What coul(
| do2 Draw and sing and play tolera
bly,, but not in manner to compete will
the host that would be in the field agains
me. Literature had read so many
stories whose heroines, with turn OF th'
pen, dashed into wealth and fame. Tha
would be very nice, onl y-only | wa!
not the least little bit literary lhad nev
er even kept a Journal, which is saying 4
great deal for girl in her teens The
= fine arts, then, being out OF the ques
ton for me. what rem llned There was
some clerkship, or a place in seme fami'
", and-and there was VIII Breomloy
That may seem ike going away from
the point, but it was not. l WAS matter
Of fact, but could see well enough what
was going on right under my eyes, and
had pretty clear idea ofwhat was bring
inc viii home so oftos as he had taken
to coming lately. There was "stua'
ton, then. that would give mo the
home life liked best, and felt myself
best suited for; but--would it answer in
other respects? | overcast the long
seam was sewing twice over, was so
busy trying to make up my mind wheth-
er liked viii Broomley we'll enough to
pass NV whole life with him; and even
then ! had not come to any decision,
when was called down stairs to Lefty
" alters.
Lefty was the prettiest, think, of all
my friends, and certainly the bvellest,
Tom called her the tonic and used to
laugh heartily at her bright speeches
SUPPOSE il vaS this that made neither fix
on Lefty as his choice, When | came to
the sitting room, found Kind otcross
examination going on, 1t was amusing
to any one in the secret, rs | was, to
watch mothers ! artiul way of continually
the conversation 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 a fen
Ger, or because she really had nothing to
yetray. Bat, when Tom came home,
mother took care to mention that Lofty
had called.
"What, the tonic, " said Tom. Too
bad ! missed her.
But for your choice being already
nuuS, Saiu HIotutl' NiSH q SO'ei' ~" p"
my Of his face, :" / dare say you might
nave rs much Of the tenic as you liked. y
." But | 90 on the homeopathic prin'
,iple, you know, answered Tom, with n
wiukle in his eye
After that, mothers belief in Lefty 5
yuiltiness wavered Her suspicious were
from one to another Of our
but always with the same
unsatisfactory result
at passes my comprehension, She
said to me, dspairinglG one day. -
I'M positive ! could tell the right one by
Toms face in a minute, and yet l have
mentioned everybody we know
" Perhaps it ia somebody wo don t
Know, " | suggested; "some friend OF
lis we have nover seen.
What perfect stranger p said
mother, sharply Never talk to me,
'hild Toms net capable of hdt'"
Il was silent, for did not want TO
worry her; but that was my opinion all
ho same.
The same evonlnE--lt was rather more
han a week since Tom had hurled that
hunder bolt Of his at us-mother began
lbout it openly.
"When are YOU goiag TO introduce
;our wife to US, Tom? | suppose you
nave come to an understanding ly this
.imo2'
"Oh, there's no hurry Tom said, as
he had said before but this time he did
,ot speak quite SO cheerfully. "The
act is, he continued with a little hest
alton. " thero-thcre' a rival in the
'ase.
A rival 2" repeated mother, with un-
ceiling briskness.
Yes, young fellow-younger by a
rood deal than am, and Toms face
.ssumed an sbsurdly doleful lJok. He
s always there now. ] confess | don't
iee my way clear, I'm waiting for her to
make up her mind.
"And she's waiting, most likely, for
,eu to make up yours, said mother,
in her propensity to right
matters tha, she was playing the enemy $
game,
There's something in that that never
occurred to me-, said Tom, his face
Mother saw her mistake,
md made a countcr-move at once.
but the ways Of my time are old fash
ened now young ladies, nowadays take
matters into their own hands. If she
cared for you, you may be bretty sure
she wouldn't have waited till this time to
ct YOU know it--that is, | judge by tue
iris | am iu the habit of seeing; but If
his one 10 stranger to me" here
notbor riv.ted her eyes on Toms face .