The weekly Shasta courier. [volume] (Shasta, Calif.) 1872-190?, 1873-06-14
"Well, it's sort of-of general useful

Well, its sort of-of general useiui
ness"
Why, it must be to run on errands,
said /, laughing And where is it, Tom
~" Well" said Tom, hesitating again, It's
with me-"
How very nice !" exclaimed. How
soon can have it? 2" --. ee~--, g- -
-"'The sooner the better, so far as l am
concerned" said Tom, and with that he
turned round and looked at me, and direct
ly met his eyes I knew somehow, all in q
moment, what it was he meant; and
knew, too, both that 1 could not have
passed all my life with Will BROMLEY, and
,chy could not.
am sure Lefty Walters, who interrupt
ed US just then, must have thought my wits
were wandering that evening, and, indeed
they were; for L was completely dazed with
this sudden turn things had taken. But
Tom. who had the advantage of me there
took it quite coolly, and laughed and talked
with Lefty just the same as ever till she
went away.
1t was pretty late when we went in
Mother sat where we had left her, knitting
in the twilight.
Wasn't that Lefty Walters with you a
while ago." she said as we came up.
yes" said |, with a confused feeling of
an explanation of something being necessa-
ry; she's just came to bring the new GRO
chet-pattern she promised me.
Him" said mother, as much as to say
she had her own ideas as to what Lefty
came for.
Tom had been wandering about 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 a seat by mother. / became
of sudden very busy with the plants in the
window; for l knew he was going to tell
her.
Wish me Joy, Aunt Annie" said he,
" it'sall settled" f.
Settled, is it?' said mother, in any
thing but joyful tore. So it's as | sus-
pected all along. Well, you have my best
wishes, Tom perhaps you may be happy to-
gether after all, Tn sure hope So"
This wasn't very encouraging sort of
congratulaton, and Tom seemed rather tax
en- aback by it.
I'm sorry you're not pleased" he said,
after pause; had an idea somehow you
would be-"
Il don't know from what you judged.
But there, it's no use crying over split milk.
You'll be married directly, | presume; |
must be looking out for a house." and moth
er stroked her nose refectively with knit
ting-needle.
"What for?" said Tom; az thought of
keeping on here all the same"
Il never supposed otherwise said moth
er. "Of course I did not expect to turn you
out of your own house"
1" But what is the need of looking out for
another, then?'
why, for myself"
"For yourself !" repeated Tom, in a tone
of utter amazement. "Going to leave us
just now? Why, Aunt Anne, l never heard
of such thing."
Now, Tom," said mother, speaking very
fast, and making her needles fly in concert,
we might as well come to an understanding
at once on this subject. am fully sensible of
your past kindness-now just let me finish
i say | appreciate it, and have tried to do
my duty by you in return, as hope should
always be ready to do. | wish all good to
you and your wife, and shall be glad to help
her if can, but to live in the same house
with her is what would turn out pleasantly
for neither of US and once for all, can't do
it,"
"Aunt Anne" said Tom, pushing back
his chair, and staring in mothers excited
face, either you or must be out of our
wits"
It's not me, then, at any rate" retorted
mother, getting nettled.
Amusement and a certain embarrassment
had kept me silent listener so far, but there
was no standing this tried to speak, but
could not, for laughing.
81 think you are all out of your wits to-
gether," said mother. turning sharply.
" What ails the child it's no laughing mat
ter"
You don't understand each other"
gasped; "oh, dear tits not Letty-oh
oh, dear /" and relapsed again.
Not Letty?" repeated mother, turning
to Tom. "Then why did you tell me so Z"
Il never told you So" said Tom.
"Why, yes you did," persisted mother.
You came in and told me you were GO
ing to be married"
"Yes, so 1 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 ?"
Why, May. of course" answered Tom
May" and then, after pause of mex
pressible establishment, it was mothers turn
to laugh. DO you mean to say, Tom, it
was that child you were thinking of all the
while?"
why, who else could it be ?" said Tom,
simply.
WELL, said mother l ought to have re-
membered you never do anything like any.
body else. But, still. why in the world did
you go to work in such a roundabout way?
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?" repeated Tom,
falling back on what he evidently found an
unanswerable argument 1t was no use
talking to him. Mother gave 1t I'D with
shake Of the head
And you won't want another house then,
Aunt Annie Z" said Tom, suddenly. That
set mother off again j; Tom Joined with her,
sd altogether don't think we ever passed
X nerrier evening thaDsthe one that made
us asAnainted with Toms wife.-AppIeton
'JotTndi.
Man is an animal that can not long be
left in safety without occupations the
growth OF his fallow nature is apt to run
l.