Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-06-05

den ground Tom followed. L thought
1 should never have better opportunity
to say what I had it in my mind to say,
SO waited for him by the bench under
the old pear tree. Sit down here,
Tom,'' I said, ''I've something to say
to you" ,, o., ,o;5 Tow, ...,. -,
for L. Wei, never mind that, Just
yet. What is it, May P"
Tom" I said, still surer now he had
misjudged me, and more resolved to set
him right, =" I want a place."
GA place ?" repeated Tom, puzzled,
as well he might be, by this sudden and
indefinite announcement "what kind
of place ?''
ssI don't know" said, for, indeed,
my ideas were of thevaguest. ''Ithought
you might, being in the way of those
things. Now, pray, Tom," I went
on quickly, "don't fancy I am discon-
tented, or-or anything of that sort the
truth is, ever since 1 left off school 1
have wanted something to do, and had
With this looked at Tom, fearing he
might be vexed but he did not look
vexed, only preoccupied.
''I do know of a place, as it happens, %
he said, after awhile, +" only I'm not
sure how it would suit you.
THAT'S soon seen," said I. "What
is it like ?"
"Well, it's sort of-of general use
fulness-"
"Why, it must be to run errands, :"
said I, laughing. ''And where is it,
Tom ?''
"Wen," said Tom, hesitating again,
" it's with me. :"
"How very nice !'' Iexclaimed. elbow
soon can L have it ?'
"The sooner the better, SO far as I
am concerned" said Tom, and with that
he turned round and looked at me, and
directly I met his eyes. I knew some
how, all in a moment, what he meant /;
and I knew, too, both that I could not
have passed all my life with VIII Broom
ley, and a0hy L could not.
I am sure Lefty Walters, who inter
rupted us just then, must have thought
my wits were wandering that evening,
and, indeed, they were !; for I was COM
pletely 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.
It was pretty late when she went in.
Mother sat where we had left her, knit
ting In the twilight.
s'Wasn't that Lefty Walters with you
a while ago?" she said, as we came up.
eyes," said I, with a confused feeling
of an explanation of something being
necessary she just came to bring the
new crochet-pattern she promised me. p"
"H'm p 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, tax
ing and putting down in the wrong
places all the small objects that fell in
his way. He came up and took seat
by mother. I became of sudden very
busy with the plants in the window [;
for 1 knew he was going to tell her.
Wish me joy, Aunt Anne" said he,
&c it's all settled
"Settled, is it ?" said mother, in any
thing but joyful tone. so it's as I
suspected all along. Well, you have my
best wishes, Tom perhaps you may be
happy together after all I'm sure hope
So"
This wasn't a very encouraging sort of
congratulation, and Tom seemed rather
taken aback by it.
"Pm sorry you are not pleased" :" he
said, after pause L had an idea
somehow you would be"
'sI don't know from what you judged.
But there, it's no use of crying over
split milk. You'll be married directly,
I presume I must be looking out for a
house." and mother stroked her nose re-
hectively with a knitting-needle.
"What for ?'' said Tom 81 thought
of keeping on here all the same"
"I never supposed otherwise" said
mother "Of course I did not expect to
turn you out of your own house"
But what is the need of looking out
for another, then?
Why, for myself"
"For myself /" repeated Tom, in q
tone of utter amazement. "Going to
leave us-just now? Why, Aunt Anne,
I never heard of such thing p
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 kind
ness-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 ever / 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" re-
torted mother, getting nettled.
Amusement and certain embarrass
ment had kept me silent listener sc
far, but there was no standing this
tried to speak, but could not, for laugh
ing.
ttI think you are all out of your wits
together" said mother, turning sharply
What ails the child? it's no laughing
matter"
"You don't understand each other,
gasped; "oh, dear tits not Lett,
-oh-oh, dear p and relapsed again.
4" Not Lefty ?'' repeated mother, turn
ing to Tom. "Then why did you tel
me SO ?''
6" 1 never told you so,'' said Tom.
"Why, yes you did, % persisted mother
"You came in and told me you wer,
going to be married. -
sc Yes, so am," said Tom, still a
cross-purposes.
CHOW, Tom Dean," said mother
rising and confronting him, "what d,
you mean? aOho is going to be you
| wife ?'
| "Why, May, of course" answere'