Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-08-21

come forward, and insisted on giving
a home to his aunt and to me, whom
he had scarcely seen dozen times in
his life before. That was exactly like
Tom" queer Tom Dean" friends
were fond of saying, "who never did
anything like anybody else"
suppose, in spite of his clear head
for business, there is no denying that
he was whimsical; but I am sure,
when I think of his unfailing gen
erosity and delicacy, I an'thelp wish
ing there were few more such whim-
sical people in the world. Naturally
at the time I am speaking of, my
opinion had not been asked; all | had
to do was to go where mother went
and while she gave her energies to
the housekeeping, give mine to grow
ing up, which by this time had pret-
ty we'll accomplished. But perhaps
for that very reason--for one sees
with different eyes at twelve and
eighteen--my position in the house
had already begun to seem unsatis-
factory to me; and the morning 5
words put it in clearer light, since
it had been used as an argument
against Toms marrying. I knew
that mother had spoken honestly, be-
lieving that such step would not be
for his happiness; but was not he the
best judge Of that?
I knew him, if reflection should
bring him round to her opinion, to be
perfectly capable of quietly sacrifo-
ing his own wishes for my sake, who
had not the shadow of a claim on him;
80 it must be my part to prevent bis
own kindness being turned against
him now. Still it was not easy to see
how. ! was to provide for myself, la
case.it should become advisable. What
could do? Draw and sing and play
tolerably, but not in a manner to com
pete with the hosts that would be IN
the field against me. Literature |
had read so many stories whose hero
ines, with turn Of the pen, dashed
into wealth and fame. That would
be very nice, only was not the least
little bit literary; I had never even
kept a journal, which is sayinga great
deal for girl in her teens. The fine
arts, then, being out Of the question
for me, what remained? There was
some clerkahip, or, perhaps, a place
in some family, and-and there was
Will Broomly
That may seem like going away
from the point, but it was not. !
was matter. of-fact but I could see
we'll enough what was going on right
under my eyes, and I had a pretty
clear idea of what was bringing Will
to the house so often as he had taken
to coming lately. There was "sit,
uation," then, that would give me
the home life I liked best, and fell
myself best suited for; but-would
it answer in other respects? over.
cast the long seam I was sewing twice
over, I was SO busy trying to make
up my mind whether I liked VIII
BROMLEY we'll enough to pass my
whole life with him; and even then
had not come to any decision, when
I was called down stairs to Miss Let
ty Walters.
Lefty was the pretties', I think, Of
all my friends, and certainly, the live
liest. Tom called her the tonic,
and used to laugh heartily at her
bright speeches. l suppose it was
this that made mother fix OH Lefty as
his choice. When l came into the
sitting room, found kind OF cross
examination going on. 1t was anus
Ing to anybody in the secret, as |
was, to watch mothers artful way Of
continually bringing the conversation
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 lencer, or
because she really had nothing TO be-
tray, but when Tom came home
mother took care to mention that
Lefty had called.
What, the tonic?" said Tor.
Too bad I missed ner.
But Tor your choice beingalready
made, said mother, with c"vert
scrutiny of his face, "I dare say you
might have as much of the tonic as
you liked
But I go on the homeopathic
principle, you know" answered Tom,
with a twinkle in his eye.
After that mothers belief in Let
TVS outlines wavered. Her suspi-
cions were transferred from one to
another Of our acquaintances, but
always with the same unsatisfactory
result.
1T passes my comprehension" she
said to me, despairingly, one day.
Il am positive l could tell the hight
one by Toms face in minute, and
/ yet have mentioned everybody we