Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-01-17
JACKSON, TENNESSEE,

/ much trouble. But for yOu L must
have walked home bareheaded.
81 wouldn't put it on just yet. y
Tom said. ''Let it lie IN the sun q
little and dry, while you go on with
your work.
''But suppose it starts off again
when there's no one to recover it fol
me?" she suggested.
"Let me guard it, then, and you
can work in peace. You are sketch.
ing, see; may look"
'Oh, yes; but it's a miserable fail
ure, I'm afraid" she said, laughing,
as she handed it to him for inspection
Tom examined it, and, being bit OF
all amateur himself, proceeded tc
criticise, and, finally, to instruct. He
found this girl very charming: she
seemed so delightfully."- free from all
conventionality, without at all re-
sembliug his 6ete ROir, the "fast girl. y
They grew quite confidential as the
lesson proceeded, and were amazed
when, on consulting their watches,
they discovered that it was half-past
six.
II must fly" she said, cor shall
be late for dinner, and Sir John can't
stand that"
Have you far to go?" asked Tom,
craftily.
"About a mile. I'm staying at
| Newlands. GOod-by. No, I can car
ry them, thanks; 1 couldn't think OF
troubling you any more. Good-by,
! and she was off.
Tom went to his room, thinking a
I great deal about his new friend, Won
dering where the charms lay which,
even more than her beauty, had fasci-
mated him.
perhaps it's her Dress" he tho't;
''she dresses better than any woman
I ever saw; and then her boots!'-
Here he lit a cigar and fell into a
dream about the said boots and about
the little white hand which had work
ed so industriously and confidingly
under the direction of his big brown
paw. All the next day he wandered
by the river, but she came not. That
evening he was restless and ill-tem-
pered with his hostess and every one
who approached him.
The day after he was more fOrtu-
nate. She was sitting i'll the old
spot, and greeted him smilingly.
you're Just in time" she said
"Look at my tree; isn't it like those
bright green caulifowers you see in
the pickle bottles?"
Tom sat down and set to work on
the refractory tree, while she watched
him.
II say" said she at last, 'isn't this
dreadfully improper?"
"Which?" asked Tom, working
away vigorously.
"Why, you and me, B." she replied
ungrammatically. "We've never been
introduced, and I don't in the least
know who you are or anything about
you. Lady Turnbull would have a
fit if she knew it. :"
"Let me introduce myself" said
Tom, laughing. "My name is Lut-
trell-Tom Luttrell: or, if you prefer
it, Thomas Cursor Alyanley Luttrell." ="
If she had not been sitting behind
him Tom must have noticed the flush
which spread over her face at this an
nouncement. After pause, she said,
slowly:
so you're Tom Luttrell?"
eyes, " said he, looking up. "What
do you know of me ?"
"There is a young lady staying at
Newlands who is a great friend of
mine; she has told me about you"
Indeed! And what's her name ?"
''AIiss Leigh; Nellie Leigh"
1t was Toms turn to blush now
''AIiss Leigh" he repeated. "Good
heavens ! you don't mean to say she
is in the neighborhood? ?"
''YOu don't seem fond of her." she
said, quietly.
Tom painted viciously. "I hate
fast girls" he said at last.
GLOW do you know she's fast? You
never saw her.
Eve heard about her." Tom said
gloomily.
''What have you heard about her ?"
demanded his companion sharply.
''Why, there was Ernest Browne;
he met her a little while ago. She
talked along the whole time TO him,
wanted to smoke. Then Tiverton
told me she was the best hand at
quoting Artemus Ward he ever heard.
Bah hate a girl that quotes Arte-
mas Wardr and Tom switched
viciously at the dandclions with his
cane.
His companion watched him with
mischievous smile.
81 wish you'd be less keerless with
that weppin," she said, you'll upset
my water, directly, and then you'll
have to go and get some more"
"Now, don't yow begin it," Tom
pleaded.
'EWhy not? like Artemus."
Tom shrugged his shoulders.
'sWell," his tormentor continued,
''have you any other fault to find with
your bride?'
''She's not my bride"
but she will be-"
''No, Pm bothered if she will -
Tom broke out, vehemently.
what will you buy your freedom
with Hillingdon and seven thousand
year ?'
price"
Complimentary to Miss Leigh
Shall 1 tell her ?"
''If you like-but never mind Miss
Leigh"
''You've not told me your name,
yet" said Tom, after a while.
"NIy name ?" she repeated; "oh,
never mind my name"
"But l do mind your name. Won't
you tell me -
MY names Nellie, too" she said,
musinGly.
''ShalI L call you Nellie, then?" lac
asked.
Certainly not" she said coldly,
and recommended painting vigorous
". lie was getting on too fast.
Tom watched her silently. won't
You forgive me" he pleaded after
while.
'.ShaII I?'' she said, holding her
sketch at arms length, to observe the
effect
eyes, do, said Tom, it's so chris
tiau."
''Then L viii" and she gave him
her hand with most adorable smile.
Tom felt sadly inclined to kiss it but
refrained.
Now" said she, consulting her
/ watch, Il must be Off"
"And will you allow me to carry
your things ?" asked Tom.
But az this moment she was capri
cious, rs ladies will be sometimes,
aud positively refused to allow him to
do any such thing. Then arose a
struggle for the "things," which we're
however, captured by Tom after a
/ short resistance.
i L