The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-11-24
Mercy don't talk so. I thought you


lot. We ought to be thankful"
"Dont mention the word thankful
to me! Pardon me, mother, don't mean
to speak unkindly; but-well, there's GO
ing to be change; that's ALL"
"You don't mean that you are going
to leave Mr.. Dunning?"
mo, no."
"What was it about Mr.. Wentworth"
"Oh, l met him to-day"-Tom blushed
-"and he reminded me of how DuDning
began as chore boy, and of the way he
stands now. And l thought, why can't
one do it as well as another? Why can't
l do it,"
Tom looked at his mother in defiant,
argumentative way.
Pm sure l don't know" she replied,
slightly nonplused. but you shouldn't
deceive yourself by building air castles"
"Pll take care of that. But pve got
an idea that mean to work out. 1t may
amount to nothing"
What is it, Tom?"
C. can't tell you now. You know that
brains sometimes make more money than
hands. Ii l could only invent some
thing"
Mrs. Shelly shook her head doubtfully.
Inventors are generally hair Drained
creatures"
"Not by good deal! You ought to
be ashamed to SANDER them. Think of
what they have done for the world"
Tom left the table with his meal but
half-finished, and threw himself down on
the couch. Putting his hand in his
pocket it came in contact with something
that sent a crimson flood to his face. He
rose hastily and went up to his room.
He lit lamp and smiled in exultation as
he laid a small object on the table. 1t
was Miss Lucy Wares missing button.
Yes, Tom had seen it when it dropped,
picked it up, and resolved to keep it as a
remembrancer of the tantalizing siren
who had so bewitched him. Some time,
perhaps, he would return it. He chuckled
as he thought of her discontinue, and her
blissful ignorance of who was the pos
SCISSOR of the lost trinket. Then the
foolish fellow gazed at it long and ear
nestly, finally placingit lin an inside pocket
of his vest.
ranged a choice collection of scientific
works, took one down, and commenced
reading. But his thoughts, refusing to
concentrate themselves on the subject of
the book, he finally flung it aside and
went downstairs. He astonished his
mother for the rest of the evening by be.
ing unusually gay and vivacious. He
perpetrated fearful jokes, and both
laughed until the tears ran down their
cheeks, thus insuring a good nights rest.
But change was coming. The next
day Tom bought pencils, compasses, ana
drafting paper, and in the evening shut
himself up in his room. This was re.
peated the next evening, and the next,
and at the end of week his mother
learned to look no more for the pleasant
hours they had been wont to spend to-
gether after tea Tom grew pale, and
his face assumed a thoughtful, resolute
look. And soon he drew half of his
two hundred dollars from the bank and
fitted up little workshop in a back
chamber. Here the sound of filing and
hammering was heard late into the hours
of almost every evening. Tom was
working out his idea, whatever it was;
and it was plainly no child's play with
him, but a game in which he had staked
his ala battle for life or death. His
earnest face told this, always soberly
meditative now, and scarcely ever relax
ing into a smile. His mother noticed
this; Mr.. Dunning noticed it; his friends
noticed it; but he discharged all his daily
du tiac with rioid fidality. n nd ,,ova CHI -.
answers to expressions of concern. And
thus the winter passed.
One August day Mr.. Dunning said:
Shelly, you are entitled to avacation,
and you look as though you need it. Go
off for couple of weeks. Your pay
shall go on all the same"
81 don't want it now, sir. I'M all
right"
"Ah, but I'm afraid you are not all
right. You are pale and thin"
&C l would prefer to work on for the
present." persisted Tom. 81 may want
vacation before long. I'll ask for it
when | do"
"All right. Don't be afraid to men.
ton it. Only don't wait for the busy
season."
For the next three weeks Tom stuck
later than ever to his little workshop
evenings, and often toiled there until the
wee, small hours were tolled out by the
lonely, solemn town clock.
At the end of that time he went to Mr.
Dunning with bright, almost happy look
ing eyes. Yet he had jaded, exhausted
air.
Now, sir, want my vacation"
" Whew~ said Mr.. Dunning. "We've
just got in some big orders, you know"
" l can't help it, sir, must have a
week "
Z" You must?"
g I'm sorry, sir; but rather than not
have it I'd throw up my place"
" Why, what's the row, ShellyS Any
thing going wrong?'
" No, sir. hope you will pardon my
persistence, but can go for weekY"
"Well, yes" said Mr.. Dunning, re.
hectively, " suppose so. You ought to
have taken it in the summer, though.
But since you ask for only a week, you
shall have it,"
That night Tom packed something
very carefully in small box, babe his
mother good-by and started for Wash.
ington.
Upon my word, Shelly, did not
EnnxU thara uraa Al much Ia So,