The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-11-24

months and see how the thing is likely
to take before we make any agreement.
Don't you think you have got your
ideas up rather high on the matter?"
perhaps l have" answered Tom,
coolly; "but / don't propose to 90 beg.
ging and let others grow rich out of what
ought to have"
"Such things are all experiments
great risks"
81 know, sir; but you see what it is
and the need it supplies, and it is for
you to say whether you will run the risk
of taking hold of it,"
Mr.. Dunning paused and reflected.
/ will look the matter over" he said
at length, land you may come here to-
morrow evening"
This was as satisfactory as Tom could
have expected and so he withdrew.
When he went home he asked his
mother Ito whom he had confided naught
of his plans) how she would like to live
in Judge Graham's house on Main street.
"The Judge is going to Europe and
wants to SELL"
"What is that to US, Tom? We can
buy his house"
Well, we may be able to some time.
"Some time! What way you have of
looking ahead, Tomw
It's better to look ahead than behind,
l think"
Tom went upstairs, threw himself
back in chair and took Lucy Wares
button out. He fingered the memento
over and over, gazed on it, and finally
pressed it to his lips stealthily, as if he
feared some one mi hit be looking.
Then he wondered what Mr.. Cummings
decision would be, and revolved in his
mind all the contingencies of success or
failure. He slept but little that night,
for his whole future hung on the inter-
view of twenty .four hours hence.
New Years night! A silver wedding!
Mr.. Cummings mansion was thrown
open and thronged with his friends. 1t
was no stately affair The children were
there as we'll as the old folks, and the
house was aglow with merriment and
good cheer.
There were beautiful presents, smiling
congratulations and shaking of hands;
bright-eyed girls, with dazzling dresses
and shining white shoulders; dignified
matrons in stately silks and diamonds;
benlgnant fathers in glossy broadcloths
and sober kids; elegant young men in
swallowtails and white vests; scream
ing children with wild, delighted counte-
nances; and the buzz and rustic and
din and chatter of crowd that had dis
missed dull care for the nonCe and was
bent on making a night of it.
Tom Shelly was there, and so was
Lucy Ware. The former was surrounded
by friends and new acquaintance eager
to congratulate him on recent impor-
tant event-namely, his admission as
partner with Mr.. Dunning.
"Dunning & Shelly has very respect
able sound" said one.
Accept my congratulation on your
good fortune" said another.
"Well, Tom, your luck has come at
last"
"You deserve your luck-every bit of
it, were the words of an old friend.
Tom received all this with due grace
and modesty. A few ventured to sound
him, to test his intelligence, but were
speedily satisfied on that score. He was
thoughtful reader, and possessed a
little stock of books that many of those
around him would have done well to sub.
stitute for the unwholesome sweetmeats
with which they were wont to regale
their minds.
In the meantime Tom is soliloquizing
mentally. He is growing FESTIVE, and
longs to speak to Lucy Ware. But he
wonders how she will receive him
whether his good fortune will make him
more attractive to her. And if it does,
and if certain hopes he has cherished are
fulfilled, will it be he that wins her, or
something else? viii ii be a cash match
or love match? Or won't it be any
match at all? and is such speculation
idle2 These were perplexing questions,
and Tom found himself unable to con-
slider them with that coolness of judg.
ment he had resolved with himself to
bring to bear on the matter.
AT last Tom approached her, and as he
drew near felt choking thrill. She was
just as beautiful as ever, and gave him a
glance out of her liquid black eyes that
rippled up from under the long lashes
like a flood of sunlight.
But in spite of the wild canter into
which his blood was fired, he babe her
good evening, touched her gloved palm,
and uttered some commonplace remark
with very praiseworthy nonchalance
just then set was forming to dance,
and one couple was wanting. OF course
Tom asked Miss Ware for the honor, ETC.,
and the two marched on the floor.
"You will allow me to express my
pleasure at your new advancement, will
you not?" she asked, in tone in which
there was just shade of tremulousness.
"Oh, certainly, if you take enough in
terest in me to feel any pleasure at it."
"Why, of course do. l always feel
interested in those deserving of success"
Her tone was charmingly frank now.
ooh, that's it, is itg" said Tom, little
disappointed. The sparkle in Miss Wares
eyes dilated little.
"Well, ! got it by hard work, " he said.
"I went back to my greasy machine shop
that time, as you babe me-"
What do you mean?"
"Have you forgotten about it? twas
when you went to New York to visit
your aunt You lost your button at the
depot, you know, and told me to 90 back
IN NV greasy machinp-shon and coo if I