Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-08-27


full. She RETAINED from asking ques.
tions, leaving him TO choose his time
and manner of communicating the re-
suit.
Harris Brothers offer me the place
at forty dollars month";" he said, af-
ter supper.
90 ION, how glad we ought to be !!
how thankful I've felt all the time
that God meant to take care of US.
Ivah said, and then she broke down
and cried.
"But if l can do the work OF the
place." said Tom, grumbling, Il
don't see why l shouldn't have the
wages which belong to it. I've abont
decided to tell Harris Brothers that l
will not work for half-pay.'
"Oh, don't Tom don't! cried
Ivah, taking alarm. "Think how
much it is worth to have secured the
place. Take what you can get till you
have gained skill, and demonstrated
your value. When you are sure of
your skill, and they are SIRE, you may
ask for higher salary. We can man
age we'll with forty dollars. 1 find new
ways of economizing every day"
On and on she went, till Tom was
persuaded to close with Harris Broth
ers' offer.
He would not have been able to de.
serve this, but for his sisters watchful
help.
Even after he had gained skill in the
work, he still brought his books home
fN hnp nj akn of H.
ing over the figures, while be went out
to refresh himself at some place of
amusement or by call.
Before the year was out. Toms
salary had been raised to seventy dol
lars a month, and q few months later,
he announced that, at last, he was to
have one thousand dollars.
Isn't it good, dear TOm?" Ivah
said, cuddling close up to him. 1--WE
can begin to lay by something for
baby's education"
II cant spare much money!" said
Tom. with his eyes downcast. There
was silence for moment, and then he
went on with some words that made
his sisters heart beat in a dreadful
way.
1.-THE fact is. I've be on waiting for a
raise in my salary to -to-make ON i'm
portant change in my life."
1vah's heart stood still in terror.
Again Tom paused.
"What is it, Tom? What change
You are not going away?"
"No. I suppose I ought to have
told you before. Tm-I'm engaged to
get married."
She gasped. 80 Tom!' and then
broke into tears.
Tom was vexed at her emotion.
/" l don't see why you need take on
at this rate" he said, with petulance.
" I should think you'd rejoice at any
happiness that comes into my life of
drudgery."
EYES," sobbed Ivah; :" but it was
so unexpected !! Dear, dear Tom, am
glad of anything that will make you
happier. OF course, it has been very
dreary for you since father died, and
you have had to work hard"
She did not add, as many another
would have done, "And have
worked hard; and your work, Tom,
has taken you out into the light and
life and sunshine; mine has tied me to
the lonely house. You have had time
and heart to make love and to win
love-"
She said nothing of this, but asked
the name of the woman who was to
take her place.
When Tom gave it, she said. THAT
sounds like French name"
"She is Of French parentage," Tom
admitted.
ried?"
"Next Wednesday,"
"And this is Saturday. I fear 1
can't get things ready for you. Your
room ought to be repapered."
NO matter about my room," said
Tom. with nervous haste, for he saw
. chance to say, in . natural connec.
ton, what he dreaded to say. 81
think we had better 60 to Mrs. Hills
for q few months, at least. want
Mares honeymoon, at least, to be
pleasant. BabyS getting to be such a
bother. It would make you so much
more work, too" he hastened to add,
glad of so good an excuse.
"What would the house be without
Tom ?" cried Ivah's poor heart. Then,
too, the prudent little soul trembled at
the extravaganza of Toms plan.
Il don't see, Tom, how you can of.
ford to take rooms at Mrs. Hills. II
VIC divide, we double the expense; l
don't see how we can manage on q
thousand dollars"
Tom rose from one chair and Rung
himself into another.
~ don't suppose we shall stay there
a year." he said. impatiently. "Of
course, l can't keep up two establish
ments; that isn't to be expected of a
man. Other young men marry, and
set up for themselves. You can't ex-
poet that ] can stay tod up. to you al
ways, Ivah. I should think you might
DO something to earn living. You
can't expect to go through life without
work. Why can't you leach 2"
Ivah replied with a low, pathetic
voice. "You ought to know why,
Tom. I have been doing house work
since l was fifteen. have no prep.
aration for teaching"
Well" said Tom, in his easy way,
"you have good head for planning
You'll have to think it over and deter
~