Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-11-17

IL Was 100 nlucn. suddenly, SLOWLY,
| made up my mind to the inevitable,
and answered, Since you will have it
so-yes' But the instant | had said it
I fell into such fit of sobbing-al-
most hysterical screaming my
cousins were all frightened and ran
AWAY.
Tommy stayed, however. He got me
into the quiet arbor as fast as he could
felt his arms round my neck, and his
comforting was very tender, verysweet,
But 1t was long before l stopped
crying, and still longer before anything
like cheerlulness came into my poor
little heart, We played together all
the afternoon very attectionately, but
in rather melancholy sort of way. as
II we had something on our minds TO
which we never made the smallest ref
erence. Tommy was timid boy, and
Will had cowed him into unkindness;
but he loved mel knew he loved me.
Only, rs is often the case, if his love
had had little more courage, ii would
have been ali the better for me--per.
haps for him, too.
"We spent u peaceful, but rather dull
afternoon, and then were summoned
! indoors to ten.
"Now tea At Tommy's house was a
serious thing. Tommys grandmother
always eat at the table, and looked at
us thro' her spectacles, and talked to us
in formal and dignified manner, ask
ing if we had been good children had
learnt our lessons well, had played to-
gether without quarrling, etc. She
was Il kind old lady, years upon years
older than We and quite unable to I'M
derstand us at all. Consequently we new
er did more than answer her questions
and hold our tongues. As for telling
her anything--our troubles especially
we would as soon have thought of
coniiding in the Queen or Emperor Of
Iall the Russians.
II never opened my lips all tea-time,
and at last she noticed it, Also that
my eyes were rather red"
This little girl looks as ifshe had
been crying. | hope you have not
made her cry, Tommy, my dear"
Tommy was silent But eagerly
declared that Tommy had not made
me cry. Tommy was never unkind
to me-"
A" i am glad to hear it, Evangeline,
she always gave me my full name; and
| hope you too are good child, who is
never in mischief. and above all never
tells lies. If were not quite sure of
that could not allow Tommy to play
with you"
"She looked me full in the face as if
she saw tnro' and thro' us-which she
did not, being very short-sighted-yet
| felt myself tremble in every limb
AS for Tommy, he just glanced at me
and glanced away again, turning Grim.
son to the very roots of his hair but
he said nothing.
"What would have appeared next, |
cannot tell; we waited in terror, hold
ing one another's hands under the
tablecloth. But mercifuly at that
very instant the old lady was fetched to
speak with some one, and we two chill
dren had to finish our tea alone.
at almost choked us-me at any
rate.
But as soon as ever it was over, and
Tommy and | found ourselves safe
out in the garden. | flung my arms
around his neck and told him all
"And Tommy believed me. No
matter whether the others did or not.
Tommy believed me at last Tommy
Isympathized with me, cOmiorted me,
thought | was not SO very wicked even
tho | had told lie, but not the one
was accused of telling. Tommy wept
with me over all had suffered, and
promised that, tho perhaps it was bet
ter TO let the matter rest now, if such a
thing were to happen again he would
not be afraid of Will or anybody. but
would stand up for me like a man
"And did he do it?'' asked Cherry,
with Slight incredulty in her tone.
"He never had the opportunity. A
week after this ne was suddenly sent
for to join his parents abroad, and |
never saw my friend Tommy any
more"
"But did you never hear Of him? is
he still alive? He must be a very old
gentleman by this time"
every. No doubt possibly
even grandfather" replied cousin Eva
smiling.
Cherry blushed.
II didn't mean that, since he was
barely As old as you, and you are GER
tainly not grandmother, But want
to hear more of Tommy. Is he mar
ried9"
Z" really cannot say. The last time
heard of him was ten years ago, when
ne was living somewhere Abroad
rather think at Shanghai: He was not
married then"
81 wish,p whispered Ruth, solemnly
Il wish he would come back to England
and marry you"
Cousin Eva laughed.
"There might be two opinions on that
question, you know But oh! my child
rem, when you are married and have
children of your own, remember my
story. If ever a poor little thing looks
up in your face saying, 4 didn't do
that believe it, Give it the benefit Of
the doubt. Have patience, take time;
and whatever you do, don't make it
afraid towards are always liars. OF
the two evils it Is less harmful 10 believe
a person who tells lie, than to doubt
another who il speaking the truth"