The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-06-01

lie mutter was BpeeUuly beJIleu, HoW'
ever, by Kate, who had contrived to gain
possession of the letter, and was reading
Miss Francis Harper" in no gentle
voice.
Give it to me directly, and don't tease
ME so, Kate" cried Fanny.
"Wait minute till I've found out who
it's from" said Kate, peeping under the
seal. "Let me see--Ihom-rhomas!
There, do take il"
My dear reader did you ever write, re-
ccivo or read love letter?
"Not I, thank fortune" growls the
cross old bachelor.
"Nor l." sighs poor Aunt Nabby.
Chats a secret" whispers pretty Ell.
len.
Well, then to you who know nothing oi
such matters, an explanation or even a
sight of Fanny's letter would be unin.
telligible; and as for you who have al
ready dozens of your own, You can, OF
course, feel little curiosity respecting
this one Besides, what right have to
read you Fannys secret?
Fanny came down to dinner with IN
mir of dignity quite unusual to her.
"Do tell us who the letter was from?"
asked Lucy.
"Shall y0u say ycs?" called Sam, from
the end of the table.
"Of course she will, and VIC will be
unclcs and aunts." roarcd Tom,
"rhomas, leave the table, directly"
cried Mrs, Harper.
Eyes, mamma, said Tom, encouraged
by the bushes and filters of tho four
sisters; "but is it fo- saying that Fanny
would say yes, or that we should be
uncles and aunts?"
$50 away, you naughty boy" and
Tom was gone.
When dinner was over, Fanny took
her mother aside and begged her to read
the letter.
"Well," said Mrs Harper, after a si-
lence of thirty-tiveminutes, "avcry pretty
letter, must say-but who is this
Thomas Somerby?"
"Why, mamma" replied Fanny, 81
don't exactly remember ever seeing him,
but"
"Ah, well, that's Of no consequence.
Gou shall answer this letter directly
just the situation for you. Let mo see
lives in the country during tho summer
months. La, we can take the children
and spend at least four out Of tho year
with yOu every season"
"Dear mamma, you forget that | am
at the head o. the Anti Matrimonial So
ciety."
"But that's of no consequence. Only
think of your friend Julia-such
a nice housc--such elegant furniture
such n sweet baby as she hus'
"HCs, Julia seems very happy; and,
do you know, mamma, she has really
urged mo of late to be moro charitable
in my opinions of gentlemen After all,
| have possibly been to severe"
Fanny retired to her own room to
mediate upon Mr.. Somerby. A tap at
her door aroused her from the rcverie
into which sho had fallen, and Kate,
with an air of great importance, made
her appearance.
"And so, Fanny, you are really going
w l'lht llllp vi. w iltlb o-ilip~lltlIllNs LO't
rccdnt blush, formamma has told us all
about it, and we have planned out about
the dresses and everything; and after
you are married You know | shall have
your room, for papa says [ may. And
there's another thing which | must tell
yO1l Oh, Fanny, hope | shall have
love letter some OF these days"
Fanny hardly knew whether to laugh
or cry, but in spite Of the grave face
which she found it expcdient to put on,
several little smiles twinkled in her eyes,
smiles that said: "Kate, you are a dar-
ling, but mustn't let you know L think
So"
"WcIl," continued Kate, "havo you
written the answer? Let me sec it, do.
Come now, + shan't tell the girls what
pretty things you say to him"
katy" said Fanny, solemnly '7ou
must not talk any more about the matter.
| confess that it is very hard to disap-
point you all and to distress him, but it
must be done"
Now. if there was anything that Kate
particularly dislilsed it was to see tears
shed by anybody for any reason; there
fore. as she began to suspect that Fanny
mcditatcd some such act, shs lost no
time in reircating.
When Fanny came to tea she was AZ
sailed by host of questions, congratu-
lations, and kisses from papa, mamma,
her four sisters and three brothers.
GLOW dye do Mrs. Somcrby?" asked
one.
"Now for the wedding cake" shouted
Tom.
"You'll let me be bridesmaid, won't
you?" urged Ann.
"And if Mr.. s. givesyou gold watch
won't you give me your old one? asked
Matilda.
After ten no one seemed inclined to
set aboutany regular employment. Papa
held his newspaper before his eyes as
usual. but it was at last discovered by
Kate that it had been upside down for
an bour Mammals knitting work lay
quietly in her lap, while her thoughts
wandered off to certain fine house In
the country, where several children ran
about, bearing decided resemblance to
her daughter Fanny. Matilda, Ann
and Lucy withdrawn into snug corner.
debated the questions whether he were
handsome or otherwise; if he had dark
hair or light, if he had not several broth-
ers, etc. .,,.,
them before, came this night to the
members of the Harper family. A tall,
melancholy man, with black whiskers
md black coat, disturbed the slumbers
Of Of the gentle Fanny; mamma talked in
her sleep of "fino establishment-just
the thing for Fan; don't you think so,
pa?o And Mr.. II. answered without
waking; Eyes, my dear, he'll pp. pptoit., ms
name on my notes, dare say; Pretly
little young men, brothers OF MIR. Som.
rtf.Naf n