South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-12-22

would like to come there and wash
my hands, he said looking very much
inclined to laugh.
Was ever such effrontery known
befores Still speechless Amy moved
around towards what looked to be an
outside door.
Don't glare at me in that frightful
way, be went on, with u glance into
her terror.strioken eyes. i will look
more prescn,able when get my face
Washed
Then came hearty laugh which
treasured Amy a very little. Certain
~ this was a most extraordinary bur.
gIar or else there was some ridiculous
mistake. She would not flee to Mrs.
Graves at all events, dropping her wea-
pom and tugging away at the huge
bolt with trembling fingers.
BY this time the young man had
finished his additions and presented
quite different appearance.
Il am Mr.. Ackerman's brother he
said politely; 'he asked nue. to remain
In the house as q means OF protection
i'll his absence
Mr.. Alderman has no brother
contradicted Amy. stoutly.'
Are you certain of that2'
Certainly l am. Mrs Ackerman
has just made me a visit, and she
would surely have mentioned him if
such person existed
'Can it be possible that you are
Aunt uettya'
Aunt Hetty indeed =
Amy was finding courage and voice
fast enough now.
y beg your PARDON eaid Tom !;
'but MOllie told me she was going to
visit her Aunt Hetty, aud you said
she had been visiting you; hence my
Il am Mrs. Ackerman's sister,
Strange l never heard her spe ak
OF you However, I'm sorry fright
ened you, Miss-Arden, and if you
will allow me l will explain matters.
l am book-keeper at Bol,oc's Hard
ware establishment
You looked more like q bootblack,'
interrupted Amy, ready to cry with
vexation and nervousness.
Or burglar added Tom. well,
as was saying, am book-keeper
there, but there was O press of work
IN the foundry tonight and as they
happened to be short of hands offer
ed to stay and assist; this accounts for
my late arrival, also for my blacken.
ed face and hands Have you exam.
ined the photograph album he ask
ed suddenly. IF you will kindly do
so think you will find very good
representation of me there, which.will
convice you that / am on terms of
intimacy at least
He looked very much like indulg-
ing in another hearty laugh, but re-
strained himself at the sight of Amy's
white, distressed face.
i am afraid / was rude she said
but it was such q shock to me; | am
very tired and
Tom sprang to her side or sbe
would have fallen from sheer exhaus-
ton. He helped her into the parlor,
brought wine and refreshments from
Mollie's generous store room, and
they were soon talking matters very
calmly. 1t was after two o'clock when
Tom proposed 10 go and ask Mrs.
Graves to come over for the rest Of
the night; but Amy protested against
this, saying she was not afraid if he
would only remain in the house.
Mollie WIS almost beside herself
when she came home and found how
affairs had gone in her absence cry
ing one minute over Amy's fright.
laughing the next over Toms graph
&c description Of the same. it was
some time before they settled down
into anything like quiet.
As the days aud weeks went by
Mollie could not determine whether
certain plans of hers where to prosper
or not. Tom spent all of his eve.
nlDgs with them, but he and Amy
were always on contrary sides of eve.
ry question, aud they tantalized each
other so numerically that poor Mol.
lie sometimes despaired Of their be.
ing friends, not to mention a nearer
relation. Of one thing che was GER.
tain, she never tormented her John
In this ridiculous fashion.
They were all together as usual one
evening, and Tom for the hundredth
time was describing Amy's appear.
ance on that memorable evening when
she so nearly branded him for bur-
glar
And little did | suspect then, he
went on soberly, that che would have
the privilege Of brandishIng the po-
ker over me for life.
What do you mean2 cried Mollie,
staring drst At Toms solemn visaee
and then at Amy's flushed cheeks.
just what 1 said Amy and I ara
going to set up housekeeping 10 the on
posite cottage, where / suppose she
will continue TO flourish ali sorts of