Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-29
made me visit She would have mentioned
him if such person existed"

made me visit. She would have mentioned
him if such person existed"
| Can it be that you are Aunt Hetty?"
| AUNT Hetty? Indeed"
| Amy was finding courage and voice fast
enough, now.
Il beg your pardon" said Tom; "But Mollie
told me she was going to visit her Aunt Hetty,
and you said she had been visiting you; hence
my mistake
al am Mrs. Ackerman's sister,"
| "Strange I never heard her speak of YOU I!
| However. | am sOrry frightened you, Miss Ar
| den. and If you will allow me- l will explain
matters. ! am boOk-keeper at Bottoms hard
ware establishment"
| "YOu looked more like a bOotblack," inter-
rupted Amy.
.'Or burglar" added Tom. "Well. as was
| saying. l am q boOk-keeper, but there was a
| press of work in the foundry tonight, and, as
| they happened to be short of hands. offered to
stay and assist. This accounts for my late arrival
and my blackened face and hands"
He looked very much likeindulging in another
hearty laugh, but restrained himself at the sight
OF Amy white distressed face.
Il am afraid | was rude" she said. "but it
was such shock to me. | am very tired,
and
Tom sprang to her side or she would have
fallen from sheer exhaustion He helped her
into the parlOr. and brought refreshments from
Molfies generous stOre-rooln. and they were
soon talking matters over quite calmly. 1t was
after two o'clock when Tom proposed to go and
ask Mrs. Gates to come over for the rest of the
night but Amy protested against this, saying
she was not afraid if he would remain in the
house.
MOllie was almost beside herself when she
came home and found how affairs had gone in
her absence. Crying one minute over Amy's
fright and laughing the next over Toms graphic
description of the same it was some time before
they settled down into anything like quiet.
As the days and weeks went by Moilie could
not determine whether certain plans of hers
were TO prosper or not. Tom spent all his even
inGs with them. but he and Amy were always on
the contrary sides of every question. and they
tantaliZed each other so numerically that poor
Mollie sometimes despaired of their being
friends. net to mention a nearer relation.
They were all together. as usual. one evening,
and Tom, for the hundredth time. was descr;b
ing Amys appearance on that memorable even
ing when she so nearly Drained him for bur-
glar.
And little did suspect tnen' he went on,
soberIy. she would ever have the privilege OF
brandishing the poker over NE for life
What do you mean?" cried MOllie. staring,
first at Toms solemn visage and then at Amy's
flushed cheeks.
Just what l said Amy and are going to set
up housekeeping in the opposite cottage. where
| suppose she will continue to flourish all sorts
of murderOus weapons ct me-"
John. dear. it's coming about exactly as we
planned shouted Moliie, springing up in eX-
element.
Well, it did come about Just as Moilie desired.
Mrs. Amy even made cardinal the predominant
inc color in her parlOr, and it harmOnZes charm
in@ly with the dark beauty of its mistress. The
sisters are inseparabie. and as happy as two
mOrtals can ever expect to be. Tom is some
thing more than boOkkeeper, now. in the Boil
ton hardware business. and he and John are
talking of buying two handsome properties in
the suburbs of the city. Mrs. MOlIie declares she
would rather remain in the little house on Lake
street. but what woman was ever proof against
q handsome establishment in an aristocratc
neghbOrhood? Not our ambitious little Mollie
l am sure.