The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-07-12

III Snr - ul NH'ilN "'''''N''' ~
pretend to form any opinion OF her, OF
course"
"Of course" repeated Tom, absently.
Not that have any such idea" re.
summed mother, growing warmer, Il
have said, and may say again, that TO
brino perfect stranger under this ROOF
l. NOT my opinion Of YOU, Tom"
felt mothers words like so many
pins and needles; for Tom was looking
meditatiyely across at me, and, though
that was lust n way of his, it seemed
now rs if he were reading in my face
that the opinion was mine, and that |
had been meddling in what did not con-
Germ me. | felt myself, for very vcXa-
ton getting reddcr every moment, till
il grew intoIemblc.
at is so warm here said for an
excuse. turning toward the French win
dow. Il am going to get n breath of
air.
went out into our little strip OF
garden ground; Tom followed. |
thought | should never have "A better
opportunity to say what had mind
to say, so waited for him by the bench
under the old pear tree. "Sit down
here, Tom" said, II have something
to say to YOU"
"lIave your said Tom, that's odd,
for well, never mind that just yet.
What is it, May?"
"Tom." | said still surer now he had
misiudged me, and more resolved to set
him right, II want n place
"A place." repeated Tom, puzzled,
as well he might be by this sudden and
indefinite announcement; "what kind
of a place."
II don't know" said, for indeed,
my ideas were of the vaguest. II
thought you might, being in the way Of
those things. Now. pray, Tom went
on quickly, "don't fancy am diScon-
tented-o anything OF that sort. The
truth is, ever since | left off school |
have wanted something to do, and have
had it in my mind to speak toyou about
it,"
With this looked at Tom, fearing he
might be veNed; but he did not look
vcNed; only preoccupied.
81 do know Of Il place, rs it happens"
he said, after while, "only I'm rot
sure how it would suit YOU"
That's soon SEEM" said |. "What
is it like?n
We'll, it's sort of-of general use
fulness-"
why, it must be to run errands, "
said |, laughing. And where is it,
Iom?'
Well" said Tom, hesitatng again,
''it'S with me-
"How very niccm exclaimed. "lIow
soon can | have it?'
"The sooner the better, 50 far Is am
concerned said Tom, and with that he
turned and looked at me, and directly |
met his eyes knew somehow, all in 3
moment, what it was he meant; and |
knew, too, both, that could not have
passed all my life with win BROMLEY,
and why | could not.
am sure Lefty Walters, who inter
rupted us just then, must have thought
my wits were wandering that evening,
| and indeed, they were; Tor | was COM
pletely daHed with this sudden turn
| things had taken. But Tom. who had
| the advantage of me there took it quite
| coolly, and laughed and talked with
Lefty just the same rs ever till she went
away.
1t was pretty late when we went in,
Mother sat where we had left her, knit
ting in the twilight.
wasn't that Lefty Walters with you
4 while agop' she asked, As we came in.
'Ycs," said |, with Il confused feel
ing of an explanation of something be-
lng necessary; "shc Just came to bring
the new crochet pattern she promised
mc.N
"lIm" said mother, as much as to
say She had her own ideas as to what
Lefty came for
Tom had been wandering about the
room in an absent sort of fashion TAX
| ing up and putting down in the wrong
| places all the small objects that fell in
his way. He came up and took Il seat
by mother. ] became of IA sudden very
busy with the plants in the window; for
| knew he wa, going to tell her.
w 1911 me Joy, hunt hUnc, Hlu Hti
"it's all settled
Settled is it?" said mother, in any
thing but joyful tone, $50 it's rs |
suspected all along. Wei, you have my
best wishes, Tom; perhaps you may be
happy after all; I'm sure | hope 500
This wasn't very encouraging sort
Of congratulation, and Tom seemed
rather taken aback by it.
I'm sorry you're not pleased" he
said, after pause; u had an idea
somehow you would be-"
II do not know from what you Judged.
But, there, it's no use crying over split
milk YOu'll be married directly, pre-
sumo. must be looking for a house, "
and mother StroEed her nose reflective
| ~ with knitting needle,
What for?" said Tom; Il thought OF
keeping on here all the same
II never suspected Otherwise said
mother "Of course | did not expect to
turn YOU out Of your own house"
But what is the need Of looking for
another thcnY
why, for myself"
For YOURSELF repeated Tom, in a
tone Of utter ama2cmcnt. Going to
leave Us just now? Why, Aunt Anne,
never heard Of such u thing
Now, Tom said mother, speaking
r. II