The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-08-04

| till it grew intolerable.
at is so warm here" / said for an
excuse, turning toward the French
window. 81 am going to get breath
of air"
| went out into our little strip of
garden ground; Tom followed. /
thought | should never have better
opportunity to say what had to say,
so waited for him by the bench under
the old pear tree. "Sit down here,
Tom, / said, 81 have something to say
to you.'
"Have your" said Tom; "that's odd,
for | well, never mind that just yet.
What is it, May7
"Tom," | said, still surer now he had
misjudged me, and more resolved to set
HIM right, 81 want place"
"a placer repeated Tom, puzzled,
as well he might be by this sudden and
indefinite announcement; "what kind of
placer"
81 don't know" said, for indeed,
my ideas were of the vaguest. 81
thought You might, being in the way
of those things. Now, pray, Tom," I
went on quickly, "don't fancy am dis.
contented--or anything of that sort.
The truth is, ever since left off school
| have wanted something to do, and
had it in my mind to speak to you about
it,"
With this | looked at Tom, fearing
he might be vexed; but he did not look
vexed; only preoccupied.
81 do know of place, as it happens"
he said, after while, "only Pm not
sure how it would suit you"
"That's soon seen" SAID l. "What is
it like?" ...' .... 49,
"Well, it's a sort of-of general use
fulness-'
| "Why, it must be to run errands,"
said /, laughing ''And where is it,
Toni"
! Well said Tom, hesitating again,
''its with me- .
"How very nice!" exclaimed. ''How
soon can | have it 2" .... ...
"The sooner the better, so far as am
concerned" said Tom, and with that
he turned and looked at me, and direct
ly | met his eyes | knew somehow, all
and | knew, too, both that | could not
have passed all my life with Will
BROMLEY, and why l could not. # OBJ.
l am sure Lefty Walters, who inter-
rupted us just then, must have thought
my wits were wandering that evening,
aud, indeed, they were; for was com
pleteiy dazed with this sudden turn
things had taken. But Tom, who had
the advantage of me there, took it quite
cody and laughed and talked with Let
ty just the same as 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.
"Wasnt that Lefty Walters with you
a while ago7" she said as we came in.
Yes" said l, with confused feeling
of an explanation or something being
necessary; "she just came to bring the
new crochet pattern she promised me-"
"H'm" said mother, as much as to
say she had her own ideas rs 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 seat
by his mother. became of sudden
very busy with the plants in the win
dow, for knew he was going to tell
| her.
SITS all settled"
"Settled, is it :" said mother in any
thing but joyful tone. $50 it's as l
suspected all along. Well, you have
my best wishes, Tom; perhaps you may
be happy after all; I'm sure hope SC" ;"
This wasn't very encouraging sort
of congratulation and Tom seemed tax
en- aback by it.
SIN sorry you are not pleased, he
said, after a pause; 81 had an idea some
how you would be-"
81 did not know from what you judg-
ed. But, there, it's no use crying over
spilled milk. You'll be married direct,
ly, | presume, must be looking for
a house." and mother stroked her nose
rehectively with knitting needle.
"What for?" said Tom; 81 thought
of keeping on here all the same"
81 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 out
for another thcn?"
"Why, for myself"
"For yourself!" repeated Tom in a
tone of utter amazement. "Going to
leave us s--just now' Why, Aunt Anne,
| never heard of such a thing"
"Now. Tom,' said mother, speaking
very fast. and making her needle fly in
concert, ''we might as we'll come to an
understanding at once on this subject.
| am fully sensible of your past kind
ness-now just let me finish-I say
appreciate it, and have tried to do my
duty by you in return, as hope ]
should be always ready to do, | wish
all good to you and your wife, and shall
be glad to help her if can, but to live
in the same house with her is what
would turn out pleasantly for neither
one of rs, and, once for all, / can't dc
it,"
"Aunt Anne" said Tom, pushing
back his chair and staring in mothers
excited face, "either you or | must be
out of our wits"
"lts not me, then, at any rate re,
torted mother, getting nettled.
Amusement and a certain embarrass
ment had kept me II silent listener SC
far, but there was no standing this;
tried to speak, but could not, for laugh
ing,
Il think you are all out of your wits
together" said mother, turning sharply
"What aiis the childf It's no laughing
matter"
"You don't understand each other,
! gasped; "oh, dear! it's not Letty-ol
oh, dearW and relapsed again.
| "Not Iattyf ranaatal nathan turn