Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-05-12

for him by the bench under the old pear
tree. 'Sit down here Tom,'' [ said, 'l've
something to say to you.''
"Have your" said Tom, "that g odd for
I-well never mind that ust yet. What
is it, Mayp" He
"Tom,' 1 said, still surer he had mis-
judged nae, and more resolved to set him
right, 81 want place.''
"A place?'' repeated Tom, puzzled, as
we'll he might be by this sudden and in
definite announcement; 'what kind Of a
plaee?" .a
~ don It know for indeed, my ideas
were the yaguesJ. ''I thought you might,
being in the way of those things. Now
pray Tom,'I went on quickly, 'don't
fancy am disconnected, or-or anything
of that sort; the truth is, ever since left
school 1 have wanted something to do,
and had it On my mind to speak Ito you
about it,
With this T looked at Tom, fearing he
might be vexed; but he did not look vexed
only preoccupied. "a
II do know of place, as 1t happens"
he said, after awhile, "only I'm not sure
how it would suit you.'
'sThat's soon SEEM" said I. "What is
it ike?"
"Well, it's sort of-of general useful
ness.''
"Why, it must be to run errands," said
I, laughing. ''And where is it, Tom?"
} "Well,'' said Tom, hesitatinglY again,
tits with me-"
elbow soon can have it?''
1.-THE sooner the better, so far as | am
concerned, said Tom, and with that he
turned around and looked at me, and di-
rectly met his eyes knew somehow, all
4 in moment, what it was he meant, and
knew too, that could not have passed all
nay life with Will Bromly, and knew why
| could not.
lam sure Lefty Walters, who interrupt
ed just then, must have thought my wits
wandering that evening, and indeed they
| were; for l was completely dazed with the
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 as ever. till she
went away.
1t was pretty late when we went in
Mother sat where we had left her, knitting
in the twilight.
"Wasn't that Lefty Walters with you
awhile ago?" she said as we came up.
eyes, said I, with confused feeling
of an explanation of something being ne
csssary; "she just came to bring the new
crotchet pattern she promised me.'
"H'm!" said mother as much as to say
she had her own ideas as to what Lefty
came for.
Tom had been wandering in an absent
sort of fashion taking UP and putting down
in the wrong places all the small objects
that fell in his way. He came up and
took seat by mother. I became Of sud-
den very busy with the plants in the wind
ow; for knew he was going to tell her.
swish me joy, Aunt Annie" said be,
Sits all settled.'
''Settled, is it?" said mother in anything
but joyful tone. $50 it is as 1 suspected
all along. Well, you have my best wishes,
Tom, perhaps you may be happy together
after all. I'm sure hope 500
"I'm sorry you're not pleased" he said
after pause; Il had an idea somehow you
would be.''
81 don't know from what you judged
But there 8 no use crying over split milk
You will be married directly, 1 presume;
must be looking out for another house,"
and mother stroked her nose refleetively
with her knitting needle.
"What for2" said Tom; II thought of
keeping on here all the same.''
81 never supposed otherwise" said
mother. "Of course I did not expect to
turn you out of your own house."
"But what is the need of looking out for
another, then?"
"Why, for myself"
"For myself repeated Tom, in tone
of utter amazement. "Going to leave us
just now? Why, Aunt Anne, l never
heard Of such thing''
''Now, Tom,'' said mother, speaking
very fast, and making her needle fly in
concert, 1--WE might as we'll come to an un-
derstanding at once on the subject 1 am
fully sensible of your past kindness-now
just let me fnish-I say appreciate it, and
have tried to do my duty by you in return,
as hope I shall always be ready to do.
wish all good to you and your wife, and
shall be glad to help her if I can, but to
live in the same house with her is what
would turn out pleasantly for neither of
us, and, once for all, can't do it,"
"Aunt Anne," said Tom, pushing back
his chair and staring lin mothers excited
face, '.either you or must be out of our
Wits
Its not me, then, at any rate,'' retort
ed mother, getting nettled.
Amusement and certain embarrass-
ment had kept me silent listener so far,
but there was no standing this: tried to
speak but could not, for laughing.
g know you are all out of your wits
together said mother, turning sharply.
"What ails the child? It's no laughing
matter"
"You don't understand each other,''
gasped L; ooh, dear? Tits not Let
ty-oh-oh. dear?" and relapsed again.
"Not Letty?" repeated mother, turning
to Tom. s'Then why did you tell me so?''
II never told you 500 said Tom.
why, yes you did," persisted mother.
"You came in and told me you were going
to be married."
Yes, so am" said Tom, still at cross
purposes.
"Now, Tom Dean,' said mother rising
and confronting him, what do you mean?
who is going to be your wife?"
"Why, May, of course. " answered Tom.
May" and then after pause of mex
pressible establishment, it was mothers
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