Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-09-19

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deal for girl in her teens. The "fin.
arts" then, being out Of the question
for me, what remained? There WA
some clerkship or place In some fami
ly, and-and there was Will Bromley
That may seem like going away from
the point, but Il is not. It was e mat.
ter.of.f fact, but / could see well enough
what was going on right under my
eyes, and had . pretty clear idea what
was bringing Will to the house 90 often
% he had taken into coming lately.
There was ssttuationn then, that
would give me the home life liked
best, aud felt myself best suited for,
but would 1t answer in other re-
spects? overcast the long seam was
sewing twice over. I was so busy try
ing to make up my mind whether
liked Will Bromley well enough to pass
my whole life with him, and even then
had not come 10 any decision, when
was called down stairs to pee Lefty
| Walters.
Lefty was the prettiest, I think, Of all
my friends. and certainly the livelieet.
Tom called her "the tonic,n and used to
laugh heartily at her bright speeches
| / suppose 1t was this that made mother
fix on Lefty as his choice. When I
came into the sitting room I found q
kind of cross examination going on.
It was amusing to anybody 10 the se.
cret as was, to watch mothers artful
way of continually bringing the con-
versation round. as il by chance, to bear
on what she wanted to know. But 1t
it all amounted to nothing, either be-
cause Lefty YVES too good fencer or
because she really had nothing to be-
tray. But when Tom came home
mother took care to mention that Lefty
had called
"What, the tonic?" said Tom. "Too
bad missed her."
"But for your choice being already
made" said mother, with covert scru.
tiny of his face, dare say you might
have as much of the tonic as you liked"
but go on the homeopathic prin-
10 twinkle In his eye.
outlines wavered Her suspicious
were transferred from one to another OF
our acquaintances, but always with the
same unsatisfactory result.
1T passes my comprehension" she
aid to me despairingly, one day. II
am positive ! could tell the right one by
Toms face in minute. and yet have
mentioned everybody we knowh
perhaps it Is somebody we don't
know" I suggested ''some friend of
his We have never seem"
What! q perfect stranger2" said
mother sharply. "Never talk to me,
child Toms not capable of that"
was silent, for 1 did not want to
worry her; but that was my opinion
all the same.
The same evening-it was rather more
than q week since Tom had hurled that
thunderbolt of his at us-motheF began
about 1t openly.
"When are you going to introduce
your wife to US, Tom? I suppose you
have come to an understanding by this
time"
"Oh. there's no hurry" Tom said, as
he said before, but this time he did not
speak quite SO cheerfully. 1.-The fact
is." +" he continued with little hesita-
tion, there Is rival in the case"
IA rival y" repeated mhther, with un-
feeling briskness.
"Yes, young fellow-younger by q
good deal than am" and TOMS face
assumed doleful look. HE is always
there now. confess don't see my
way clear; am waiting for her to make
up her mind"
"And she's waiting, most likely, for
you TO make up yours, " said mother,
forgetting In her propensity to right
matters that she was playing the enemy's
game.
"There's something in that that never
occurred to me-" said Tom, his face
Frightening. Mother saw her mistake
and made counter move at once.
But the ways Of my time are old
fashioned now; young ladies, now a.
days take matters into their own hands
If she cared for you, you may he pretty
sure she wouldn't have waited until this
time to let you know it-that ia, Judge
by the girls have been in the habit Of
seeing, but II this one is q stranger to
me-" there mother riveted her eyes on
Toms face; oh dear, my unfortunate
words y "If she is an entire stranger
cannot pretend to form any opinion of
her, of course"
"Of course" repeated Tom, absently.
'Not that have any such idea," re-
sumed mother. growing warmer II
have said and say again, that to bring a
perfect stranger under this roof 'is not
my opinion of you. Tom"
I felt mothers words like 80 many
pins and needles, for Tom was looking
meditatively across at me, and though
that was just way Of his. it seemed
now as If he were reading in my face
that the opinion was mine and that I
had oeen meddling in what did not con-
Germ me. felt myself for very vexa.
ton getting redder every moment till it
grew intolerable.
ut Is 80 warm here" said, for an
excuse. turning toward the French win
dow, II am going out to get breath of
air."
went out into our little strip Of
garden ground; Tom followed. I
Thought should never have q better
opportunity to say what I had in my
mind to say, 80 waited for him by the
bench under the old pear tree. "Sit
down here, Tom," said, II have some.
thing to say to you"
"Have your" said Tom; "that's odd,
for well, never mind that just yet
What is 1t, May?"
''Tom." said, still surer that he had
misjudged me, and more resolved to set
him right, II want a place.u
IA place ?" repeated Tom, puzzled as
well he might be by this sudden and in
definite announcement, "what kind Of
place?'
II don't know, I" / said, for, indeed my
Ideas were OF the vaguest II thought
you might know, being in the way of
those things. Now pray, Tom," I went
on quickly. don't fancy I am discon-
tented, or-or any thing of the sort the
truth Is, ever since l left off school I
have wanted something to do, and had
1t in my mind to speak to you about 1t. :"
With this looked at Tom, fearing he
might be vexed, but he did not look
vexed. only pre- occupied.
II do know of q place as it happens"
he said after q while, ''only I'm not
sure how 1t would suit you."
That's soon seen," said I. "What Is
1t like?"
"Well, it's q sort of general useful
ness"
"Why 1t must be to run errands, " said
I, laughing. "And where is 1t, Tom ?"
"Well," said Tom, hesitating again,
'it's with me-"
"H0w very nice !" exclaimed. "How
soon can have it ?'
"The sooner the better, 30 far as am
concerned" }" said Tom, and with that he
turned and looked at me, and directly I
met bis eyes I knew all In . moment
what 1t was he meant. and knew. too,