The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-08-05
could tell the right one w Toms face in n
minute, and yet have mentioned everybody

minute, and yet have mentioned everybody
we know"
Perhaps It is someb ,dy we don't know"
suggested; some friend Of his We have never
seen"
"What, perfect stranger?' said mother
sharply. Never talk to me, child; Toms
not capable of that"
was silent, for | did not want to worry
her; but that was my opinion all the same.
The same evening-lt was rather more than
IA week since Tom had hurled that thunder,
bolt of his at us-mOther began about II
openly.
"When are you going to Introduce your wife
to US, Tom? ] suppose You have come to an
understanding by this time"
son, there's no hurry" Tom said, as he had
said before; but this time he did not speak
quite so chccrtuly. The fact IS" he con
unued, "thcre--thcrc's rival in the case
"A rival" repeated mother, with unfeellng
brlskucss.
yes, a young tellow-younger by good
deal than am, " and Toms face assumed an
absurdly doleiul look. He is always there
now. | confess | don't see my way clear;
I'm 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 cncmy's game
: There's something in that that never oc
CURED TO me" said Tom. his face Frightening.
Mother saw her mistake, and made a counter
move at once.
But the ways of my time are ola,fashioned
now: young ladies, nowadays, take matters
into their own hands. If she cared for you,
You may be pretty sure she wouldn't have
waited I'll this time 10 let you know It--that
is, Judge hy the girls am IN the habit Of
seeing; but # THIS one Is "a stranger to me"
(hcrc mother rveted her eyes on Toms face
OH dear, my unfortunate words , AT she is IN
entire stranger, cannot pretend to form an
opinion of her OF couse,"
"Of course, ;" repeated Tom, absen'y.
"Not that have any such idea" resumed
mother, growing warmer; II have said, and
may say again, that to bring a perfect stranger
under this roof, is not my opinion of you,
Tom"
ielt mothers words like so many pins and
me, and, though that was Just way of his, It
seemed now as il he were reading in my face
that the opinion was mine and that / had
been meddling in what did not concern me
| felt myself, for very vexation, getting reddcr
every moment, till 1t grew intolerable,
at IS so warm here" said for an excuse
,rrn,ng toward tho Eronch window .sT an
going 10 get breath Of mir"
vent ont into onr N,,Ie s,rin of cardon
ground Tom followed | thought I Should
never have a bet,er onnortnnltv 10 cav what
had mind 10 saw So 7 waited for him nv the
bench under the old pear tree "Sit down
here Tom !" said 81 have somo,birn 70 so,
10 Won"
aHave Won qn said Tam u,bo,s odd Cor
we'll never mind that ms, vol wbat 10 :,
Mavyn
"fromn said still sprar now he had mis-
Judged me, and more resolved IN set him
ripht az want a Mace"
IA Mace ~ reneated Tom nuzz,ed az we,I
he might he bv thls sudden and indeanite an
,onncemen,. 1wha, Kind Of a nlacep"
~ don't know E" I said fnr indeed INV ,dess
we're of the vaquest ~ thought Won mIob,
being IN the wav of those things Nov n1av
rom=" | went on onicklv "dnnr fancy am
anvtb,ng nf tho, onrt rho
yn,h 10 ever s,nca 7 laf, off school have
yan,ed something m do and had =, IN nv
mind IN sneak m vou anon, ~
With thus I looked at Tom fearing he
niob, h. vo,ed. I'M, he did M, ,onl, yayod
univ nreoccun,ed ''
II do know of n nIace 40 i, bannensr no
,a,d after while nonIv I'm M, snre how -
yould sujt Won"
That's soon seen" said | "What Is il
,ke"
"Well. it's a sort of-of general usefulness
"Why' i, must be 10 run crrands " said 7 |
auphing. "And whore 10 i, Tom,,
"Well" said Tom hesita,ino again "its
With me. )"
GLOW very nicew 7 exclaimed GLOW soon
.an have i,r
"The sooner the better 60 far &c am ron.
,erped :" said Tom and with ,ha, he turned
md looked At me, and directly I me-, his ewes
knnw somebow oil IN q no,,an, ,,ho, =,
vas he meant; and | knew too both that
,ould not have passed all my life with win
BROMLEY, and why could not
| am sure Lefty Walters, who interrupted
Is Just then, must have thought nv wits were
wandering that evening, and indeed, they
we're; for | was completely dazed with this
sudden turn things had taken. But Tom, who
Al