The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-11-04
LETITIA,S long DAY.

at will be such a very long day, auntie."
" That depends altogether on yourself,
Lefty"
" j am perfectly certain that it must insvit-
ably be the very longest day in all my life"
- Well, well, you know best. At any rate
you are provided with books, flowers, piano
and new frock-all that young ladyhood most
ardently desires, suppose. Aud you needn't
zee anything of Tom"
How can help itP'
AGO into the garden when he is in the house {;
go into the house when he is the garden. Shut
the door of the drawing room in his face Che is
not likely to trespass in your domain, thought {;
have your luncheon sent in to you on a tray if
you require absolute seclusion. | can think
of nothing more at this moment"
40, dear, it will be such a long, long day,
auntie."
$50 you said before. Well, I am truly sorry.
What can't be cured must be endured you
know. Good-by, child"
NY aunt thereupon foldedme in a voluminouS
embrace, and mounted up into the fly, musty
and antique vehicle which had been hired from
the neghboring town to convey her and her
dozen packages to the station. My aunt, a
maiden lady of mature years and energetic
habit was going to spend the day with anoth-
er maiden lady Of mature years, her sister,
Wholived at E., preferring the gay vortex
of a cathedral town to the simple pleasures of
the country.
- w mere 5 Lut DdShCl Oh cOWsl!DS, LeJLy, anu
the bacon! And, oh, The creamp'
" It's all right, auntie; cream and bacon and
all. But dear me, dear me- how wish the
day was Overm
''Never wish that you foolish girl: it's posi-
lively wicked. And you might change your
mind, after all, before evening"
80 no, indeed"
"Well, good by again; good-by."
The driver clicked his whip, the old horse
Nfartn1 tbn Hy cilu1rv rraalrS nd l1ro
my aunt waved her handkerchief, and | was
left standing lonely on the doorstep while the
departing vehicle mcandered slowly between
the trees, and was presently lost to sight
Then turned to go indoors, revolving in
my thoughts how ! could best avoid Tom.
But ere | could solve the difficult problem a
loud, rough voice called out from the shrub
berry
"Hullo, Cousin Lettuce; why I'm lust a
minute too late, amt |! She's off, amt she 2"
aunt Nab has just gone" l replied, with
chilly dignity. Tom in his brief speech had
already offended me twice. l did not like to
be called Lettice; l could not endure the word
amt
However, he emerged from the shrubberv as
nncOncerned and cheerful as usual, and came
up o where l stood. He was dressed in white
flannel from head to foot, and was lazly
swinging his long arms to and fro.
81 say Cousin Lettuce, come and play ten
mis-"
Thank you, Tom; am busy and would
you please kindly remember to call me Lett
tia:"
Certainly, certainly.
''My dearest love, | could not wish her
A name more charming than Letitia."
cor shall call you Tishy2
Little Miss Tishy,
Her conduct was tishy."
"Tomr'
Eyes, Letitia'
II am going in and-and-I shall be ex-
tTemely busy all day."
80, indeed Well, so shall /; too busy to
talk to you, Miss Tishy. l know how to take
hint as well as anybody, believe me-"
So saying, and with a very red face, Tom
strobe away, whistling Ga di-da" as he went.
What pumpkin he was, to be sure, and
what aggressively and irrtatinglY vulgar man
ners some unkind fairy godmother had be-
slowed on him 1t was all very well that he
pretended to study Latin and Greek while he
spent the summer with Aunt Nab; he was far
more likely to take a double frst-class in
boating or cricke ing, or become a senior
wrangler with fishing rod than to excel in
any purely mental struggle. As for myself,
was young Londoner on fortnight's visit
to Aunt Nab, and a garden party at Fulham
or Chiswick with plenty of strawberries and
cream, couple of laburnum trees-and the
Hungarian ba d. realized my notion of the
coun ry far more than his silent nook in the
hIlub Vi DtN JuSulIe, III WHICH, however, L mad
already spent ten idle days, wandering about
with my aunt, making UNBEATABLE cheeses under
the supercious direction of The dairymaid
and perpetually squabbling with Cousin Tom.
Tom had walked away now whis ling and
aggrieved, and went indoors and opened the
piano, and practiced a nOcturne by Chopin.
uld hear Tom in his study, stamping up and
down, and banging the or Of his bookcase
Then all was still, and knew he had settled
down to read; but / practiced diligently, for
reflected that music might annoy him and
interfere with his meditations on Horace or
Eurpides.
distinctly hated Tom; I must have done
SO, for often lOnged to do him an injury 1t
only irritated me to see that Aunt Nab liked
him, and that the vicar, the housekeeper the
dogs and cats and all the dirty little village
children loved and idOlized him But of course.
in a sleepy be lighted village there is nobody
for anybOdt else to like, and the one Young
man IN tho place must needs go spoiled and
overbearing.
An hour had passed, and my fingers grew
tired, and my head heavy. Had Tom been anv
one but Tom, should have almost regretted
my refusal OF his offer of lawn tennis. Lawn
tennis the very word was refreshing, and
suggested pleasant pastime and good fellow
ship. left the piano and turned to the open
window: the garden was cool and green, the
room was close and decidedly dreary. Finally,
sailed forth, my complexion protected by
the snady nat ana gauZe veil that LOndOners
deem necessary for rural life, and carrying in
a basket he latest invention of yellow-bro
art needlework, intending to spend pleasant
hour in the shade.
But had not gone dozen yards before ]
came upon Tom, partly asleep, his legs and
arms stretched over half a dozen chairs two
Latin books and big dictionary lying on the
gravel path, and the last number of Panel
spread open on his knee.
80, dear, / am afraid l have disturbed
you," said |.
'Not In the least" answered Tom, benig
nantly.
81 thought you were in your study"
$50 was, but the internal noise OF YOU
piano
81 forgot you are not fond of music"
"On the contrary ! love music. 1t wa
music that drove me out of the house, anC
caused me to lind this deliciously calm retreat
Have a char"
mo, thank you; | am going i'm
"Wht, when you have only just come out
How restless you are! You had better 81
down.
"Why should Iln
at is your duty to entertain me-"
"My du y, indeedn
"Did not Aunr Nab bid you do so2 No
Well, anyhow, she told me to entertain you
Cousin Lettuce"
"She told you"
Certainly. tom, my dear boy (Aunt Ma
81, pnIll mo Jnar howl prnr, ,,. 1a,r ,