Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-09-30
'everal ways except two; these were lady and

tleIlau must De the nephew alOTesdiu, VIII,
espying Miss Patty turnout. came over.
Excuse me, madam, but l believe this Is
Miss Patty SlOcum's rig, is it not, and did she
send you down for me?"
I'm in for it now, thought Rosa; he thinks
I'm the hired girl. no doubt, but I'll carry it
laughing stock of me-
Aloud she said: "You can jump in if you like;
Miss Slocum will be out presently; she is In the
post office and expect her every minute now"
Contrary to her expectations he seated HIM
self beside her, and with polite ALLOW me-"
he took the reins from her hands,
Miss Patty's watchful eyes had taken in oil
that had occurred outside; she now appeared at
the open door.
"Tll be there in just three minutes Tom: jest
make yourself agreeable to the young miss: she
Is going to help me a bit for a week or so"
''Tll wait three hours, Aunty, If you like; I'm
not at all in hurry; and the brown eyes were
as full of mischief as those of ROsas. ROsa's
were as blue as the sky, though they might
have been green or yellow for all the glimpse
Tom could get of them.
He was mentally matchmaking sun-bonnets
Of all descriptions, and wondering If the man
who invented them was dead yet: If not, he
wanted to make a target Of him Immediately.
As the being beneath the fO him) hideous struc-
ture was rather quiet, he concluded to bIde his
time. and If it proved interesting he meant to
have all the fun possible during his two weeks
stay. He sOliloquZed thus: "NOw, Aunty is as
us alu III lIiiS piece here
does not toe the mark she won't have her around,
but we'll fix things. wish she'd throw back
that COMPOUNDED head-gear, and let fellow see
what she is like"
Presently Miss Patty, having completed her
purchases, stepped out, and was handed into
the wagon by the clerk, he being glad Of an eX
cuse to satisfy his curiosity regarding the occu-
pants Of the front seats.
The sun by this time was getting very hot,
and Miss Patty told Tom to drive along right
,,1,4 lxoA J;,xr1o %,
had three miles or so to go.
"Why, yes. Aunty, know the precise dis
lance; why shouldn't /, when / lived here SO
many years; seems though you've more enter
prising folks about here than there was three
years ago."
"Wal yes; you see since them seminary girls
came seems as though it is livelier about here;
you know they built the seminary the fall you
went away"
Old Doane did her best and within half an
hour they were in sight of a white house with
green blinds and lovely trees and immense rose
blshes. Jest drive round to the back, Tom,
I've lot of traps here and don't like to lug
'em clear through the house." Having done as
he was desired. he sprang nimby to the ground,
helped Miss Patty out, then handed her the
bundles, and lastly gave Rose firm good-sized
hand and very awkwardly knocked off that ter
rbe bonnet.
Rose having united the strings to get little
air during the drive home. The blue eyes
brown ones had look that pleaded, "I'll never
do it again. please. ma'am."
Rosa followed Miss Patty into the house,
while Tom attended to old DOane. Everything
was as neat as a pin in the little kitchen. The
low stuffed rockers were inviting, and Rosa sat
down. Having found her tongue. she went
into raptures over everything she saw.
What dear little place you have. so old
fashioned and so hOmeiike. Let me pare those
for you; I'll do it ever so thin" Having finished
her task she went from one thing to another,
and her bright ways and light step soon won
Miss Patty's esteem, and Rosa had firm friend
forever after
Tom was astonished at the clear pretty face
as he tipped the bonnet Off her head, and he
mentally resolved to be on his good behavior,
for. as he told old Doane, out in the barn:
''biue eyes, brown hair. short and plump, and
will OF her own which shows itself in those blue
depths. full of fun though, in fact. Doane. if
you'll help me to manage it. and don't tell aunty
until it is all fixed, We'll marry her. That Is of
course providing she isn't spoken for before
this and will have us you know, ell Doane?'
DOane neighed as though she understood
everything, and Tom gave her whole peck of
oats in his absent mindedncss
TWo-three weeks glided by. Tom was a
model of good behavior. Miss Patty was de-
lighted at the success of her preserving. Rosa
learned the art of butter-making, and she made
Tom pick berries churn butter. and in hun
dred ways make himself generally useful, and
though lie protested LHaC he was 'Sn1ulIy
abused. y he could not keep out Of the kitchen.
when the three weeks were up, Rosa de-
cided to tell Miss Patty that she was only a
seminary girl" and that she must go home to
spend the rest of the holidays.
''l'll tell you what Rosa, if you and Tom
here will hitch horses, you might stay right
along.
''Hurrah for Aunt PATTY" shouted Tom.
''what do you say, Rosa. will you be my wife?''
'Oh, Tom SiOcum have not known YOU but
three WEEKS besides what would my folks say?
and don't you know, Tom, the old saying, that
"a change of name, and not of letter. is change
for worse, and not for better?"
II am only a school girl, Tom, and would
make you mad-cap wife,
"1'll soon tame yOu," laughed Tom, eve will
write TO father and mOther-yOu see l claim
them already-and do not want nv wife too
learned. Say. yes, Rosa darling, and will at
tend to all difficulties, and the old saying won't
be true saying in our case.''
Aunt Patty, who meanwhile sat stOniDg cher
ries, now spoke again: 'TOm is good bow
Rosa. and you might do great sight worse.
sides want to see him settled in life before /
die"
well, as you are both so determined you
may have me Tom, for better or for worse,
mind, warn you, it might be for worse
well take all the risks" cried happy Tom
SlOcum.
So in just a month from that day. Rose Stone
leigh became the bride Of Tom Slocum. and q
happier couple never existed. And her five
bridesmaids were the girls that sat on the YER
anda OF the hotel Though some of them are
grandmothers now, they never forgot their wild
little leader Rose Stoneleigh.