The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-10-21

1T passes my comprehension she
said to me despairingly, one day. II am
positive could tell the right one by
Toms face in minute, and yet I
have mentioned everybody that we
know"
perhaps it's somebody we don't know"
/ suggested; some friend of his we have
never SEEN"
"What ! a perfect strangerr' said
mother. sharply. Never talk to me.
child; Toms not capable of thatr'
was silent, but I did not want to
worry her; but that was my opinion all
the same.
The same evening-it was furthermore
than week since Tom had hurled that
thunderboldt of his at us mother began
about it openly.
when are you going to introduce
your wife to us, Tom? suppose you
have come to an understanding by this
time?'
"Oh, there's no hurry" Tom said, as
he had said before; but this time he did
not speak so cheerfully '.The fact is,
he continued with q little hesitation,
ssthere's-there's rival IN the case.''
IA rival?" repeated mother, with un-
feeling briskness.
Eyes, young fellow-younger by q
good deal than am, and Toms face as
sumed an absurdly doleful look. sHe
is always there now. confess don't
see my way clear; I'm waiting for her to
make up her mind"
''And she is waiting most likely for
you to make up yours, said mother. for
getting in her own propensity to right
matters, that she was playing the enc
There's something in that that never
occurred to me" said Tom, his face
brig htening. Mother saw her mistake
and made counter move at once.
"But the ways of my time are old
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 till this
time to let you see it; that is, I Judge by
| girls am in the habit of seeing. but if
this one is a stranger to me-" here
mother rivited her eyes on Toms face;
oh, dear, my unfortunate wordsI "If she
is an entire stranger cannot pretend to
from any opinion of her. of course"
''Of course" repeated Tom, absently
"Not that I have any such ideas" re-
sumed mother. growing warmer; Il
have said, and l say again, that TO bring
perfect stranger under this roof, is not
my opinion of you, Toni
/ I felt mothers words like so many
pins and needles; for Tom was looking
meditatively across at me, and J. felt
myself for very vexation getting redder
every moment, till it grew intolerable.
"It was SO warm here" said, for an
excuse, turning toward the French win
| Tn fNr &c
air."
went into our little strip of garden
ground; Tom followed. / thought ]
should never have better opportunity
to say what had in my mind to say, sc
I waited for him by the bench under the
old pear tree.
"Sit down here, Tom," said, ''I've
something to say to you.
Have you?" said Tom. ''That's odd
for well, never mind that, just yet
What is it, May?"
"Tom," said, still surer now he had
misiudged me, and more resolved to sci
myself right, 81 want place"
IA place! What kind of placer"
Il don't know" | said. for, indeed, my
ideas were of the vaguest; II thought
you might, being in the way OF those
tiluSS. 4NoWp pay, 4ouAs "oAe ~
quickly, ''don't fancy am discontented
or--or anything of that sort; the truth is,
ever since left school I have wanted
something to do, and had it in my mind
to speak to you about it.
With this looked at Tom. fearing he
n light be vexed, but he did not lool
vexed, only preoccupied.
81 do know of place, as it happens,
he said, after while, "only I'm mo-
sure how it would suit you"
, That's soon seen" said I. "What ii
it like?"
"Well, it's O sort of-of general use
fnlness-"
"Why, it must be to run errands,
said I, laughing. "And where is it
| Tom?"
WELL" said Tom, hesitating again
/ cts with me"
How very NIGEL" exclaimed. "aoy
, soon can have it,
, 1.-The sooner the better, so far as an
, concerned" said Tom, and with that b
! turned round and looked at me, an,
} directly met his eyes knew somehow
all in moment, what it was he meant
t and / knew, too. both that I could no
: have passed all my life with Viii
Broomly, and why I could not.
| I am sure that Lefty Walters, who in
4 terrupted US just then, must hav
{ thought my wits were wandering tina
evening, and, indeed, they were, for
s was completely dazed with the suddel
turn things had taken. But Tom, VIII
t had the advantage of me there, took
t quite coolly, and laughed and talked
: with Lefty just the same as ever till sh'
: went away.
It was pretty late when we went in
a Mother sat where we had left her knitting
y in the twilight.
) "Wasn't that Lefty Walters with yov
. a while ago?" she said, as we came up
. EYES," said I, with confused feelin
9 of an explanation of something bein
necessary; '.she just came to bring th
q new crochet pattern she promised me.
Y "H'mI" said mother, as much as t
8 say g. 9 had her own ideas as to whs
Lefty came for.
/ Tom had been wandering about th
!. room in an absent sort of fashion, takin
0 up and putting down in the wron
I places all the small objects that fell i
x his way He came up and took sea
J. by mother. I became of a sudden yer
v busy with the plants in the window, fo
I knew he was going to tell her.
o "Wish me Joy, Aunt Anne. said he
'It's all settled"
v sSettled, is it?' said mother, in any
! thing but a joyful tone. so it's as
It suspected all along. Well, you hav
- my best wishes, Tom; perhaps you ma
i he happy together after all Tin sure