The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-06-25

ClIougn6 you mlgnG DC III Tie way
of those things. Now, pray, Tom, ("
[ went on quickly, "don't fancy l
am Observation-Disclosures anything of the
sort. The truth is, ever since left
off school l have wanted something
to do, and had it in my mind to
speak to you about II"
II do know of place, as it hap
pens," he said, after a while, 'only
I'm not sure how it would suit
you"
@That's soon seen" said I. What
is it like?"
We'll, it's a sort of-of general
usefulness" 80.
"Why it must be to run errands,
said l, laughing. "And where is 1t,
Tom p
swell" said Tom, hesitating
again" it's with me"
How very NICE" 1 exclaimed.
How soon can l have it,"
"The sooner the better, so far as |
am concerned" said Tom, and with
that he turned and looked at me,
and directly 1 met his eyes l
knew somehow, all in a moment,
what it was he meant; and l knew,
too, both that I could not have
passed all my life with VIII Broom
ley, and why l could not.
| am sure Lefty Walters, who in
terrupted us just then, must have
thought my wits were wand ering
that evening, and indeed they were
for I was completely dazed with this
sudden turn things had taken. But
Tom, who had the advantage Of me
there, took it quite coOlly, and
laughed and talked with Lefty just
the same as ever till she went
away.
1t was pretty late when we went
in. Mother sat where we had left
her, knitting in the twilight.
"Wasn't that Lefty Walters with
you while ago." she said, as we
came in.
Eyes" I said, with a confused
feeling of an explanation or some
thing being necessary "She just
came to bring the new crochet pat
tern she promised me"
"H'm" said mother, as much as
to say she had her own ideas as to
what Lefty came for.
Tom had been wandering about
the room ia an absent sort of fash
ion, taking up and putting down in
the wrong places all the small OBJ
iects that fell in his way. He came
up and took seat by mother. [
became of a sudden very busy with
the plants in the window; for l
knew he was going to tell her.
"Wish me Joy, Aunty, said he;
s'it's all settled" -. -.z
tSettled, is it?' said mother, ia
anything but a joyful tone. so it's
as suspected all along. Well, you
have my best wishes, Tom; you
may be happy, after all; I'm sure |
hope So"
This wasn't a very encouraging
sort of congratulatiOn, and Tom
seemed rather taken aback by it.
81 am sorry you are not pleased"
he said, after pause; Il had an
idea somehow you would be"
Il did not know from what you
Judged. But there, it's no use OF
CRYING over split milk. You'll he
married directly, presume. must
be looking for d house" and mother
stroked her nose reaectively with
knitting needle.
what for ?" said Tom; 81 thought
of keeping on here all the same"
81 never suspected otherwise,
said mother. 'Of course l did not
expect to turn you out Of your own
house"
"But what is the need looking
out for another then ?"
"Why, for myself"
"For yourself?" repeated Tom, in
a tone Of utter amazement. "GOing
to leave us-just now? Why, Aunt
Anne. l never heard Of such a
thing"
"Now, Tom" said mother, speak
ing very fast, and making her needle
fy in concert, 1--WE might as well
come to an understanding at once
on this subject. l am fully sensible
of your past kindness just lei
me finish-I say l appreciate it, and
have tried to do my duty by you IN
return, as [ hope I should be always
ready TO do. l wish all good to you
and YOUR wife, and shall be glad to
help her if l can, but to live in the
same house with her is what would
turn out pleasant for neither one OF
US and, once for all, l can't do 1t.
"Aunt Anne" said Tom, pushing
back his chair and staring IL
mothers excited face, "either you
or [ must be out of our wits"
"It's not me, then, at any rate,
retorted mother, getting nettled.
Amusement and 4 certain EN-
barassment had kept me silent
listener so far, but there was NJ
standing this; I tried to speak, but
could not, for laughing.
81 think you are all out of YOU
wits together" said mother, turning
sharply. ."What ails the child? IT.
no laughing matter"
"You don't understand eacl
other" 1 gasped; "Oh, dear it's no
Letty-oh-oh, dear" and relapsec
again.
Not Letty?" repeated mother
turning to Tom. Then why dit
you tell me So"
81 never told you So" said Tom
"Why, yes you did," persisted hi