The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-06-29

l
his friends were fond of saying, "wh,
never did anything like anybody else.
| suppose, in spite of his clear head TO
business, there is no denying that h,
was whimsical; but I am sure, when
think of his unfailing generosity ant
delicacy, can't help wishing ther,
were few more such whimsical
people in the world. Naturally a
the time am speaking of, my opinion
had not been asked; all I had to do wa
to go where mother went, and, while sh,
gave her energies to the housekeeping
give mine to growing up, which by thi
time l had pretty we'll accomplished
But perhaps for that very reason-fo
one sees with different eyes ut twelve
and eighteen-my position in the
house had already begun to seen
unsatisfactory to me; and the morn
ing's words put it in a clearer light
since it had been used as an argument
against Toms marrying. I knew thai
mother had spoken honestly, be-
lieving that such step would not be
for his happiness; but was he not the
best Judge of that? I knew him, if re-
Election should bring him round tc
her opinion, to be perfectly capable
of quietly sacrificing his own
wishes for my sake, who had
not the shadow of claim on him; so
it must be on my part to prevent his
own kindness being turned against
him now. Still, it was not so easy to
see how 1 was to provide for myself in
case it should become advisable. What
do cfn nd 10
tolerably, but not in a manner to COM
pete with the hosts that would be in
the field against me. Literaturep I
had read SO many stories whose hero.
ines, with turn Of the pen, dashed
into wealth and fame. That would be
very nice, only-I was not the least bit
literary; had never even kept a Jour-
nal, which is saying great deal for a
girl in her teens. The "fine arts
then, being out of the question for me,
what remainedp There was some
clerkship, or place in some family,
and-and there was Will Broomleyl
That may seem like going away from
the point, but it was not. 1t was matter.
of-fact, but could see well enough what
was going on right under my eyes, and
l had pretty clear idea of what was
bringing Will to the house so often as
he had taken to coming lately. There
was situation, then, that would give
me the home-life 1 liked best, and felt
myself best suited for; but--would it
answer in other respects l overcast
the long seam I was sewing twice over,
| was so busy trying to make up my
mind whether 1 liked Will BROMLEY
well enough to pass my whole life with
him; and even then had not come to
any decision when L was called down.
stairs to Lefty Walters.
Lefty was the pretties', think, OF all
my friends, and certainly the liveliest.
Tom called her the "tonic," and used
to laugh heartily at her bright speeches
suppose it was this that made mother
Tx on Lefty as his choice. When i
came into the sitting-room I found q
lind of cross-examination going On. It
was amusing to any body in the secret,
Is | was, tc watch mothers artful way
Of continually bringing the conversa-
ZION round, as if by chance 20 bear on
what she wanted to know. But it all
amounted to nothing, either because
Lefty was too good fencer or because
she really had nothing to betray. But
when Tom came home mother took
care to mention that Lefty had called.
"What, the tonic?" said Tom. Too
bad I missed her."
But for your choice being already
made" said mother, with covert scru-
tiny of his face, Il dare say you might
have as much of the tonic as you liked
But I go on the homeopathic prin-
ciple, you know" answered Tom, with
a twinkle in his eye.
After that mothers belief in Letty's
guiltlness wavered. Her suspicious
were transferred from one to another of
our acquaintances; but always with the
same unsatisfactory result.
"It passes my comprehension" she
said to me, despairingly, one day. Il
am positive I could tell the right one
by Toms face in a minute, and yet
have mentioned everybody we know"
Perhaps it is somebody we don't
know" 1 suggested; some friend of his
We have never seen."
What a perfect stranger" said
mother, sharply. Never talk to me,
child; Toms not capable of thatl''
was silent, for 1 did not want to
worry her; but that was my opinion all
the came.
The same evening-it was rather
more than week since Tom had hurled
that thunderbolt of his at us-mother
began about it openly.
When are you going to introduce
your wife to us, Tomp suppose you
have come to an understanding by this
time
"Oh, there's no hurry" Tom said, as
ne had said before; but this time did
lot speak quite so cheerfully. "The
act is" he continued, with little hes
tation, there-there's rival in the
,ase."
GA rival !" repeated mother, with
lnfeeling briskness.
"Yes, a young fellow-younger by
rood deal than am," and Toms face
Issumed an absurdly doleful look. "He
s always there now. [ confess / don't
lee my way clear; Pm waiting for her
% make up her mind"
"And she's waiting, most likely, for
'ou to make up yours" said mother,
orgetting in her propensity to right
matters that she was playing the
'nemy's game.
""here's g something in that that never
to me-" said Tom, his face
Mother saw her mistake
nd made couDtermove at once.
But the ways of my time are old
nov young ladies nowadays
axe matters into their own hands. If
he cared for you you may be pretty
ure she wouldn't have waited till this