Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-09-15

"Aunt Nab never spoke like that"
"She did; to that effect, at least. And
she added; Tom, dear old man, it's your
manifest duty to be tanned"
ooh, Cousin Tom y
"Oh, Cousin Lettice Letitia, mean,
do so want to be tanned"
But Tom, as he made this apparently
humble speech, looked up with 80 def.
countenance, that | turned angrily from
him and walked quickly and in silence
across the lawn toward the house. As
went heard a peal of derisive laughter,
aud knew that Tom was hooking me.
Oh, how hated Tom
| meditated on revenge, however, and
when the luncheon hour approached, /
determined to follow out my aunt's sug-
gcstion, and therefore gave orders that
l should be served on tray in the draw
ing-room. Five minutes after had given
the order, there came knock Mt the door
and Tom walked i'll.
"You are i'll, he said abruptly
"Not at all. E"
"What is the matter then q
MAY not wish to be alone o.
"Oh, certainly
AS red rs fire, Tom rctraced his steps,
but, equally suddenly he changed his in
tention, and recrosse1 the room rapidly to
where sat-
"This is all nonsense, Lefty. You are
really ill.,"
81 am not ill.
Either you are i'll, or you must be able
to walk into the dining groom. shall
send for doctor at once"
"You will do no such thing, Tom
will not have it,.
81 shall do what think necessary. In
my aunt's absence am the only respon.
sible person in thehouse."
you are not my keeper.
81 am SO long as yOu require one, and
when there is no better person to watch
over you. Come, Lefty, don't be silly.
Let me feel yourpulse."
81 will not, am perfectly well, ] as
sure YOU"
"Tnen You have been humbugging.
II don't know what you call 'humbug.
ging.'"
Lefty, Lefty But these are London
manners, / suppose, or what people used
to call the vapors.
"In the time of Queen Elizabeth 2"
mo, later than Elizabeth. Now come
to lunch"
II will not"
"You will not? Why, you can say
nothing else and you are half crying
These are hysterical symptoms l must
certainly send for doctor"
Tom sat down at the table, squared his
bold hand tho words: my dear sir.
L. 20 o., -,
rage and indignation, seized the sheet
of notepaper on which he had begun tc
write, and crumpling it up in my tremb
ling hands, I threw it violently in his
face.
He rose up quickly, and stared at me-
The devil !" he began, and then, witt
sudden GOODNESS, II think you are quite
right not to come into the dining room
Cousin Lettice," he said, and thereupol
he sts liked out, and banged the door.
burst into n passion of tears Anger
shame and humiliation were swelling my
heart. Suddenly dried my tears. Hat
not Tom, so to speak, forbidden my pres
encc in the dining-room Without paus
ing even to smooth my disordered hair,
rushed into the room where luncheon hat
been served, and where the substantial
repast still graced the table, though Toni
folded napkin and unused knife and forl
bore evidence to the fact that he had no,
yet eaten. Nor did he apparently intent
to do So for through the open window
came the sound of strdent voice tina
said
put Jerry in the dog-cart directly
Wilkins am going to drive into Edis
combe"
I had rather have died than have owne,
to it. and yet felt myself vanquished
Tom was rough countryman, and wa
n civilized London girl he was, OF course
unused to the ways and wiles Of women
while at balls and kettle-drums / ha,
boosted many n conquest. Somehow
however, / could not manage Tom
could not even prevent his managing me
Furthermore, sense of depression nc
tually came over me at the thought of hi
going out for TIE afternoon surely, il
aunt Mab's absence, it was his bounde
duty to be my squire-nay, my slave.
ate my luncheon, however, as / wa
very hungry, and l sat on feeling eros
and lonely, moodily slipping my aunt
home made ginger beer with the melan
choly reflection that it was not more flu
than all the world besides to me, thi
long, long day, of all my days the flu,
test.
Suddenly the door burst open.
Down, Sambo down, down, Chloe.
quoth my cousin to the big dogs that nc
companied him, barking vociferously
and jumping on him with delight.
81 say, Lefty Uetitia. mean), I've OF
dered the old trap round. Tn going t
drive you to Ediscombe."
you are?"
I'm sorry, you know" began Tom i
a bungling sort of way, that Il
lost my temper but ] couldn't help it,"
"You were extremely rude" answer
ed with dignity.
"And you? what were you?" aske
Tom with a laugh. you'd better acceI
my apology with grace, Lefty, before m
humility dies out altogether It's SAT
not to last long. CD and put on you
hat and tippet.'
"My what ?"
"Your bonnet and cloak, if you lik
that better. OF course, Tishy, | kno,
that it is simply idiotic for man to los
| his temper with n woman