The National tribune., 1882-06-17
A VERY PRETTY SKETCH.

ing with, ana looked across AT mOtlleT.
Aunt Anne, think I'll take wife, !" he
said exactly like he might have said, Il
think I'll take another cup of coffee"
"Tal1e wife?" repeated mother, by no
means receiving the information as tran
gully as it had been given. "What for 2"
"Well, l don't know" answered Tom
thoughtfully. Its a notion I've got in my
head somehow"
"All nonsense!" said mother sharply.
"Do you think SOP" said Tcm, apparently
doubtful, but not in the least put out.
"Think so? l know it. What in the
world can you want of q wife? After all
these years we have lived so comfortably
together, to bring home somebody to turn
the house upside down! And, then, what
is to become of that poor child? ?"
The "poor child that was I-reddening
at being brought into the argument in this
way, was about to speak for herself, VIXEN
Tom interposed, warmly.
"Tm sure May knows l would never
have any wife who would make it less a
home for her-don't you, May?"
"Of course" said 1.
And I'm sure she knows nothing of the
sort" persisted mother, "nor you either,
Tom Dean. How can you answer for what
wife may take it into her head to do, once
you get her fixed here? You can't expect
her tc forget, as you do, that May has no
real claim on you"
"That l have no real claim on her, I sup
pose you mean, ma'am," Tom put in for the
second time, just as / was getting thoroughly
uncomfortable. But, for all that, intend
to keep her-that is" added Tom, with one
of his shortsighted blinks sideways at me, as
long as she'll stay with me, en-, May? And
whoever has anything to say against that
arrangement will have to 90 out of my
house to say it-not that Pm afraid of any
such result in this case-and on the whole,
Aunt Anne, should like to try the expert
ment"
Mother smiled grimly, but Tom was
so evidently bent on his experiment as
he called it, that she gave up the argument.
"You can dance if you are ready to pay
the piper" she said, shortly. And, pray,
how soon do you mean to be marred?"
Toms face fell little at this question.
well" said he, 81 can't say exactly. I
suppose we will have to be engaged first"
What" said mother, opening her eyes;
why, you never mean to say, Tom, you
haven't spoken to her yet?"
Not yet" answered Tom, cheerfully.
"Time enough for that, you know, after l
had spoken to you"
"Well," she said, if it was anybody else,
/ should say he was cracked; but you were
never like other people, and never will be,
Tom Dean. But, at least, you have fixed on
the lady?"
Oh, yes" answered Tom; "but if you
will excuse me, Aunt Anne, / would rather
not say anything about her just yet for, if
If anything should happen it wouldn't be
pleasant for either party, you know" With
which yelled allusicn to his possible rejec-
ton, Tom took his hat and left the room.
Our household was rather queerly put TO-
gether. There is no particular reason why
should have been of it at all, for / was not
really related to Tom, nor even to mother"
as / called her, though am sure we were as
dear to each other as any mother and
daughter could be. She was the second wife
of my father, who, like most ministers, had
been richer in grace than in goods and left
us at his death with very little to live on.
Then it was that Tom Dean had come for
ward and insisted on giving home to his
aunt and TO me, whom he had scarcely seen
dozen times in his life before. That was
exactly like Tom-"gueer Tom Dean" as
his friends were fond of saying, "who never
did anything like anybody else" / sup
pose, in spite of his clear head for business,
there is no denying that he was whimsical;
but am sure, when / think of his unfailing
generosity and delicacy, / can't help wishing
there were few more such whimsical people
in the world. Naturally, at the time 1 am
speaking OF, my opinion had not been asked /;
all l had to do was TO 20 where mother went,
and, while she gave her energies to the house
keeping, give mine to growing up, which
by this time l had pretty well accomplished.
But perhaps for that very reason-for one sees
with different eyes at y and 18-my posi-
tion in the house had already begun to seem
unsatisfactory TO me; and the mornings
words put it in clearer light, since it had
been used as an argument against Toms
marrying. / knew that mother had spoken
honestly, believing that such a step would
not be for his happiness; but was he not the
best judge of that? / knew him, if reflec-
ton should bring him round TO her opinion,
to he perfectly capable of quietly sacrificing
his own wishes for my sake who had not the
shadow Of claim on him; so it must be my
part TO prevent his own kindness being
turned against him now. Still it was not so
easy to see how L was to provide for myself
IN case it should become advisable What
could do? Draw and sing and play toler-
ably. but not in q manner to compete with
the hosts that would be in the field against
nc. Literature? / had read so many stories
whose Eeroines, with turn of a pen, dashed
iniO wealth ard fame. That would be very
n.ce. .Ily-I was not the least bit literary /:
had aever even kept n journal, which is
s4yipg a great deal for girl in her teens
Tnc hac arts," then, being out of the ques-
ticn Tor rue, what remained? There was
some clerkship, or place in some family,
ard-there was Will BROMLEY!
That may seem like going away from the