Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-07-13
WHO WAS IT!

playing with, and looked across to
mother.
"Aunt Annie, think I'll take wife"
he said, exactly as he might have said
Il think I'll take another cup Of cot
fee."
take wife?" repeated mother. By
no means receiving the information as
TRANQUILITY as it had been given. what
for"
"Wen, [ don't know" answered
Tom, thoughtfulIy. cts nCeion I've
got into my head somehow"
'All nonsense !" said mother, sharp
"Do you think SO ?" said Tom doubt
fully, but not in the least put out.
"Think 500" | know it. What IN
the world can you want of 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?"
That ''poor child"-that [ was red
denning at being brought into the argu-
ment in this way, was about to speak
for herself, when Tom interposed warm
~:
"I'm sure May knows | would never
have any wife who would make it less
at home for her-don't you Mary"
"Of course" said [.
"And Pm sure she knows nothing of
the Sort" persisted mother, nor you
either. Tom Dean. How can you an
sWer for what wife may take it into
i, ~ IL 49,
fixed here? You can't expect her to for
get as you do that May has no real
claim on you"
"That have no real claim on her, |
suppose you mean, ma am" Tom put
in for the second time, just as I was
getting thoroughly uncomfortable.
but for all that, intend to keep her
that is" added Tom, with one of his
short-sighted blinks sideways at me,
CAS- long as she will stay with me, eh,
May? And whoever has anything to
say against that arrangement will have
to 90 outside of my house to say it
not that l am 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
50 evidently bent on his experiment"
as he called it, that she gave up the ar
gument.
"You ca n dance if you are ready to
pay the piper" she said shortly. 'And,
pray, ho%,soon do you mean to be mar
ried?"
Toms face fell a little at this ques-
ton.
'Well," said he, 4 can't say exactly.
| suppose we shall have to be engaged
first"
WHAT" said mother opening her
eyes; "why, you never mean to say,
Tom, that you haven't spoken to her
yet2'
mot yet, answered Tom, cheerfully.
Time enough for that, you know, af-
ter | have spoken to you."
"Well," she said, ''if it was anybody
else, should say he was cracked; but
you never were like other people, and
you never will be, Tom Dean. But, at
least, you have fixed on the lady?"
ooh, yes" answered Tom; "but if
you will excuse me, Aunt Anne, [
woNld 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 aHusion to his possible rejection,
Tom took his hat and left the room.
Our household was rather queerly
put together. There was no particular
reason why l should have been of it at
all; for l was not really related to Tom,
nor even to "m0ther" as | called her,
though am sure we were as dear to
each other rs 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
came forward and insisted on giving a
home to his aunt and to me, whom he
had scarcely seen a dozen times in his
life before. That was exactly like Tom
-"queer 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 l am sure, when |
think of his unfailing generosity and
delicacy, | can't help wishing there
were few more whimsical people in
the world.
Naturally, at the time l am speak
ing of, my opinion had not been asked;
all had to do was to go where my
mother went. and, while she gave her
energies to the housekeeping, I gave
mine to growing up, which by this
time l had pretty well accomplished.
But, perhaps for that reason-one sees
through different eyes at twelve and
eighteen-my position in the house
had already begun to seem unsatisfac-
tory 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 nos be for his hapai-
ness; but she was not the best Judge of
that. I knew him, if reflection should
bring him round to her opinion, to be
perfectly capable of quietly sacrificing
his own wishes for my sake, who had
not the shadow of claim upon him;
SO it must be my part to prevent his
own kindness being turned against him
now. Still, it was not easy to see how
| was to provide for myself, in case it