The National tribune., 1882-06-17

but | could see well enough what was going
on right under my eyes, and ] had pretty
clear idea of what was bringing VIII to the
house so often as he hal taken to coming
| lately. There was "situatiou.n then, that
would give the home-Iife | liked best, and
felt myself best spited for; but-would ii
answer in other respects? l overcast the
long seam | was sewing twice over, l was SO
busy trying to make up my mind whether
| liked VIII BROMLEY well enough to pass
my whole life with him; and even then l
had not come TO any decision, when l was
! called down stairs to Lettie Walters.
Lettie was the pretticst, think, Of all my
| friends, and certainly the liveliest. Tom
called her "the tonic" and used to laugh
heartily at her bright speeches. l suppose
| it was this that made mother fix on Lettie
as his choice. When | came into the sitting
! room | found a kind of cross-examinaton
| going on. 1t was amusing to anybody in
/ the secret, as | was. to watch mothers artful
way of continually bringing the conversation
round, as if by chance to bear on what she
wanted to know. But it all amounted to
nothing, either because Lettie was too good
n fencer, or because she really had nothing to
betray. But, when Tom came home, mother
took care to mention that Lettie had called
"What, the tonic 2" said Tom. Too bad
missed her"
But for your choice being already made"
said mother, with covert scrutiny of his
face, I dare say you might have as much
of the tonic as you liked"
But I go on the homeopathic principle,
you know" answered Tom, with twinkle
in his eye.
After that, mothers belief in Letty's guilt
iness wavered. Her suspicious were trans
fecred from one to another Of our acquaint
ance, but always with the same unsatisfac-
tory results.
at passes my comprehension" she said
to me, despairingly, one day. Il am positive
could tell the right one by Toms face in
minute, and yet have mentioned everybody
we know"
Perhaps it is somebody we don't know"
I suggested; some friend of his we have
never SEEN"
what! n perfect stranger ?" said mother,
sharply. "Never talk to me, child; Toms
not capable of that"
was silent, for / did not want to worry
her; but that was my opinion all the same.
The same evening-it was rather more
than a 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, Tom? l suppose you have come
to an understanding by this time"
"Oh, there's no hurry" Tom said, as he
had said before; but this time did not speak
quite SO cheerfully. "The fact is" he con-
tinued, with little hesitation, " there
there's rival in the case"
"a rival" repeated mother, with unfeel-
ing brislness.
Yes, young fellOw-younger by good
deal than | am" and Toms face assumed an
absurdly doleful look. I" He is always there
now. l confess l don't see my way clear:
I'm waiting for her to make up her mind"
and she's waiting, most likely, for you to
make up yours" said mother, forgetting in
her propensity to right matters, that she was
playing the enemy's game.
There is something in that that never oc-
Cured to me" said Tom, his face frightening.
Mother saw her mistake, and made a counter
move at once.
But the ways ofmy time are old-fashioned
now; young ladies, nowadays, take matters
into their own hands. If she cared for you,
you may be pretty sure she wouldn't have
waited till this time to let you know it
that is, / judge by the girls I am in the habit
of seeing; but if this one is a stranger to
me" (here mother riveted her eyes on Toms
face; oh, dear, my unfortunate wordsD if
she is an entire stranger l cannot pretend to
form any opinion of her, of course"
"Of course" repeated Tom, absently.
Not that have any such idea" resumed
mother, growing warmer; 81 have said and
| say again that to bring perfect stranger
under this roof is not my opinion Of you,
Tom"
l felt mothers words like so many pins
and needles; for Tom was looking medita
lively across at me, and though that was Just
a way of his, it seemed now as if he were
reading in my face that the opinion was
mine, and that had been meddling in what
did not concern me. | felt myself for very
vexation getting redder every moment till it
grew intolerable.
at is so warm here" l said, for an excuse,
turning toward the French window. " / am
going to get q breath of air"
! went out into our little strip of garden
ground; Tom followed. / thought l should
never have better opportunity to say what
had in my mind to say, so | waited for him
by the bench under the old pear tree. "Sit
down here, Tom," l said, "Tye something to
say to you"
Have you?" said Tom; that's odd, for
well, never mind that, just yet. What is
it, May?"
"Tom," I said, still surer now he had mis-
Judged me- and more resolved to set him
right, " / want a place"
"a place." repeated Tom puzzled, as well
he might be by this sudden and indefinite
announcement; what kind of place?n
"I don't know" l said, for, indeed, my
ideas were Of the vaguest. 81 thought you
might, being III the way of those things
Now pray, Tom," went on quickly, don't
c,.,.r o,, 9