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

Tom ~
"WeD," said Tom, hesitating again,
" it's with me-"
Chow very nice p I exclaimed. Glow
soon can have it "
1.-The sooner the better, so far as [
am concerned" said Tom, and with
that he turned and looked at me, and
directly l met his eyes l knew some
how all in moment, what it was he
meant and I knew, too, both that |
could not have passed all my life with
Will Bromley, and why [ could not.
l am sure Lefty Walters, who inter
rupted us just then, must have thought
my wits were wandering that evening,
and indeed they were for I was COM
pietely dazed with this sudden turn
things had taken. But Tom, who had
the advantage of me there, took it
quite cooIly, and laughed and talked
with Lefty just the same as ever till
she went away.
It was pretty late when we went in.
Mother sat where We had left her, knit
ing in the twilight.
wasn't that Lefty Walters with you
awhile ago." she said, as we came up.
eyes" said I, with confused feel
ing of an explanation Of something be-
ing necessary; "she's just came to
bring the new crochet pattern she
promised me-"
Him p' said mother, as much as TO
say she had her own ideas as to what
Lefty came fU.
| Tom had been wandering about the
room in an absent sort of fashion, tax
ing up and putting down in the wrong
places all the small objects that fell in
his way. He came up and took a seat
by mother. [ became of a sudden very
busy with the plants in the window; for
l knew he was going to tell her.
"Wish me joy, Aunt Annie, " said he;
otis all settled"
Settled, is it ?" said mother, in any
thing but joyful tone. $50 it's as
suspected all along. Well, you have
my best wishes, Tom; perhaps you
may be happy together after all; Pm
sureI hope So"
This wasn't a very encouraging sort
of cJngratulatisn, and Tom seemed
rather taken aback by it.
'I'm sorry you're not pleased" he
said after pause; II had an idea
somehow you would be"
II don't know from what you judged.
But, there, it's no use of crying over
split milk. You'll be married direct
| ly, [ presume. [ must be looking for
a house." and mother stroked her nose
refectively with knitting needle.
''What for? said Tom; II thought
Of keeping on here all the same"
Il never supposed otherwise" said
mother. "Of course I did not expect
to turn you out Of your own house"
"But what is the need of looking out
for another, then?
"Why for myself"
"For yourselfm repeated Tom in a
tone of amazement. Going to leave
us-just now? Why, Aunt Annie,
never heard of such a thing !"
"Now, Tom," said mother, speaking
very fast and making her knitting
needles fly in concert, eve might as
well come to an understanding at once
on this subject. am fully sensible OF
your past kindness-now just let me
tinish-I say l appreciate it, and have
tried to do my duty by you in return,
as [ hope shall always be ready to do.
| wish all good to you and your wife,
and shall be glad to help her if can,
butte live in the same house with her
is what would turn out pleasantly for
neither of us, once for all, can't do
it."
"Aunt Annie" said Tom, pushing
back his chair, and staring IN mothers
excited face, "either you or must be
out of our wits"
'1t's not me, then, at any rate" re-
tOrted mother, getting nettled.
Amusement and a certain enlbar-
rassment had kept me silent listener
SO far, but there was no standing this;
[ tried to speak but could not, for
laughing.
81 think you are all out of your wits,
together" said mother, turning sharp
| ly. "What ails the child? It's NO
laughing matter"
''You don't understand each other"
| gasped, "oh, dear-!it's not Lefty
oh-oh, dear!" and relapsed again.
"Not Letty| repeated mother. turn
ing to Tom. Then why did you tell
me so
81 never told you SO" said Tom.
"Why, yes you did," persisted moth
er.
"You came in and told me you were
going to be married"
eyes, so [ am,,' said Tom, still al
cross purposes.
'Now, Tom Dean," said mother, ris-
ing and confronting him, "what do you
mean? Who is going to be your wife ?''
"Why, May, of course" answered
Tom.
"Mayp' and then after a pause of in
expressible astonishment, it was moth
er's turn to laugh. ':Do you mean to
say, Tom, that it was that child you
were thinking of all the while?',
"Why, who else could it be?" said
Tom, simply.
"Well," said mother, II ought to
have remembered yeu never did any
hing like any body else. But, still, why
in the world did you go to work in such
a roundabout way ?"
II wanted to see how you took my
idea ?" said Tom
"And how do you suppose we were
to guess your idea meant May p moth
er asked.
"Who else could it be?" repeated
Tom, falling back on what he found an
unanswerable argument. It was no
use talking to him. Mother gave it up
with a shake of the head.
'And you won't want another house,
then, Aunt Anne ?" said Tom sudden
ly. That set mother off again; Tom
joined in with her and altogether I
don't think we ever passed merrier
evening than the one that made US &C