The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-11-02
"Wasn't Chat LEFTY walters with YOU


YES" said I, with confused feeling
of an explanation of something being
necessary; ''she Just came to bring the
new crochet pattern she promised me-"
HIM said mother, as much as to
say 81 had her own ideas as to what
Lefty came for.
Tom had been wandering about the
room in an absent sort of fashion, taking
places all the small objects that fell in
his way. He came up and took seat
by mother. became Of sudden very
busy with the plants in the window, for
knew he was going to tell her.
wish me Joy, Aunt Anne,'' said he.
cts all settled"
Settled. is it?" said mother, in any
thing but joyful tone. $50 it's as I
suspected all along. Well, you have
my best wishes. Tom; perhaps you may
be happy together after all. I'm sure l
hope So"
''I'm sorry you're not pleased" he
said, after pause; II had an idea,
somehow, you would be-"
I. II don't know from what you judged.
But there is no use crying over split
milk. You'll be married directly, pre-
sumo. 1 must be looking out for
house." and mother strokei her nose re-
Hectively with knitting needle.
"What for?' said Tom; Il thought of
keeping on here all the same"
81 never supposed otherwise" mother
said. "Of course I did not expect to
turn you out of your own house."
''But what is the need of looking out
for enother, them"
"Why, for myself"
"For yourself !" repeated Tom, in
tone of utter amazement. "Going to
leave us just now? Why, Aunt Anne, I
never heard of such thing"
"Now, Tom," said mother, speaking
very fast and making her needles fly in
concert, I'VE might as well come to an
understanding on this subject. I am
fully sensible of your past kindness;
now just let me fnish-I say appre-
ciate it, and have tried to do my duty by
you in return, as I hope should always
be ready to do. wish all good to you
and your wife, and shall be glad to help
her if ever I can, but to live in the same
house with her is what would turn out
pleasantly for neither of us, and, once
for all, can't do it."
"Aunt Anne!" said Tom, pushing back
his chair, and staring in mothers excited
face, "either you or / must be out of
our wits"
Its not me, then, at any rate" re-
torted mother, getting nettled.
Amusement and certain embarrass-
.nent had kept me silent listener so far,
but there was no standing this; tried
to speak, but could not, for laugh
ing, -.
together" said mother, turning sharply.
"What ails the child? It's no laughing
matter"
"You don't understand each other" I
'gnsped; "oh, dear!-it's not Letty-oh-
oh. DEAR" and relapsed again.
mot Letty?" repeated mother, turn
ing to Tom. 'Then why did you tell
me so?"
II never told you So" said Tom.
"Why, yes you did," persisted
mother. "You came in and told me
you were going to be married"
eyes, so am" said Tom, still at CROSS
"Now, Tom Dean,' said mother,
rising 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 establishment, it was moth
er's turn to laugh. "Do you mean to
say, Tom, it was that child you we're
thinking of all the while?'
"Why, who else could it be" said
Tom. sharply.
"Well, said mother, II ought to Lave
remembered you never did anything
like anybody else. But, still, why in
the world do you go to work in sucn
round about way?"
II wanted to see how you took to my
idea," said Tom.
'And how do you suppose we we're to
guess that your idea meant May?'
mother asked.
"Who else could it be?" repeated
Tom, falling back on what he evidently
found an unanswerable argument. 1t
was no use talking to him. Mother gave
it up with shake of the head.
'And you won't want another house,
then, Aunt Anne?" said Tom. suddenly.
That set mother of again. Tom joined
with her, and, altogether, I don't think
we ever passed merrier evening than
the one that made US acquainted with
Toms wife.