Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-09-19

8m SuIo Lefty W8lCeIS, VINO lutel
rupted rs just then, must have though
my wits were wandering that evening
1 and indeed they were. for I was com
/ pletely da4ed with this sudden turI
things had taken. But Tom, who hal
the advantage Of me there, took 1t quit
Coolly. and laughed and talked witt
Lefty just the same till she went away
Wasn't that Lefty Walters with y0'
. while ago?" she said a. we came up
'sYes," said ], with confused feeling
Of explanation Of something being nee
essary, .'she just came to bring the nev
crochet pattern she promised me-"
| Him I" said mother, as much a. I,
Lefty had come for ;yr 80.
| Tom had been wandering about tn,
room In an absent sort of fashion, takin1
up and putting down in the wrong
places all the email objects that came Il
his way. He came mp and took . sea-
by mother.2 I Ibecame Of . sudden very
II knew he was going to tell her.
.dt,s ali settled"
'Eettled ID 1t 2" said mother In any
thing but . joyful tone. $50 it's as ]
1
lmy best wishes, Tom. Perhaps YOU
may be happy together, after ali; I'm
sure hope 60" ,.4...
This wasn't very encouraging sort Of
congratuiation, and Tom seemed rather
taken aback by 1t.
"pm sorry you're not pleased, 4" 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 crying over split
milk. You'll be married directly, I
presume. must be looking for house. {"
and mother stroked her nose reflective
ly with knitting needle. .0...,.
"What for 2" said Tom. II thought
of keeping on here all the same"
II never supposed otherwise" said
mother. "Of course did not expect to
turn you out of your house."
"But what is the need of looking out
for another, then ?"
"Why, for myself"
"F0r youreelf?" repeated Tom, in .
tone Of amazement. s'Going to leave US
just now? Why, Aunt Anne, I never
heard of such thing" a 1ssgd 4
"Now, Tom," said mother, speaking
very fast and making her Knitting
needles fly In concert, tive might as
well come to an understanding ct once
on this subject. I am fully sensible of
your past kindness-now just let me
finish-I say I appreciate it, and have
tried to do my duty by you in ruturn as
I hope l shall always be ready to do.
wish all good to you and your wife, and
shall be glad to help her II / can, Tut 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 his
chair back and staring in mothers ex.
cited face, "either you or I must be out
of our wits" aa
'It's not me at any rate" retorted
mother. getting nettled. .e
Amusement and q certain embarrass
ment had kept me q silent listener so
far, but there was no standing this: I
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"
gasped; "It's not Letty-oh-oh dear"
and relapsed again.
mot Lefty ?" repeated mother, turns
A"S w AO"' AHcA why uIu yOu teu
me 80 ?"
II never told you So" said Tom.
"Why yes you did" persisted mother.
"You came and told me you were going.
to be msrried."
Eyes, so 1 am" said Tom, still at
cross purposes.
Nov, 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.
May !" and then after pause of in
expressible ast0nishment, 1t was moth
er's turn tO laugh. "Do you mean to
say, Tom, 1t was that child you were
thinking of all the whils?"
why, who else could it be 2" said
Tom. simply.
"Well," said mother, II ought to have
remembered you never did anything
like anybody else. But, still, why in
the world did you go to work in such
roundabout way?"
II wanted to see how you took my
idea," said Tom.
"And how do you suppose we were to
guess what your idea meant. May ?" said
mother.
"Who else could 1t be?" repeated Tom,
falling back on what he found an un-
answerable argument. It was no use
talking to him. Mother gave it up with
q shake of the head.
"And you won't want another house
then, Aunt Anne?" said Tom suddenly.
That set mother off again; Tom Joined
In with her, and altogether don't think
we ever passed q merrier evening than
the one that made US acquainted with
Toms wife.