The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-07-13

and rows of purple and scarlet dahlias
But Christina saw figure leaning black in
| the stuffed chintz rocker in the little sitting
| ro0m-the figure of Il man so she tapped at
the door, and walked composedly in, without
further ceremony.
"You are Tom Thompson?' said she
The man started and rose. He was tall
and rather PALE decently dressed in back
clothes, and looked, as Chrissy declared to
himself, quite respectable, and rather hand
some into the bargain"
"And ]" she added, Fam Miss Carr You
called at my house Here am Now, Tom"
seating elfopposte him at the table, and
| resting her elbows in defiant fashion on the
red and black worsted cloth, as she fixed her
bright, black eyes upon him severely, 81 in
tended to give you piece ofmy mind today
Don't you think you ought to be ashamed of
yourself ?"
| Il am not sure that quite comprehend"
began Mr.. Thompson, turning scarlet.
| oh, yes you doP said Chrissy, with n
| slight motion of her hand, as if she would put
| all prevaricaton behind her. "You are a
decent looking man. and you've evidently had
yt Il see, and think it is shame that you
| should be staggering about the streets, aban-
doning your work, and toolshly squander-
ing your means"
Miss Carr, assure you /"
But Chrssy held up her finger.
tom, she said, take care. Donttell me
tasehood. | know you quite as well as
you know yourself You'rea bad case
You're hardened sinner. And if you don't
stop short now, goodness knows what will
become of you. Mr.. Montagu has talked
| often of you, and
but think there is some misapprehen-
sion here, said the young man, resolutely
breaking in the monologue l haven't the
pleasure of Mr. Montagu's acquaintance
Chrissy looked hard at her interlocutor.
Aren't you Tom Thompson ?" said she.
II am Thomas Thompson,-yes," he ad-
mitted.
"a hand in Hoppery's calico mill?"
mot at all, b" he answered. al am simply
laborer in the great field of the world-the
clergyman sent here to fill Mr.. Montagu's
place until his return from the Azores Islands.
/ left my card at your house this morning,
as one of the parish young ladies who had
been especially mentioned to me us II diligent
worker"
"Chrissy turned very pink
And y" she said, in faltering voice,
"mistOok your name and address for that of
Tommy Thompson, the English mll-hand
who is always getting intoxicated and
hitler TO give him good talking to, and
and-Oh, what must you think of me, Mr.
thompson"
And she covered her face with her hands,
II think, Miss Carr" said the young divine
growing calmer in proportion as Christina
lost her presence of mind, "that you deserve
great credit for the zeal and energy with
which you are striving to do your duty. If
were the wrong Tom Thompson-no that
assume myself positively to be the right one"
with roguish twinkle of his eye-"I believe
your eloquence would have brought me to n
sense of the error ofmy ways. Please, please,
Miss Carr, do not be vexed because of this
simple mistake. assure you that 1t has
made me feel better acquainted with you
than score OF formal morning calls would
have DONE"
Chrissy laughed out, in spite of herself
81 don't think" said she, "that this morn
ing call partakes in the least of the element
OF Formally. What shrcw you must have
thought me "
And then all the awkwardncss was gone,
and they shook hands on an entirely differ
ent platform.
"You pardon mep" said Chrissy.
Entirely y assented the young clergyman
And promise you soemnly that | won't
stagger about the streets, nor abandon my
NOrk Ill Ine lulufe.
Mr.. Thompson walked home with Miss
Carr, greatly to the amazcment of Mrs.
CracKthorpe, who met the pair on Lily Aven-
lie, and could hardly believe her cars when
her niece introduced her to the new minister,
of whose arrival in town the old lady had
not yet been made officially aware.
And the next day, Mr.. Thompson himself
went to see his refractory namesake, the mill
hand, and found him in II deplorabe condi-
ton of low spirited poverty. Nor did he leave
him until he had induced him To sign the
pledge
81 don't think could have done better
than that myself" said Christina, when Mr..
Thompson reported progress to her
"Well time went on, as time always does go
on,whether we like it or To- Old Mr.. Montagu
died in the fragrant witnesses of the Azores
Islands, and MIR. Thompson reigned in his
vacant pulpit and when Mrs. Crackihorpe
heard that the parsonage was being papered
painted ann returnished for the coming bride
OF the young minister, she had to retract ler
declaration that Christina Carr would never
marry?"
"Oh, of course if she is pleased and he is
it's all right" said Mrs. Crackthorpe, not
without acerbily. But things are sadly
changed since was girl"
And the three Miss Cracklhorpcs are work
ing three anti .macassar tides for their Cousin
Chrissy's reception i'm the parsonage