Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-10-28

20 make up her mind"
And she's waiting, most likely. for
you to make MP yours said mother.
forgetting IN her propensity TO right
matters that she was playing the
enemy's game.
There's something in that that never
occurred 20 me" said Tom, his face
Frightening. Mother saw her mistake
and made countermove at once.
But the ways of my time are old
fashioned now young ladies' nowadays
take matters into their own hands. If
she cared for you you NAV be pretty
sure she wouldn't have waited till this
time to let you know it-that is. | Judge
Dy the girls am in the habit of seeing
ont II this one IS stranger to me-
there mother riveted her eyes on Toms
iace oh, dear, my unfortunate words y
If she is an entire stranger I cannot
pretend to form any opinion OF her, of
course
"Of course" repeated Tom, absently.
Not that have any such idea" re-
sumed mother, growing warmer. 81
have said and say again that to bring
q perfect stranger under this roof is not
my opinion of you, Tom"
| felt mothers words like SO many
pins and needles; for Tom was look
ing meditatively across at me, and.
though that was just q way Of his, it
seemed now If he was reading in my
face that the opinion was mine and that
had been meddliug in what did not
concern me. / felt myself for very
vexation getting redder every moment.
till 1t grew intolerable.
1t is so warm here" said. for an
excuse, turning toward the French
window. 81 am going to get breath
OF air.
Iwent out into our little strip of gar
den ground; Tom followed. thought
should never have a better opportun-
ity to say what I had in my mind TO
say, so / waited for him by the bench
under the old pear tree ''Sit down
here, Tom, said, I've something to
say to you"
Have you 2" said Tom; chats odd,
for well, never mind that Just yet.
What is it. May?n
Tom said, still surer now he
had misiudged me, and more resolved
to set HIM right, q want q place"
ga place ?" repeated Tom, puzzled,
as well he might be by this sudden
and indefinite announcement; "what
kind of placer"
ct don't know" I said, for, indeed,
my ideas were of the vaguest. II
thought you might, being in the way of
those things. Now pray, Tom" went
on quickly, don't fancy I am discon-
tented, or-or anything of that sort;
the truth is ever since left off school
I have wanted something to do, and had
it in my mind to speak to you about it, "
With this I looked at Tom, fearing
he might be vexed; but he did not look
vexed; only preoccupied.
81 do know of place, as it hap
pens" he said after o while. "only I'm
not sure how 1t would suit you"
That's soon seen, said |. "What
is it like?"
"WelI. it's sort of--of general use
fulness-"
why, it must be TO run errands,"
said /, laughing. "Ahd where is it,
Tom ?"
WE'LL" said Tom, hesitating again,
81 it's with me-"
"How very NIGEL" exclaimed. "How
soon can have it p
"The sooner the better, so far as /
am concerned, said Tom, and with that
he turned and looked at me. and direct
~ ] met his eyes I knew somehow, all
in q moment, what il was he meant; and
knew, too, both that could not have
passed all my life with Will BROMLEY,
and why could not.
am sure Lefty Walters. who inter
Yupted as just then, must have thought
my wits were wandering that evening,
and indeed they we're; for was com
pletely dazed with this sudden turn
things had taken. But Tom, who had
the advantage Of me there, took it quite
coolly, 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
ting in the twilight
& Wasn't that Lefty Walters with
You while ago Z" she said, as we came
up.
NYes, /" said I. with confused feel
ing of an explanation of something being
necessary; ''she Just came to bring
the new crochet pattern she promised
me-"
Him I" said mother, as much as to
say she had her own ideas IS to what
Lefty came for.
Tom had been wandering about the
room In an absent sort of fashion, taking
up and putting down In the wrong
places all the small objects that fell il
his way. He came mp and took q seal