The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-11-21
mo ." said Tom. roouishlv.

Tom, you're splendido'
Il could return the compliment, If dar-
ed. But where are all the rest of the fam
lily? The house below is as empty as a
haunted hall.
sAll gone to welcome that horrid, poky
old Professor La Place, who has graciously
indicated his willingness to pass a few
weeks with us. Tom, do hate that Pro-
fessor."
SHate him! What for?'
ooh, | don't know, I'm sure. He is a
snuff-dried, conceited old wretch, and I'll
wagera box of gloves he wears spectacles"
Nonsense, Mary; why he is only twenty
six
II don't care; l know he is rheumatic
and wears spectacles, for all that. And
Tom-now if you'll never never, breathe a
word of this"
Il won't upon my honorr' said Tom
s'Well then, papa has actually got the
idea into his dear old head that would
make nice wife for the Professor, and
Mary turned away with crimson indigna-
ton flashing in her cheeks.
''It is too bad of you to laugh, Tom.
never, never will marry that man.
Il wouldn't if | We're you" consoled
Tom. But, Mary, wait and see the man
before you decide. He may be quite de-
cent fellow"
MOI said Mary, shaking her head and
biting her cherry lips firmly. Il hate him
beforehand. "
ssWhat spiteful little puss you arer'
said her companion laughing
'No, Tom, I'm not And the blue eyes
became misty. Il love papa and Ruth
dearly, and | love almost everybody.
like you, Tom but | hate Professor La
Place. And | want you to promise me,
Tom, that you'll be my friend, and not
allow him to tease me into walks, or rides,
or tete-a-tetes of any kind. Will your"
Would he? If she had asked him to
precipitate himself out of the pear-tree
upon the steps below, with those blue eyes
fixed on his, he'd have done it; any man of
taste would.
Il promised he said, and they shook
hands on it.
What a coy place for chat that gnarl-
ed old tree was.
And when they had talked over every
thing they could think of, it was the most
natural thing in the world that Tom should
recover the book which had slipped down
into the net work of tiny boughs, and read
poetry to the pretty cousin in the deep,
musical voice that maidens love to listen
to.
And Mary sat there watching the pretty
curls blowing to and fro on his broad,
white brow, and the long, black lashes
almost touching his olive checks; and she
thought how very, very handsome Cousin
Tom was how much he had changed in the
last ten years that had elapsed since she
had seen him, and she wondered whether
Tom was engaged to any pretty girl; some
how she hoped not. Now, why couldn't
Tom have been rich, like that horrid Pro-
fessor La Place, instead of a poor medical
student?
And when the large, black eyes were sud-
denly lifted to hers, Mary felt as though he
had read every thought in her mind, and
blushed scarlet.
"Come, Tom, she chartered, to hide her
confusion, ''we've been up here long
enough. Help me down. and will show
you the old sun dial, that we used to heap
up with buttercups when we were chill
dren."
A rumbling of wheels; it was the return
ing carriage, and Mary chung to Toms arm.
The awful professor" she whispered.
s.Now, Cousin Tom, be sure you stand by
me in everything
''To my life's end, was the whispered
reply.
But there was no one in the carriage
save Mr.. Thorne and Ruth.
Itdrew up on the grand sweep beside
the two cousins.
"Where's the professor?"
HE was not at the depot" said Ruth;
"and-''
But Mr.. Thorne had sprung from the
carriage and clasped both the stranger S
hands i'll his.
.La Place, is it possible! Why, we have
just been looking for you at Mill Station. y
Il am sorry to have Inconvenience you,
SIR" was the reply; ''but came by the
way of Wharton, and walked over this
morning"
''Never mind now, so you are safely
here.' exclaimed the old gentleman.
Ruth, my dear--Mary, let me introduce
you to your cousin, Professor La Placer
Mary had dropped his arm and stood
dismayed.
''You told me that you were Cousin
Toni
''That is my name, and believe am a
distant cousin by relationship. Now,
Mary" and the black eyes sparkled, don't
be angry because don't take snuff nor
wear spectacles. l beg the other Cousin
Toms pardon, whoever he is; but | am
very glad he isn't here. Mary, be just,
and don't hate Cousin Tom because his
other name happens to be La Place"
But no doubt it was very perplexing
thing to have two Cousin Toms; and so,