Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-04-09
Tom Kilroy.


O'd Kilroy had large Job of work to
do for the great inporliug 6rm OF Scott
& Ocnaldson, and one day while Tom
" as laying bricks and whisiling with
great deal of spirit, Alexander Scott
teok p liking TO him.
Mr.. Scott had talk with young Tom.
and liked him better still, and then had
a talk with Toms father, which resul.
ted In Tom throwing down the trowel,
and taking desk in the outer couailnS
room Of the great Grm. go
In the course of two wears he was
cautiously promoted, but he was trusted
even beyond bis position. Mr.. Scolts
liking, though progressing at a careful
rate still kept steadily increasing. He
had said often during these two years
that Tom K,iroy was a little uncom
non.S and Alexander Scott was al~avs
ready 10 maiulain What he had once
said.
Toh's lie vent On as tbe clock does
for the ntxt four years, but IN them
Time gave everything ana took moth
g from him. His splendid physical
beauty had Datured, aud his busine' S
aptitude had Been thoroughly develop
ed. Even Jno. Donaldson, who had
always smiled at his partners fancy Tor
the young mason, at length admitted
that 'Kilroy was a fine fellow, aud
would do the firm credit
1t was just afler This admission from
Mr.. Donaldson, and on hot glowing
day in early July. Tom, busy among
sundry bales and boxes, heard Mr..
Scott call him. When he answered the
summons he found tue senior partner
in very anxious and perplexed mood
'Mr Kllroy,' he said. hesitatipgiy'
Il cannot 90 home, as l intended to-
u night, and it may even happen that
S shall baye 10 30 10 Liverpool by the
next steamer. Wat want now i
that you should take my usufl train,
and carry Mrs. Scott this letter.
!. 'Very well, sir; how soon shall
J. leave p
you Lave fifteen minutes 70 caIcf
it,
3, So in fifteen minutes Tom was at the
Erie depot. " hen he reached The
platform OF the little Jersey depot there
I was the usual gathering OF bnggIes aud
b Hight agons. and he looked around lol
8 Mr.. Scott's which that gentleman hat
described 10 him as "a nice little turn
out with pretty team Of graYs.'
The only vehicle answering that de
scriptiou was driven by lady-a yer,
lovely lady indeed, tho peered anon
!. the crowd With a wistful, anxious, face
{. Tom took heart Of grace, and with hi
y very beet bow and smile, and some in
E. doiry or remark, the only intelliglb
words of which were, Mr.. Scott
Yes, SIR said the lady blushing, anC
t. hand ding the reins rather unnecessarily
er Il came 70 meet papa, and you say b
Is not coming. And you have letter
Will you allow me 10 drive you TO tn
!. house?
r. Tom was obliged to allow himself I
be driven. HIS perfect ideness gay
him leisure 10 watch his drivers prelt
K motions; 10 note all the changes OF ht
L face, and all the coaxing inLonation
with which she fattered aud encouT
aged the pretty team Of grays. He ha
y, literally fallen IN lore without being
: all aware Of the plunge be had taker
~ for the sensation was so charming
;. was hardly likely he would pause to ar
alive the feeling.
Mrs. Scott was quite aware OF Nj
KlIroy's antecedeLts and position, BIT
women never weigh very handsom
men IN the same exact balances the
lit do ugly ones. There was a very charm
or iuy tea, during which Tom got as f.
10 Mrs. Scott's favor as he had 'gotte
with Mr.. Scott IN four years. SO fal
indeed. that when she retired to Ii
library TO answer her husbahds's lett'
she left Mr.. Kilroy 10 be en'ertain'
8 by'her daughter Alice.
n Did she remember what a dapgeIol
- entertainment wandering through u
scented shrubs IN the twilight sarde
!. was? When Aicc's fingers ionch'
: TOMS among the strawberry vines
= did she caculate the result? Or had 81
re- no fear Of lie be witching snnmer moo
that saw these two sitting IN s'seele
4 silence beneath the drooplng honel
sucSle on the piazza gEe 4 a
He wished this night would last fol
ever. He went back TO town in a kin
i,l OF. inioxicaiiOn. Alice gave him
: jasmine. spray at parting; and th
CO youpg Romeo of The counIiLg hout
-. was just as foolish about a flower
a4 any lover, either before or since Il
Aood has ever been. g.. .,. t..
/, He.had no plan about Alice, bat B
, stare planted for linn. Mr.. scott wei
all to Liverpool By the next steamer, az
aes for,six weeks, on every Saturday af,e
nd noon, Mr.. Kilroy weot out TO Mr.
cr tScotps with a certain sum Of mon'
M itop The firm. and often certain con
rse missions in books and dry goods VII
which tbe firm had no particular co
:" cern. II, these elx weeks love gre