The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-11-20

bsbS euS huioS. wv W pSus AiNi' 'AA
till morning!"
In the morning Tom, who, happy
fellow, always slept soundest under a
sense of depression. did not make his
appearance until 9 o'clock. lie found
that Mrs. Primmins had actually dis
appeared for parts unknown. In the
arms of his hitherto stern landlady he
found his charge nesting. A new
ight--that Of love--was beaming in
the solemn woman's eye-tbat woman,
thought Tom, who could see any of
her boarders starve and rot for ten
cents saved.
81 have undertaken" said the land
lady, giving Tom smile such as he
had never dreamed could rest in her
features-"I have undertaken to 60
with you in search of Mrs. Primmins'
niece. Malviny."
Several hours later Tom Collins
sprang from light wagon in which
he had driven to the door of pretty
cottage
1--WE will make one last effort by in
quiring here" he said to his landlady,
who held the baby.
With his usual impetuosity he push
ed directly through into the rear kitch-
en-. There he forgot his erran'l-forgot
everything except what he saw. A
young girl, plump, neat, and rosy,
stood with round arms barred before a
table. She was assiduously occupied
in caressing with white hands little
Jumps of dough into shape.
Suddenly she turned. Such dim
pling smile! Such rosy embarrass-
ment! Tom, great black-hared, jetty-
eyed giant that he was, thought this
little plump blonde an angel. Thought!
why, he was sure of it!
After while he came to his senses
and said:
"rm looking for one Malvina Bar
ker."
"And that is me-" said the rosy lips.
"Then I've brought you baby" he
'said abruptly.
A good deal of astonishment can be
| put into pair Of bright blue eyes
without spelling them m--and so there
was. Fortunately, at that point the
landlady appeared and so, moment
later, did Malvina's mother, called up
from the cellar by the voices.
Negotiations were soon completed.
Tom, again in his little room, found
it the loneliest, dreariest place he had
ever in his life looked upon.
A couple Of days later he concluded
that it would be inhuman not to 60
and enquire after his little charge in
an incredibly short time he was seized
with the same impression again. Then
he went to take to baby, who had not
yet learned that the moon is more dis
tant than the doorknob, box Of geo.
graphical blocks. Then he went to en-
quire if it needed pocket money; and
he told Malvina that he knew she was
not kept awake nights with it, because
her eyes were 50 bright.
After tea the moon came out. Oh
that wicked, shameless moon! Tom by
its light, told Malvina right out that
her eyes were bluer than heaven-hel
lips sweeter than roses and all that.
When they parted Malvina went tt
her room and cried.
What could perfect king of man
mean by talking like that to her? OF
course he could not mean to marry ,
little school mistress only home on {
vacation?
Tom acted queeIly, too, when alone
Ill LID lOOlis llO lOOh ~ pdpCl ulll
pencil, and figured and calculated. HI
made list of all the little properties
he possessed. He added them up ant
he added them down. Then he SCI
down list of all the things he wa.
accustomed to spend money upon thai
could be dispensed with. Then HI
brought out book on economy, where
it tells how man can live chea CT
with frugal wife than he can alone
He was astonished to liEd that book 81
intensely interesting!
The next day Tom went again tt
see the baby. In fact, it had seemed
to him as though the afternoon woult
never come. He had more waiting tt
do at the cottage, for Malvina's mother
received him. and she did not appear
At last his impatience spurred him t.
ask.
81 don't want you to see her again
young man. l will be frank with yol
| and tell the truth"
"Oh, Mrs. Barker" cried Tom.
"She's asimple child, sir, and is il
danger not to understand that atten
tions from one like you can mear
nothing"
"Dear Mrs. Barker, you misunder
stand me entirely. 1 must see he
: this once. l must, indeed. If sh
sends me away l will never com
again"
Tom conquered. When he explaine'
to Malvina about his small income an,
consulted with her about it's sufficien
S cy, she told him that he ought to b
t ashamed to waste such heaps OF none
1 on one. He should have sent half t
1 the heather.