The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-02-05
you have got, l shou Int have
known YOU, Tom"
"No?' said Tom. .ropuishly.

COuhA ICsAiu LHC COlt pun T.
if | dared. But where are all the
rest of the family? The house be
low is as empty as haunted hall
'All gone to welcome the hnrr d.
, poky old Professor La Place, who
mas graciously Indicated his willing
ness to pass a few weeks With us.
Tom, 1 do hate that professor"
Hate him! What for?"
ooh, l don't know. I'm sure.
He is q snuff dried, conceited old
wretch, and I'll wager n hox q.
gloves that he wears spectacles "
Nonsense, Mary! Why. he is
only twenty six"
Il don't care; | know he is rheu-
matte and wears spectacles, for ali
that. And, Tom-now if you'll
never breath word of this --''
L won't upon my norr said
Tom.
"Well, then, papa, has actually
got the idea into his dear old head
that l would make nice wife for
the professor, and -"
Mary turned away with crimson
Indignation flashing in her cheeks.
1t is too bad OF you 10 laugh,
Tom, l never, never will marry that
man."
81 wouldn't if 1 were you," con
sOlsd T"m. But, Mary, wait and
see the man before yon decide He
may be quite q decent fellow"
No." said Mary, shaking her
head and biting her lip firmly.
Il hate him beforehand
What a spiteful little puss you
are" said her companion, laughing.
"No, Tom, I'm not" And the
blue eyes became misty. 81 love
papa and Ruth dearly, and love al
most every ybody. like you Tom,
but 1 hate Professor La Place
And L want you to promise, Tom,
that you will be my friend, and not
allow him to tease me into walks, OF
rides, or tete a-tetes of any kind.
viii your"
Would he? If she had asked
him to precipitate himself out of
the pear tree upon the steps below,
with those eyes fixed on his he'd
have done it.
Il promise" he said, and they
shook hands on it.
What a cozy place for g chat
the gnarled old tree was.
And when they had talked over
everything 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 his pretty cousin, in
the deep musical voice that maid
ems love to listen.
And Mary sat there watching the
pretty curls bic wing to and fro on
his broad, white brow, and the
long black lashes almost touching
his olive cheeks; and she thought
how very handsome Cousin Tom
was, how much he had changed in
the ten years that had elapsed |
since she, had met him, and she
wondered whether Tom was engag-
ed to any pretty girl; somehow she
wished he was not. Now, Why !
couldn't Tom be rich like the hor
nd Professor La Place, instead of
Il poor medical student and -
And when the large black eyes
were. e.suddenlly lifted to hers, Mary
felt as though be had read every
thought in her mind, and blushed !
scarlet.
Come, Tom" she chAttered, to
hide her confusion, we've been
here long enough. Help me down
and L will show you the old sun
dial that we used to heep with but
tercups when we were children"
A rumbling of wheels; it was the
returning of the carriage and Mary |
clung to Toms arm.
The avful professorn she whis-
pered. "Nov, Cousin Tom, be sure
you stand by ne through every
thing."
''To my life's endr was the
whispered answer.
But there was nc one in the car
riage save Mr.. Thorne and Ruth.
1t drew up the grand sweep be
side the two cousins.
Where's the profess rps
'He vas not at the depot" said |
Ruth znd -"
But Mr.. ThorDe had sprang
frem the carriage and clasped both !
the strangers hands in his.
"LA Place, iS it possible! Why,
we have just been looking fer you
at Mill Station.
Il am sorry to have inconvenience
ed you, SIR was the reply; "but l
came by the way of Wharton and
walked over this morning"
Never mind now 30 you are
safely here! exclaimed the old
gentleman. "Ruth my ydear-Mary,
let me introduce you to your cous-
in, Professor La Place.
Mary had dropped her arm, and
stood dismayed.
"You told me that you were Cous-
in Tom"
THAT is my name, and l believe
l am q distant cousin by relation
ship. Now Mary" and the black
eyes sparklod "don't be angry be-
cause 1 don't take snuff and wear
spectacles. 1 beg the other Cousin
Toms pardon whoever he is; but l
am 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 q very per
picking thing to have two Cousin
Tame apd an ahOut civ Vn0nthe
subsequently, Miss Mary contrived
to obviate that Inconvenience by
allowing one to assume a nearer re-
lationship, and in spite of all her
assertions to the contrary, she is
Mrs. Professor La Place.
For it is a solemn fact in this
world that whenever girl says she
never, never will do thing, she is
pretty sure to do it the first chance
I