Mexico weekly ledger., 1885-01-08

8 xEAR, In DVNCE.
NO. SO,
sure TO explain to HIM why We are
absent = and behave like ! young
lady, mindi''
..All rightl. said Mary, dauntIess-
/ ". 81 always liked Tom. We used
to have grand romps together a.
Sbe sat there in the old psar tree,
prettier than any hamadr,'ad that
might have haunted the mossy old
veteri,n of the garden, her cheeks
touched with sunshine and carmiae,
her dimpled lips apart, now reading
q line or two from book in her lap,
now looking up, rapt in girlish rev.
erie. into the blue sky, as it sparkletl
down through ever-moying leaves,
and now breaking into . soft little
warble of song. to which the very
robins themselves put their heads on
one side to listen.
The carriage had driven array long
since. She had watched ii; beyond
the curve Of the winding rad, the
dark mantle Of shadow was slowly
falling the creeping sun-glo,v across
the velvet lawn below, and the clock
in the old church-spire among the
far oh woods had chimed ont eleven.
And still Mary Thorne sat there in
those forked branches of the old pear
tree.
Suddenly there faated into her leafy
sanctum a pungent, aromatic odor,
which made her lean curiously for
ward. shading her eyes with one hand,
the better to penetrate the green fo-
liage below.
Not the lste monthly roses, not the
amethyst borders of heliotrope, not
the spicy geraniums-none Of these
blossoms distilled that peculiar smell.
my patlencel'' said littl. Mary,
"it's q cigar.
A cigar it was, and thu owner
thereof-she could just see I white
linen coat and tall head covered
with black, wavy curls-stood on the
porch steps quietly smoking and In
dulsin,y in heightened view Of the
garden slopes.
| That's Tom Bradley" s,id Ma
Try to herself. SHOW, If he thinks
I'm coming down out of this delicious
cool place to sit up straight in the
hot parlors, he's mistaken! Toni"
che called out, in q silver accent OF
imperative summons. and then hurst
into merry laughter at the evident
amazeraent at which the stranger
gazed around him. vainiy trying to
conjecrure whence the call hnd pro-
lceeded. ''You dear, stupid Cousin
rom!'' she ejaculated. Don't
lstare off toward the cabbage beds.
Look straight up here. You may
Came up il You please; there's plen-
,y of room for both. You are Cousin
Tom, aren't youi" she Continued.
as sudden misgivings crossed her
mind.
:. "Of course l am; and you are
Marr, | suppo>e?"
'.Mal.y herself. Up with you,
Tom! Catch hold of this branch
there! Now shake hands-yoa saucy
fellow! l didn't say you might kiss
mel"
/ "Well, / couldn't help it; and
besides, amt we cousins?" said Mr..
Tom, swinging himself comfortably
into branch just above Mary.
i why, Tom, how you have
changed!" calculated the young lady
pushing. back the curls with one
hand, that she might better view tns
playmate of her childhood's days
Your hair never curled SO before
and what nice moustache you'y.
got! ] shouldn't have known you
, romi"
moi" said Tom, roguishly.
"Andl you've grown SO tall!.-I de
clare, Tom, you're splendid!"
81 could return the compliment, i
) 1 dared. But where are all the res
E If the family? The house below j
as empty as haunted hall"
l, 'sAli gone to welcome that horrid
8 poky old Professor La Place, wi,o ha
/, graciou,ly indicated his willingness
to pass few weeks with US. Tom,
/ do hate that professor.
III "Hata. him! What for?"
'.Oh, / don't know, I'm sure. HI
? is snuff-dried, conceited old wretch
and I'll wager q box Of gloves b
= wears spectacles!"
4 Nonsense, Mary! Why, he i
only twenty-six."
Ell 81 don't care; l know he is rheu
matte and wears spec,acles, for a
that. And, Tom-now il YOU
1 never, never, breathe q word Of thi
a -
e II won't, upon my honorF" sal
Tom.
o "Wel4, then. papa has actually go
e the idea into his dear old head that
4 would make nice wife for the pre
. fessor, ..nd-"
|. Mary turned away with crimso
1 indignation flashing in her cheeks.
Il at IN too had of you to jaurf