The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-03-21
"No?" said Tom, roguishly

"And you've grown so tall de
clare, Tom, you're Splendid
II could return the compliment, if |
dared. But where are all the rest OF
the family Thehouse belowis as emp
ty as hauut cd hall.
'fAll gone to welcome that horrid, /
poky old Prof. La Place, who has gra
ciously indicated his willingness to
pass a few weeks with us. Tom, do
hate that professor"
Hate him. What for?'
ooh, don't know, I'm sure. He is
a snuff-dried, conceited old wretch,
and I'll wager box of gloves he wears
spectacles!"
Nonsense, Mary! Why he is only
twenty-six"
Il don't care; | know he is rheumat-
ic and wears spectacles, for all that.
And, Tom-now if you'll never, never
breathe a word OF this"
II won't upon my word and hon
orr" said Tom.
'Well, then, papa has actually got
the idea into his dear old head that |
would make a nice wife for the pro-
lessor, and"
Mary turned away with crimson in
dignation flashing III her cheeks.
at is too bad of you to laugh,
Tom. l never, never will marry that
mani"
Il wouldn't if were YOU" consoIed
Tom. But, Mary, wait and see the
man before you decide. He may be
quite a decent fellow"
mol" said Mary, shaking her head
and biting her cherry lips firmly. 81
hate him beforehand"
"What spiteful little puss you
arem said her companion, laughing.
NO, Tom, I'm not" And the blue
eyes became misty Il love papa and
Ruth dearly, and love almost every
body. | like you, Tom; but | hate
promise, Tom, that you'll be my
friend, and not allow him to tease me
into walks, or rides, or tete-atetes OF
any kind. VIII you?"
Would he? Ii 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
1t; any man OF taste would.
II promise" he said, and they
shook hands on it.
What a coy place for chat that
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, mu-
steal voice that maidens love to listen
to.
And Mary sat there watching the
lefty curls blowing to and fro on his
broad, white brow, and lifelong, black
laShes almost tOuChinghiS olive cheeks;
and she thought how very, very hand
some 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; somehow
she hoped not. Now, why couldn't
Tom have been rich, like that hOrrid
Prof. La Place, instead of apOor med
zeal student, and
And when the large, black eyes were
suddenly lifted to hers, Mary felt as
though he had read every thought
OF her mind, and blushed scarlet.
Come, Tom, shechattered, 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 children"
Arumble OF wheels; it was the re-
turning carriage, and Mary chung to
Tom arm.
The awful professor" she whis-
pered. '.Now, Cousin Tom, be sure
you stand by me through everything"
ITO my LIES endw was the whis-
pered answer.
But there was no one in the carriage
save Mr.. Thorne and Ruth.
1t drewup 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 stran-
gers hands in his.
La Place, is it possible Why, we
have Just been looking for you at Mill
Station"
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 intro
duce you to your cousin, Prof. La
/ place."
Mary had dropped his arm, and
stood dismayed.
/ You told me that you were Cousin
! Tom"
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. |
I 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 1t was a very perplex-
ing thing to have two Cousin Toms:
and so. about SIX months subsequent-
ly, Miss Mary contxived to obviate
. that Inconvenience by allowing one OF
them to assume a nearer relationship:
and, in spiteof all her asseverations to
the contrary, she is Mrs. Prof. La
Place.
For it's a solemn fact in this world.
that whenever a girl says she never.
never Will doa thing, she Is pretty sure
to do 1t the first chance she gets; and
Mary is no exception to the general
rule.
Restoring the Tower of London.
From the London TimesI