The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-01-29


was quite content to let Tom have his
own way. Only now and then she
would catch herself wondering
whether Alice Brown, the niece of a
neighbor and old school friend of hers,
would not make Tom more suitable
wife. and herself a more desirable
daughter-in-law.
That evening Tom Wheeler, coming
up from the meadow, caught distant
view of Lottie and. Alice in q lane
leading to private road which ran as
boundary line between his farm and
that Of Judge Redmond. Alice was
gathering flowers in the hedge, while
Lottie swung on the gate with c.,
ess grace peculiar to her, in converse
tion with a nice looking young man,
whose whole appearance bespoke him
from the city. A momentary jealous
pang shot through Toms heat. He
remembered that in the last week or
two Judge Redmond's nephew, Mr..
Archie Redmond, had several times
called to see Lottie. and only last Sun
day had walked home with her from
church across the meadows. Now,
walking slowly. he watched the two
until the gentleman, lifting his hat,
turned away, and Alice and Lottie
came up the lane toward the house.
Then Tom hastened his steps and
overlook them.
"Where have you been ?"he inquired.
"To Judge Redmond's, to see Miss
Marion Redmond" answered Lottie,
who was looking bright and smiling.
II thought you did not like Miss
Marion Redmond" he returned, a little
coldly.
"Neither do 1. She's 50 absurdly
digniied and self-important But
that's no reason why we should not
visit, being near neighbors and old
schoolmates.
"I thought you paid the last visit, a
few days ago." said Tom.
"Yes," she answered, coloring, "but
this was quite an informal call. I
wanted an embroidery pattern"
"And Mr.. Archie walked home with
YOU"
"As far as the gate. AS he had to
60 to the post Office, we would not let
him come any farther"
Then she added, looking down and
carefully imprinting each footstep in
the moist sand:
II shall see enough of him tomorrow,
I suppose, at the picnic"
$50 you are going to the picnic, after
all ?" said Tom, quickly.
She looked up into his face with a
charming little smile.
"Now, Tom, you have no right to
scold. If Mr. Redmond had offered to
take me through the hot sun and dusty
road in buggy, would have refused
He knew l hal refused your escort
under those circumstances, so he pro.
posed that we should walk-he and ]
and Katie Redmond-through Marsden
woods. It's private way, you know
and promised. They Say it's lovely
walk, and, being direct path, not toe
long"
Tom made no answer. Lottie affect
ed not to perceive his mooliness, til
near the house he l>'t them and turned
off to the stables, to see that the me1
were properly attending to the "stock.
He did not stay long there. lie fell
tired and depressed, and entering the
house, laid himself down upon thu
comfortable sofa in the parlor.
The windows were open, and coo
breeze. laden with the perfume of tht
multilora roses on the porch, cam,
softly and soothingly in.
Presently he heard the girls coming
lightly down stairs, and then Lottie
voice on the porch.
"Where's Tom? Not come in yet,
suppose. Well, we will sit here til
suppeI's ready"
"Lottie," said Alice. as the tw'
seated themselves on the bench insid
the screen of roses, II suspect that Ton
isn't pleased, and really 1 think yol
are treating him badly"
GLOW SOP
you are not kind to him. Yo,
know he loves you, and until within
few days 1 felt sure that you love,
him"
"Oh, well, we like each other wei
enough. What have l done to brin
upon myself one of your solemn
lectures?"
"lf you love Tom, why do you en-
courage Mr.. Redmond? ?"
"Why. Allie, I'm not married t
Tom yet, and I don't know that l eve
shall be. And, my dear, you ought t
know a secret-it's always goo
thing to have two strings to your bow
1t gives you choice, you know; or
one should fail, you have the other t
depend upon"
'Lottie, you're not in earnest?"
"lndeed | am. 1 like Tom. He
handsomer than Archie Redmond, an
richer, too, with this fine farm all h
own, and the money his father lei
him; but some people would say ths
Mr.. Redmond was better mate
altogether"
, "Why. Lottie, If you think in thi
way, you cannot really care for Ton