The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-04-17

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almost everybody. l like you, Tom;
but l hate Prof. La Place. And |
want you to promise, Tom, that
you'll be my friend, and not allow
him to tease me into walks, or rides,
or tete-a-tetes of any kind, will
your"
Would he? If 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 it; any man of taste
would.
81 PROMISE he said, and they
shook hands on it.
What a cozy 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 network of tiny boughs, and
read poetry to his pretty cousin in
the deep musical voice that maidens
love to listen to.
And Mary sat there watching the
jetty curls blowing 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
last ten years that had elapsed since
she had seen him, and she wonder
ed whether Tom was engaged to
any pretty girl somehow she hop
ed not. Now, why couldn't Tom
have been rich like that horrid Prof.
La Place, insteed of a poor medical
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,' she chartered, to
hide her confusion, "we've been up
here long enough. Help me down,
and 1 will show you the old sun
dial that we used to heap up with
buttercups when we were children" +"
A rumble of wheels; it was the
returning carriage, and Mary clung
to Toms arm.
"The awful professorl". she whis-
pered. "Now, Cousin Tom, be sure
you stand by me through every
thing"
"To my life's end," was the whis-
pered answer.
But there was no one in the car
riage, save Mr.. Thorne and Ruth.
1t drew up on the grand sweep
beside the two cousins.
where's the professor"
she was not at the depot" said
Ruth, "and-"
But Mr.. Thorne had sprung from
the carriage and clasped both the
strangers hands in his.
"La Place, is it possiblel Why
we have just been looking for you
at Milk Station"
81 am sorry 1 have inconven
fenced you, sir" was the reply; bu
l came by the way of Wharton, ant
walked over this morning."
"Neyer mind now, you are safely
here" exclaimed the old gentleman
"Ruth, my dear-Mary, let me in
troduce you to my cousin, Prof. Ii
Place."
Mary had dropped his arm, ant
stood dismayed.
"You told me that you wer,
Cousin Tom"
"That is my name, and 1 believ
I am distant cousin by relation
ship. Now, Mary" and the blacl
eyes sparkled, "don't be angry be
cause 1 don't take snuff or wea
spectacles. beg the other Cousil
Toms pardon, whoever he is; but
am very glad he isn't here. Mary
be just, and don't hate Cousin Tor
because his other name happens t
be Prof La Place."
But no doubt it was a very pei
picking thing to have two Cousi
Toms and SO, about six month
subsequently, Miss Mary contrive
to obviate this by allowing one {
them to assume nearer relation
ship; and, in spite of all her asse,
rations to the contrary, she is Mr.,
Prof. La Place.
For it is a solemn fact in thi
world, that when a girl says sh
never, never will do a thing, she
pretty sure to do it the first chanc
she gets; and Mary is no exceptio
to the general rule.
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