Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-06-12
TOMS FRIEND.

across the threshold; it was a more
 manly tread; and the young lady who,
 with her back to the door was knceling on his carpet, interrupted herself to glance at tho clock on his mantlepiece. Armed with q hammer and a box of tin-tacks, she had been hammering industriously till disturbed by the tap for admittancc.
 "Oh! Tom, dcar is that your Not but that you arc always wclcomer' she exclaimed, in slightly injured tones, "but this is being too punctl,nl You have come homo an hour and five minutes sooner than expected you. The consequences arc that am ill what Wiltshire Sally calls d rght-down caddle. l should hnvo finished this job long ago, and mended the table-cover, and put up the clcan curtains. only contrive to hit my fingers as often as tho nails and that flinders me, besides making them awfully sorc."
 Two more sturdy rap-raps followed this rather incoherent statement; the last corner was secured of the new red drugget that hid the faded, greasy Kiddcrminstcr. worn into holes by the service of previous 1odgcrs and then Madge Harland, glowing with work and excitement, sprang up.'
 "There sir, what do you think of my first days work? Isn't it an immense i'm proye--2"
 But the word was loft unfinished for the gentleman standing just inside the door, try ing to look serious, was not tho person she OK ra.tcd to sce He was not tho MT. Thomas Harland, who, not long since, had started in business for himself as an architect and sur vcyor, but total stranger.
 MadSe's first impulse was to unite her coarse apron and pull down her sleeves, wondering tn. while if her hair was very rough, and her fa.e worry dirty.
 It was n bonnie face, lighted with pair of brown eyes, that met your gaze merrily and frankly but just now checks and even brow were carnation with annoyance. Why hnd she so completely forgotten Toms parting speech?
 .It's just us possible" he said, "that my old friend Benson will call for some plans prom ised him. can't stop to look them up now, 50 ask him to call aguin or wait till come in.'
 She had often heard the name of Benson; often thought she should lko to know Toms faithful friend, and thank him for the kindly deeds he had done the young fellow during the l first years of his residence i'll London. Butshe had not desired to make NIT. Ben- sons acquaintance with g. sduster tucked into l the belt of her Norfolk Jersey and, all the chairs piled up on the centre table. ''Mrs Harland, I presume" said tho visitor ashe bowed.
 "Oh no r was the blushing, smiling reply, | J only his sister, como to stay with him a little wlale and try to make his room look more bright and home-like. am sorry he is not in."
 "So am I for Iwished- particularly wished l to see him."
 1 M,.dgc regretted to he,r this, for 1t con- strained her to repeat Toms message. 1T was to ask you If you would wait for l him.
 Gle expected me, then? He thought l would call about those alterations in our plans? Then perhaps I had better waltz l To this Nudge assented ns in duty bound, though inwardy debating where she could l place him to be out of the way. In Toms arm chair, on the middle of tho hearthrug or close to tho window, or
 But he was speaking again, and producing 1 q card-case:
 "Pcrhaps you will allow ne to introduce myself
 l ..Thcre is no necessity" said Madge, has, tily, for time was fieeting, and she did not want Tom to find her entertaining his guest in the midst of such n muddle. "We have so often heard my brother talk of you, that your nams at home Is quite q household word. will give you a scat and newspaper, and then, if you will excuse me, will go on with my work.
 l Her first attack on the pile of heavy chairs would have brought them clattering about her ours If the stcader, stronger arms of hel
 brothers friend had not been interposed. By
 this aid they were soon ranged around thu room Madgc plying her duster briskly, ant marvellng the while why everything sh' l touched was Smutty, {. There was a great deal to be done; thu
 dingy table cover to be so arranged tha
 Toms wrlting-case and q flow Well-bount
 books concealed sundry stains. as well IS tho ! hole Madge intended repairing. Then sundr,
 china dogs and shepherdesses, and phials O Alum Bay sands were swept of the mantel
 piece into a basket, and thrust into the bottom
 of q cupboard, to make way for q couple O quaintly-made photograp aph-stands, and som ], cheap but elegant Parian vases. This done
 Madgc with modest pride in her perform ances, unwrapped acouple of pairs of land , scapes painted by herself in water colours
 and intended to brighten tho dull gray tin of the walls.
 J eff you wouldn't mind putting up som nails should be very much obliged" sh } said coaxingly, for surely she need not stan on ceremony with Toms friend. "You ar 2 taller than I am, and daresay you do no } rap your fingers so cruelty could leav
 them till tomorrow, but you sec want t
 give my brother q. pleasant surprise Tines
 arc sketches of some of his favorite bits c
 scenery and I have. worked early and late t
 get them done."
 II shall be pleased to help you', she was as
 sured and Toms friend went to work ea
 amore, and as deftlF as if he had made pic
 ture-hanging the business of his life.
 of this is your work Miss Harland, he ob
 served, pausing, as he stood on Q hassock 0
 the top of Toms desk on the writing-table-
 'If this is entirely your own work, you mus
 have considerable talent. Your perspectiv lis not always correct, and your colouring crude; but those are errors of youth. No | should take some lessons while in town.'' Madge Harland's brown eyes sparkled wit
 de4igAts
 !. 3e you think, then, shall ever paint we
 ,I1R PRINTING