The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-02-11

But Tom was not "over it' by the
next morning-nor by the end of the
first week.
That was hard week for the doc
tor.
"Yon're making fool of yourself,
Bronson," he said, almost tearfully,
several times day, "What will
your mother say, and all the rest Of
them? You don't really mean to 60
any further with it2 Come now. be
sensible. You want a girl that's your
equal in birth and fortune when you
do marry not poor and uneduca.
ted girl you'd be ashamed of, Don't
Bronson"
Ashamed of!' Tom would re-
tort hotly. "You don't know her,
Wilson. Ashamed of her? Never |
I'm going to have her if it's possi-
BILE thing.
And he would stride off, generally
in the direction of the kitchen.
The climax came on the morning
of the eighth day. The doctor had
taken walk, and was changing his
muddy boots in his room, when Tom
bounded in, breathless, and excited
ly red in the face.
''She's mine!' he shouted, leapiug
across the room. "She's mine Do
you hear ?''
the doctor, in spirit half of irony
and half of real alarm. sprinkled a
handful of water from the pitcher on
the young mans head.
"We're engaged !" Tom went on
pantingly. Not quite, you know
she says she's only known me week,
and she won't call it an engagement;
but she'll think about it and she'll
write to me, and-oh, it's as good as
settledn ~
us it," said the doctor grimly. "I
guess not-not till I've made an eff
fort to undue it. You're young and
hot-headed, Bronson"-the doctor
was two months the senior-"and
am going to prevent your making
the worst mistake a fellow of your
family and fortune could make. I'm
going to let your people know what
you're doing"
And five minutes later he was re.
arrayed in his overcoat and muddy
boots, and was going down stairs
followed by Tom, pouring forth a
TRADE of mingled remonstrance and
defiance.
The sitting room door stood open.
"Here she is," said Tom, forget
ting everything but his happiness,
and flying in to join Aunt Sally's
charming hired girl on the sofa.
Aunt Sally sat in the largest rock
er, her good-natured face was glow
ing with pleasure. and she burst out
into a serenely delighted speech at
the sight of Tom.
Wilson paused in the doorway to
hear her, with a stern frown which
gradually faded.
"Wal, Susy's been tellin' me all
about it," taking off her glasses in
her enshusiasm, "an' don't know
jest when I've so glad o. anything.
/ told Susy, fust night she come,
did hope you'd take fancy to each
other. pve allus been afraid Susy'd
haye to marry to suit her pa. and not
her own self. Her pas allus been sot
on her marryin' somebody with
money. He says, out and. the match
would be unequal If she didn't. Susy
havn' so much in her own right and
he bein' so rich, he want goin' to
have her takin' up with no poor
young man if he knew it. / do con-
slider that money makes folks terri
BILE proud and overbearin', though
YOUR pas well.meanin' man
enough, Susy, and own cousin to
'Rastus."
The doctor was staring broadly:
Tom was open mouthed.
"Own cousin !" he gasped. "Why
--why-and Susy visiting you? Why
I thought, Aunt Sally"
The hired girl began to laugh.
81 knew you thought so," she
cried, gaily "and it was so funny L
couldn't help letting it 60 that way,
to see what you'd do. 1t was just
like ridiculous man to think, just
because / had on Aunt Sally's apron
and was helping her. that l was the
girl Why, had on my bracelets
and all my rings that very evening,
and gold pin in my hair, and you
never noticed. Oh. dear, it's been
too much fun all along. And / didn't
do it for that purpose, you know.
like girls in stories but I've found
out that you like me for myself, any
how"
The doctor looked wilted, and
Tom with one arm around Susy's
waist, turned to look at him, with a
calm smile.
"I should have married her any,