Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-04

money SOS could go into partners with him
| some o these days"
| That was prudent"
1T was that and I've saved lots! I've got
| S2l7 dollars in bank noww
"A nice little sum to begin life with,
Tommy, said the sympathetic sister.
I'm the Bolton Centre Savings Bank; . real
safe bankr said Tommy. looking up anxiously
into her face then he paused.
Sister Aoysia did not understand the anxiety
or the pause, SO she could say nothing. Pres
entity Tommy plucked up courage to say:
| And there Is my back pay ! must mount to
almost rs much more. reckon as amt got
much less than $500 to start on. Now, do you
think that is enough to get married on and set
up housekeeping on. Miss Alice? For should
nsys to set up housekeeping might 60 in
any LADY to live long o ma and all them chill
dren. 1t amt good for two families to live to-
getner that away, is it Miss Alice?'
IT depends upon circumstances, Tommy.
happiest Of households"
I'm feared 1t wouldn't be SO for u.s." said
| Tommy.
You should leave it to your parents and the
young lady to decide" said Sister Aloysia, who
now began to see that Tommy's late mental
exercises had been upon the subject OF matri-
mony, though she was tar enough from sus-
pecting the whole truth.
it?' D'' -1A''
Yes, Tommy: but who is the young lady?''
| Tommy opened his blue eyes wide and stared
Tor few seconds, then inquired:
What did you say. Miss Alice?''
II asked you who is the young lady"
Tommy stared more intensely than before
and then said slowly and sorrowfully:
Il thought did not hear you right at first.
is"
But I would like to know, Tommy; take
that much interest in you," said the sister
Well, do declare. do! Why it amt any
young lady at all, Miss Alice! It's YOU; you
yourself! The idea of my Offering myself to
any young lady or any other lady in this world
except you. yourself, after all you've done for
me. No, I'm not that sort of an uugrateful
fellow, Miss Alice! nm an honest man if am
| poor one! And wish l was a rich man and
a banker, or general or politician or some
thing great for your sake; but if you will take
the Lord Almighty knows will 1 will work
| my fingers to the bone for you. poor Tommy
WAS not original in his forms of axpression)
| would do anything for you before you should
want In this world; the Lord knows I would!
Sister Aioysia understood now all the conflict
that had disturbed the boys soul and q certain
| sense OF humor overcame her for the moment
30 that she turned her mirthful face aside, but
not before Tommy's watchful eyes detected the
| suppressed laughter, which he misinterpreted
when his own face frightened up with the
night OF heroic self-devotion and he murmured
| to himself:
| she Is so glad! have made her 40 happy.
1 am glad. too. that did it And I'll be good
TO her and as loving as if she was the prettiest
| girl In Bolton Centre! That will!'
Now Sister Aloysia understood the poor
childlike soldier boy perfectly understood ali
that had troubled his simple, grateful heart for
tne last few weeks She saw that he had en-
tlrely Inexperienced her position and knew
nothing of the order to which she belonged;
that he mistook her to be poor, lonely friend
less old maid and professional nurse who was
WORKING for her living and would gladly get
| married II she could Tommy had a theory
that all single women wanted to be married
ana consequently Miss Alice Louisa wanted to
be married. She had been very good to him
and he owed her his gratitude. How could he
pay ms debt better than by giving her himself
and his life's service? He could not WOO in
| very elegant language or talk to her about the
worship OF his whole soul and the devotion of his
| life. but he meant all that and q great deal
more when he kept on repeating that he would
40 his level best and work his fingers to the
bone before she should want for anything in
| this world, that he would!'
Sister Aloysia laughed at him no longer,
| neither did she show the scorn and anger that
woman with more vanity and less charity
| might have felt and expressed. She turned to
MIN with grave and sweet smile. thanked him
| Tor the offer he had made her and explained
the vows that bound her to her Divine Master
Tor the service OF His suffering children.
Tommy gazed and listened with amazement.
4 ~AAA sAiAo Who NC" W ulIl. 1QdG any single
woman should voluntarily bind herself by a
vow never to marry and to spend all her life in
! nursing the sick and teaching the poor was to
him an awful thing. But his utterances were
never equal to his thoughts or feelings. They
were commonplace, not to say slangy. is
| that-soy was ell he found to say to the Ito
| him. amazing announcement Of Miss Alice"
But, Tommy, my child. 1 am happy in this
life. said the good sister.
Are you though, Miss Alice?" INQUIRED the
| boy, iucredulously.
Indeed am. Did you not see how happy
was when was nursing and taking care of
you?"
Was you for true, Miss Alice?' he repeated.
Quite happy, Tommy"
| 'Well, then" he said, hesitatingly, IF you
was so happy nursing and taking care of me,
why, you might be happy that way all the DAYS
| OF your life you know. That is if you can get
shet OF them vows of yourn. If so be you
would like to change your mind if it was to be
today or tomorrow, or next year. or any time
Miss Alice, won't go back on my Offer You
know. No! the Lord knows won'tr' declared
Tommy.
Sister Aloysia explained to him that she could
not get shet OF them vows without sin, nor
did she wish to do so.
Alas for womans vanity, if the sweet sister
had any, for Tommy heaved 1.-THE sigh of a
great deliverance." and she saw on his face the
look OF infinite relief Then. as if conscience
stricken by his own feelings of freedom from
the obligation Of marrying, he said:
rs there anything in this world l can do to
toto"
80 please me, Tommy
"To pay you, Miss Alice! Oh, moi I don't
mean that! Nothing on this earth that could
do would pay one-half for all you have done for
me! didn't mean pay! l mean--I-don't
know what l meann And the brave little
soldier boy who got himself shot nearly to
death in rescuing the colors OF his regiment
was almost ready to cry because he could not
utter the gratitude that was swelling his heart
to bursting.
Il know what you mean. child. And, Tommy,
II you wish to do something for me, you will
take home some books l shall give you and
read them. Aud you will write to 1ne some
times and let me know what you are doing, and
let me write to YOU"
''Oh, won't l, though! I'd be proud and
happy to do it. l won't only take the books
home long o me, Miss Alice, but I'll take 'em
In my knapsack when / 60 back to the repi-
ment. will. And won't only read your books,
but will learn every ore Of 'em by heart
will. s. help mer' he cried, with tears SPRING
ing to his eyes.
The next day Tommy started for his north
ern home. We have never heard Of him since
And Sister Aioysia?
Oh, saint in heaven these many years.
Embarrassing.