The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1894-02-24
"oUR TOM"
Amy Randolph in New York Ledger

had just gone majestically down be-
hind the cedar trees on old Mount Mil
ton, and Bessie Vane, washing up the
tea dishes in the little outer kitchen,
was vehemently haranguing her broth
or, who sat dejectedly III the window
seat, staring hard at the glow Of yellow
light which still hung over Mount Mil
ton.
If L were you, Tom,' said Bessie,
vigorously polishing up u tumbler, Il
would not be such All IDIOT"
"Oh, Bessie, don't chatter said Tom,
despairingly. You mean We'll, dear,
but you don't understand. Its no
use."
1T ISL asserted Bessie.
Il am not good enough for her.
You are!" protested Bessie, REDEEM
ing angrily.
She doesn't love me-"
More shame for her, then"
She deserves q richer, handsomer,
nobler husband than l could ever be
to her."
She d~oesn't!"
And SO I've pretty much resolved
to give the whole matter up"
Bessie was silent. In her estimation
Tom was the best, bonniest, most heroic
Of all the young men in the country
side; and il Hermione Douglas looked
down upon him, Hermione Douglas
must be bereft of Common sense-that
was all. /,
II did think" sadly added Tom,
that 1 had some shadow Of a chance
before that young foreign scoundrel
stepped hide Castle, or whatever his
COMPOUNDED name u.s."
"Di Casoli,' corrected Bessie.
well, Di something or other. A
man can't be expected to remember
these four syllabled things" growled
Tom. But he has upset things alto
gether. L hate foreigners! l always
did! And I think Italians are the worst
Of the lot!'
ooh, Tom," demonstrated Bessie,
aren't you a little unjust?"
UNJUST! People are unjust to me
aren't they?" retorted Tom, plucking
a solitary slender-stemmed carnation
whose modest petals were glimmering
in the faint half-light, in the window
recess. IF this De Cassell had only
minded his own business and stayed
In Milan or Nice or wherever the place
is, I might have had some show. As
for his being a count, 1 don't believe
he's q count any more than I'm a con-
Wet"
Bessie, was silent as she placed the
little piles Of cups, saucers and preserve
plates on the cupboard shelves in due
order.
las for my being jealous without
a cause" modify added Tom, didn't
George Daley himself hear her say that
she liked Italians better than any other
sort? What does that sound like, eh?"
well, he is handsome" reluctantly
added Bessie.
'Handsome!!' That's all you women
think off,! burst out Tom, as he flung
himself away.
And the next day he announced his
intention of going to Canada.
"Oh, Toni" shrieked his mother.
"Isn't this rather a sudden resolution,
my son?" mildly questioned his father.
"And leave us, Tom?" faltered Bes-
sic, with tears in her gentle blue eyes.
Home Is no place for Inc just now"
said Tom, ~recklessly. "Uncle Brian's
lumber mill will take the nonsense
out Of me, If anything will. Hard
work and no time to think-that is
Wu1C L ueeQ.
Bessie said nothing more. She drew
a long, shuddering breath, and resolved
secretly to take u decisive course of
action.
'Tom has the best right to Hermit
one" she thought. TON loved Hermit
one long before this Count Di Casoli
ever came 10 this country. And 1 think
Hermione liked him. Tom is not like
other people, who console themselves
easily. This thing will break Toms
heart. I shall interfere, even at the
risk of appearing unfeminine and med
dlesome."
Her resolution once formed, Bessie
lost no time in carrying it into effect.
That very afternoon she dressed her
self in the pretty blue India silk dress
that was so becoming, and tied on the
little hat that was wreathed around
with the blue forget-me-nots and loops
, Of azure ribbons, and set off for the old
Douglas house, where Count Di Casoli
was visiting Hermione's brothers.
She had met the count several times
before. He was, as she had told Tom,
strikingly handsome, and spoke as good
English as If he had been born ON
Massachusetts soil. He liked America,
he had told Bessie, and thought it ex-
tremely likely that he should remain
In this country for several years. Moldy
old italian castles, he had laughingly
observed, were not nearly so pleasant
as these sunny New England homes;
and as for society, he much preferred
the clearer, brighter atmosphere Of
American intellect.
$50 sensible as he is in everything"
thought Bessie, "and yet not to see how
unjustly he Is acting toward poor,
dear Tom! Oh, I can't understand It
at all!'
Just before she reached the pretty
grounds of the Douglas place Bessie
came upon the Count di Casoli, leisure
" seated ON an old fallen tree, intent
ly watching the pranks Of a group Of
grey squirrels. He sprang to his feet
in an instant.
Miss Vane!!' he cried, with brighten
ing eyes. How fortunate am to
meet you thus! May I have the happi-
ness Of escorting you up to the h0use?"
"No," answered Bessie, summoning
all her courage to the front. Il was
not going to visit Hermoine to-day. I
Il came especially to see you, Mr..
Di Casoli."
ITO see met" His eyes sparkled, his
cheek deepened in Its ruddy brown
color as he looked down into her avert
ed face. Bessie felt as II she could
have sunk through the very ground at
his feet.
Il wanted to speak to you, ''she added
hurrledly.