Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-04-27

MY dear mother" he said in great
amusement, 81 was not making
love to Pussy. Nothing was fur.
ther from my thoughts-or hers
l assure YOU"
every absured of you to do 70.
The sooner such a silly habit is
forgotten the BETTER" remarked
his mother, with more acidity than
the matter seemed to be worth.
Well, although Mrs. Langton
did not refer to the child again,
and the subject was not men toned
any more between them, she had
been put on her guard, and Tom
had no more chances Of speaking
alone to his cousin during bis not
very long visit home. He had not
the smallest notion how it was
managed, but the fact remains
nevertheless that she seemed to
have been positively spirited away.
He spoke to his father about it
once.
81 am glad to hear it," said Mrs.
LangtOn cOldly. "But wish you
would oblige me in one thing, Tom
1t cannot be necessary to call
Mary by the ridiculous name of
Pussy. 1t is most unsuitable and
is very misleading"
81 always have called her Pu' sy,'
said Tom Obstinately-TOm was
very like his mother in some
things.
"Don't You think. sir,' he said,
one afternoon, when they we're
toddling slowly around the stables
together, "don't you think that
little Pussy might be let to have a
better time on the whole than she
does!"
eyes, | do" answered the old
squire, promptly, shut when 1
limited as much, your mother and
the girls really made my life such
a burden to me, that | was glad to
drop the subject entirely"
"YOur life ought not to be made
a burden" said Tom Indignantly,
"not over anything. think that
the little girl is shametully treated
all around. Why doesn't she come
in to dinner as the other girls do?
Why doesn't she have pretty
frocks and things, as the others do'
1t is not right to have such a diff
ference made between girls in the
same house. wouldn't allow it, If
l were you, sir"
"DIy dear lad" said the squire,
smiling, yet with a certain sadness
"when you have been married as
many years as | have you won't
talk about allowing this or not
allowing the other. No, no, my
boy; you will do just what your
wife DEGREES and be very thankful
If she gives you a good and peacea-
BILE time on the whole"
81 don't quite think So" said
Tom, with conviction in his tones.
"No; 1 didn't once" returned the
squire quizzically. "Ah, take my
advice, my dear lad, and never
interfere IN women's affairs any
more than you can help. 1t doesn't
pay Besides, in this case, asked
the little girl herself about it, and
she told me she was perfectly
happy and begged me to say moth
ing on her account. All girls are
are not cracked on going to parties,
you know he added sagely.
Tom did not attempt to argue
the question further. He jerked
his head back several times and
said nothing. AS he remarked to
himself, it was no use arguing any
longer with such an old fool. He
was fond of his father in a way.
but the dominant figure in the
establishment was the squire'a
wife.
And at the expiration of his
leave he went back to his regiment
without having spoken alone with
Pussy.
Many months went by ere be
saw her again. His long leave he
spent that year in AIgiers, going
there on a somewhat wild goose
expedition, along with several
other men of his regiment, in
search of certain curios with a
fortune In them. Their especial
quest was black amber-that most
rare of treasures, but though they
had much definite information,
said to be OF a most exclusive
character, and spent a good deal
of time and also a good deal Of
money, they did not light upon
any black amber among the hun.
dreds of mo uthpieces brought forth
for their inspection In the various
bazaars. And before he was lucky
enough to get any more leave a
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