Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1899-01-07

Tom,' she calculated, don't stare off
toward the cabbage-beds. Look
straight up here. You may come
up. if you please; there's plenty Of
room for BOTH. You are cousin
Tom. aren't your" she continued, as
a sudden misgiying crossed her
mind.
aOt course am, and you are
Mary, I SUPPOSED"
MARY herself. Upwi,h you, Tom.
Catch hold Of this branch-there
Now shake hands. You saucy fell
low, I didn't say you might kiss
me
"Well, / couldn't help it, and be-
sides, aren't we cousins7" said Mr..
Tom, swinging himself comfortably
into a branch just above Mary.
"Why, Tom, how you have
changed !" calculated the young
lady, pushing back the curls with
one hand, that she might better view
the playmate of her childhood's
days. "Your hair never cnrled SO
before; and what nice moustache
you've gotl / shouldn't have known
| you, Tom"
"Nol" said Tom, roguishly.
"AHd you've grown so tall /
declare Tom. you're splendid I"
The gentleman laughed.
81 could return the compliment.
If dared. But where are all the
rest of my relations? The house
below is as empty as ahaunted hall. !"
"All gone to welcome that horrid,
poky old Professor La Place, who
has graciously indicated his willing
ness to pass q few weeks with us.
Tom, do hate that professor
"Hate him What for ?"
sob, ] don't know, m surcl He
is snuff-dried concerted old wretch,
and I'll wager box of gloves, be
wears spectacles."
"Nonsense, Mary; why, he is only
twenty-six.r
III don't care; I know he is rheu-
matte, and wears spectacles, for all
that. Aud, Tom-now, if you'll
never, never breathe word Of
this"
II won't, upon my honor" -said
Tom.
"Well, then, papa has actually got
the idea into his dear old head that
/ should make a nice wife for the
professor, and-and-" Mary turned
awaw with crimson indignation fash
ing 10 her cheeks. ait is too bad of
you to laugh, Toni I never, never
will marry that man."
al wouldn't if were you," con-
soled Tom. s'But cousin Mary, wait
and see the man, before you decide.
He may be quite decent fellow"
"No," said Mary, shaking her head
and biting her cherry lips firmly; 81
hate him beforehand"
1What spiteful little pussy you
arei' said her companion, laughing.
"No, Tom, I'm not" and the blue
eyes became misty. II love papa
and Ruth dearly, and / love almost
everybody. / like you, Tom, but l
hate Professor La Place. And I
want you to promise, Tom. that
you'll stand my friend, and not
allow him to tease me into walks, or
rides, or teie-a- tetes OF any kind
win your"
Would he? If she had asked him
to precipitate himself out of the
pear tree upon the steps below, with
those blue eyes fixed on his, he'd
have done it; any man of taste
would.
"I PROMISE" he said, and they
shook hands on it.
What a coy place for chat that
guarded old tree was! And when
they had talked over everything
they could think of, it was the most
natural thing in the world that Tom
should recover the book which had
slipped down into the network of
tiny boughs, and read poetry to his
pretty cousin, in the deep, musical
voice that maidens love to listen to;
| and Mary sat there watching the
jetty curls blowing to and fro on
his broad, white brow, and the long
black lashes almos. touched his olive
/ cheek, and she thought how very,
very handsome cousin Tom was,
and how much he had changed in
| the ten years that had elapsed since
she had seen him last, and she won
dered whether Tom wss engaged te
any pretty girl; somehow she hoped
mott
Now, why couldn't Tom havs
been rich. like that horrid Professor
! La Place, instead al poor medical