Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-10-16

Tommy's strength. She hoped this
was rot taking a liberty, but she had
never seen a boy who charmed her
! quite as much-perhap because he re-
minded her OF a little brother who had
passed away in his seventh year.
What could Brother Jim do? He
wrote a qualified acceptance of this
letter of invitation. She must prompt
ly return Tom when she tired of him.
She mustn't tolerate him II he proved
to be rude or ~unmanageable. And he
would ask II as "A particular favor If
she would at once communicate to him
any infraction Of conduct of which
Tom might be guilty. Being so very
much the youngest of the family" he
wrote. in conclusion. II fear that we
fail to realize how thoroughly he i5
spoiled. No doubt o will find this
out very soon. The moment you do,
kindly return him To Mr.. Barclay, to be
left until called for"
Miss Laura Garman briefly acknowl-
edged Brother Jim's letters. promising
10 faithfully abide by all its conditions
md thanking Jim for acccding to her
request.
So Brother Tom was ensconced IN
the Garman household. and. as his
many letters set forth. was having the
time of his life. Al least half of each
epistle was given up to this theme,
while the other half was devoted to the
charms of Miss Laura.
She's just the one girl for YOU.
jim" he wrote in one of his daily
screcds, for Tom had become quite a
letter writer. 1t may have been
brought about by his weakened health
and possibly took the place of some
more bOylsh occupation, but II was
true that he had Brother Jim hustlin.
in the endeavor to keep up with his
busy correspondent. You'd make n
stunin couple. Don't think line fool
in. Laura likes me so well thai line
pretty sure She would like YOU too. On
my account of cOrSc. Cant o come
down fer a day or two'"
And Brother jim, greatly amused,
would thank Brother Tom for his kind
wishes for his matrimonial welfare,
and assure him that it would be quite
impossible for him to get away just
at present.
And then one day the letter with the
familiar handwriting was "A little bulk
Ter han usual. When he opened The
envelope a photograph dropped out.
1t was a portrait of an unusually
pretty girl. OF course. this must be
Laura Gaiman. Brother jim looked
at the portrait long and earnestly.
Ilrs.tta, Tam tuaHnft 90, fnp sV.s a.
when he praised this gentle-faced giri.
Brother Jim placed the photograph OF.
The desk where he could use it as "a con
hrmati0n of Brother Toms praises,
and then picked up the letter.
"I've been fishing for bullheads in
the pool Brother Tom began, and
cot two-and one cot me. II didn't
hurt mulch and Laura tied II up with
her handkerchief. idc know about
bullhcads horns next time. / am send
ing you Laura's picthurr. She don't
know it.. | begged it from her yester-
day. ! want you to get IT. framed up
nice II charge 1t to pa. Then when
she says, What did You do with my
picthoOr. Tommy lie say line getin'
Il framed. ant you come" up and see
a fellow, Brother jim? n, b. IL don't
fatcr her
But Brother Jim seemed in no hurry
to hav" the framing contract carried
out. The picture fingered on his desk
just where he could catch sight OF 1t
whenever he chose to look up.
Dear Brother Tom" he wrote
In reply, Il am sorry the bullhcad
horned you. No doubt IL you were a
bullhcad you would have done the
same. | remember having some ex
perience with bullhcads myself. bur
there was nc charming young wOman's
handkerchief to bind my Wounds. BY
the way. that portrait you sent To
have framed reflects credit on your
taste. Miss Laura deserves all your
, praise. She Is a beautiful girl-and !
am sure she is as good as she Is beau
tiful."
Two days later Brother Toms re-
ply was received. II was unusually
brief, but to the point.
. Brother jim" he wrote. Il showed
y0ur letter to Miss Laura. My. how
r she blushed. Say. cant o come uT
next week. There's going to be- a biz
church picnic. Come sure"
r Brother jim scOwled darkly. Then
he c%huckled. What a boy! The idea
OF his showing the letter. What must
the girl think OF the liberty he took
Stu. there wasn't anything really
, rude about IT,. Blu he must be more
} careful when he wrote hereafter.
= Then he sent Tom "A short note, In