Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-11-21
'ANH AMMA, look, there's Tom Pat
 AVE terson. !" said Marion Haddon. N

Then Tom had gone away to college, and after year or two at an eastern university, had gone to New York city where he had been ever since employed in the office of noted architect; for Tom was an expert draughtsman and as such had secured fine position. AL ways a bright youth, he had settled down to his chosen business with spirit of energy that showed plainly that he was serious in the choice of profession; and with persistence that had sur prised even his closest friends, he had continued at the same work, in the same. office, until now four years had passed since he had taken a vacation of any sort and since he had revisited the scenes of his boyhood trials and pleasures.
 During these years, Tom had paid little attention to the girls. In his early. days the people of Martinsburg thought he was rather in love with Marion Had- don; but he had stayed away so long, and Marion had been so happy and lively in the company of various other of the village youths, that 1t was decided by the wise onesscf the town that there wasn't anything SiR it after all But when it was rhmored on this beautiful July day that Tom Patterson was in town, there were not few who, like Marion's mother, thought questioningly of her and wondered.
 Marion herself wondered, too. "Tom in town! wonder how he looks. And how will he think look? wonder if he" The pause was suggestive of some deep question, but Marion did not finish, even to herself, the thought that was in her mind She sat for some time thinking. She thought of all the good times she and Tom used to have to- gether How she hated to have him go away! And he said he was sorry, too. Did he mean 1t? She wondered again. Her earliest memory Of him recurred to her mind, such provoking recollection that was, and always so vivid one Try as she would. she could never quite forget 1t. y She was very little girl then, and unusually bashfu1 at that. A crowd of little people were playing in Tom's yard one hot afternoon in summer The game was King William Most of those in the game were older than Marion and evidently thought it would be fun to play little trick on her. Tom was inl the center. Around him the others circled, singing as they went: "King William was King James son, Upon royal race he run; < He wore star upon hisve
 That points the way to the governors
 breast"
 Round and round the little company clrcled, still singing, all alive to the fun of the occasion except Marion: she alone, shy and uneasy.
 "Go to the east, go to the west,
 Go choose the one that you love best: If she's not here to take your part, Go choose another with all your heart" < As these words were sung, Tom, as If by hint from one of the older girls, pointed to Marion, who slowly, shrink ingly, took her place in the center at his side. Persistently the song went on to it's inevitable end:
 Down on this carpet you must kneel As sure as the grass grows in the field. { So kiss your bride. and kiss her sweet, And now you may rise upon your feet"
 When the last words were sung by the gleeful little crowd, Marion was seized by Tom and kissed-kissed there before them all! This was more than she could stand, and with tears of wounded pride filling her eyes, making her stumble as she went, she hurried home. That was an insignificant incident and evidently quite forgotten by all concerned, but in the mind of Marion it remained and rankled
 So Tom was home. Did she care? She wondered if she did, and was just going to admit that she believed she did "a little,--when the gate opened and up the long path, straight to where she swung in the big hammock under the trees, walked the very one of whom she was thinking Tom Patterson. And in . that moment she admitted to. herself that she cared--a great deal.
 She rose and smiling a welcome, came to meet him. Why, Tom, how you've grown. Yop hardly look the same to me-
 But am the same to you, Marion, if you would only believe it."
 Toms glance said more than his words. Marion blushed and seated her. self in the hammock, while Tom flung himself with careless grace on the grass
 
 at her feet. . >sS.s
 Why should l. believe 1t, Tom! You've been saying pleasant nothings to me ever since was little girl. Why should believe you now any more than in those other days?" And Marion began to swing lightly to and fro, look. ing at Tom with half-mocking smile, but thinking at the same time what a fine fellow he was andfhow glad she felt that he had come back, if it was but for visit.
 But Tom was speaking, and when she recovered her thought she discovered with thrill, that he was answering he1 mocking question with serious delibera. tion The reason, Marion, why you should believe me now, is that this time I mean it. No, that's hardly what mean. I've always meant it, but never dared say anything very serious now that have shown that can earn enough to make a home, I have come to ask the only girl in the world if she will