Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-31
The eMistaken MenhtygTommy
By ADDIE F. MITCHELL.
Copyright, 1907, by E. c. Parcslls.

Copyright. 1907, by E. c. Parcells. li
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 Mrs. Vaughn put down the letter she
 had been reading with troubled lit
 tie sigh. Her daughter Madge looked
 up from the step.
 What's the matter, mother? You
 look as if you had been reading your
 death warrant"
 T have-the death warrant of our
 summers peace. Aunt Mary North
 writes to ask if we won't keep her
 Tom while she and Mir. North go
 abroad for the summer"
 Who's her Tom?" asked Madge sue
 cinctly.
 "Her stepson. I've not seen Aunt
 Mary since she married MT. North, and
 know next to nothing of the North
 family. But Mrs. Wilson knew MT.
 North when they were living in Chi cago (that was in the time of the first
 Mrs. North, and she said there were two girls and boy. The boy was in kits then, and that was five years ago, 50 he must be about eight or nine years old. Aunt Mary says be has been ill with typhoid and that she re- members with hope for his health that the air at Pinecroft is healing"
 But we can't have him, mother. Think of having an eight-year-old boy on our hands the whole summer! We can never get enough cooked for him to eat, and he'll be drowned regularly once week and break all his arms and legs on the other days. And wanted quiet. heavenly rest this sum, mer before have to go back to that awful office. And it will be-well, the other kind of a time with Tommy around, that is certain"
 "But, Madge, can't refuse Aunt Mary. She was your fathers favorite aunt and always so good to him. No, Tommy will have to come, whether we want him or not.'
 Well, then, when?'
 ''The letter says next Tuesday un- less they hear from us that it is not convenient"
 Tell Aunt Mary I have the small. pox or that I died suddenly at the news anything. Please, motherr'
 T was wondering" said her mother, whether an eight-year-old boy would be afraid to sleep in room by him. self. Shall we put bed in the alcove off my room or fix up the south cham ber?"
 "All the boys I've ever seen," an swered Madge, "were afraid neither of the things under the earth nor of those upon it. Give him a room to himself, and then you'll be saved the everIast- ing chatter of fishing tackle and knives and toads and things in your room"
 Still grumbling, Madge helped her mother get ready the south chamber. As she worked she grew interested and even took from the walls of her own room some interesting prints which she thought would be suitable for a boys room.
 T can't see, though, why Aunt Mary didn't take the little wretch abroad with her-the sea air would do him good. Take out all the fancy things, mother, as you value them"
 ''If you only understood big boys as we'll as you seem to understand the small ones you would not be twenty four and still single" leased her moth CT. Me
 T do, mother," said Madge vehe- mently. "I understand them altogeth. CT too well, and that's the very reason l am still single.'
 There was no immediate reply to this, and Mrs. Vaughn trlned her at- tention to the room.
 Get all your old picture books and put them on that shelf, Madge, and I think I'll bring Jin's old hobbyhorse down from the attic. He may despise 1t, but you never can tell"
 T suppose could make him some kites" said Madge. There's all that 1 red and blue paper and miles of yellow i string. Perhaps if I make a big one he'll get fastened to it and fly off to Mars. And while I'm up in the attic I'm going to bring down some of Jim's old overalls."
 Arrangements were finally complet- ed, and Madge rather looked forward to the coming of the little boy, so that when Tuesday came she willingly drove to the station for him, though she protested that St. Lawrence and his gridiron were as nothing to the torment she was undergoing. She took along a bag of cookies, just to stop up his mouth so he can't ask ques- Iions," she explained.
 The train was late, and Madge got a little cross as she waited in the open rap with the hot sun beating down ipon her. Ths pony was restless. and 'he dared not leave him to go inside ,f the station. When the train finally steamed in. however, she gave the 'eins to a porter and went to find her Toung charge. She watched the few , Tho came out of the coaches nervous 7, with one eye on the dancing pony, ut as far as she could see no small 'oy was on the train. Fearing that he | lad not heard the name of the station alled. she spoke to the conductor, who old her that no such person was on be train. , Well" :" she thought, sI suppose I | hould be glad of it." and was going ( ack to the trap when 1t occurred to , er that he might some way have got ( ast her into the station and might be Taiting for her there. She looked in. 10 one was there but a very tall oung man. who was leaning back lther Imply against the seat. pale as