Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-05-06


uohe mad he never lived in Bombay, but al
ways stopped in New York. They were alone
now the minister and the old woman had
got out at Derby.
wen, We are of once more ; how far are
you gong said Walter, as the stage went
Not quite as far as LitchheId. You saw
that your friends reside at Pomperany. How
glad they will be to see you :"
Very probable, unless they have forgot.
ten me, which is likely, for suppose / hare
altered some in seven years"
" Not particle, I-''
The pretty maid forgot what she was going
to say, but at last remembered, and con-
tinued-
should suppose You had not altered, for
you said you were seventeen when you were
last at your home, and now you are only
twenty-three. You must have boea grown
nearly as large as you are now.''
Perhaps so; but still, am somewhat
tanned by exposure in an East India cli-
"Yet I think you will be recognised by
everybody in the little village. Do you know
aa.young lady in POmperany Of the name Of
"Whst, little Mary my little wife, as
L used to call her. Why, Lord love you, do
you know her? Bless her heart. Ny trunk
is filed with knick- knacks for her especial
use. Do know her! Why, 1 have thought
OF her ever since L went away Young lady
Why, she lie a little bit Of q girl; she is only
ten years old. No; she must be older than
that now. suppose shaIl find her grown
considerably BY the way, are you not cold?
It's getting chilly"
ceal her face, which had called forth Walters
exclamation.
Yes, it is getting colder; it is nearly
dark" and so it was Walter had a boat
cloak, and after very little trouble he was
permitted TO wrap il around her lovely form,
and some how or other his arm went with il
and in the confusion he was very close to her,
and his arm was around her waist, outside
the cloak, Though; then he had to put his
face down to hear what she said, and some
how those long ringlets of soft, silky hair,
were playing across his cheek. Human ma
ture could not and would not stand il abv
longer and Walter, the modest Walter, drew
bis arm closer than ever, and pressed upon
the warm, rosy lips Of his beautiful fellow
traveller glowing, burning, regular East
India, Bombay kiss, and then blushed him
self at the mischief he had done, and waited
tor the stage TO upset, or something else to
happen; but no, she had not made any re
siStance; on the contrary, be felt very dis
tinctly that she had returned the kiss the
very first kiss, too, he had ever pressed upon
a woman's lips since he gave a parting XII.
sworn he heard her saying something (about
the very moment he had given her that first
long kiss of youth and lCve) that sounded
like " Dear, dear Walter" He tried the ex-
pertinent again, and before the stage had
fairly reached the village, he had kissed and
re-kissed her, and she had paid them back
kiss for kiss al least hundred times
The stage was now entering the village.
In a few moments he would be at Mary Full
ler's house. He thought of her and be felt
ashamed and downright guilty. What would
Mary, his little wife" that was To De, saw il
she knew he bad been acting 60 As these
things passed rapidly through his mind, he
began to study how to get out Of the affair
quietly and deeently II
- You go On in the stage, 1 suppose, to the
next town, or perhaps still farther -
"Oh, NO. not me .
What could she mean But he had no
time to indulge in conjecture the stage drove
up slap in front Of Parson Fuller's door, and
there was the venerable Parson and his good
lady in the doorway; he with lamp in his
hand, all ready to receive-Walter, az he
Where will you stop in the village? L
will come and see you -
4" L shall stop where you stop. / won't
leave you. Here you have been kissing me
this last half hour, and now you want TO run
away and leave me. L am determined 70 ex-
in the doorway yonder More than that,
your darling little wife that is to be, as
you called her, shall know all about Il"
What a situation for a modest, moral man
Ii was awful. To be laughed at-exposed
and who was she +! Could it be possible? He
had heard of such characters 1t must be;
but she was very pretty; and he II be the
means Of bringing such a creature into the
very house of the good and pious old clergy
man and his sweet old pet and playmste-his
Mary Fuller. lie saw it all. 1t was judg
nent sent upon him. What business had he
10 be kissing strange girl if she was pretty
His uncle and aunt had come clear down the
tage door, which the driver had opened.
" alter felt that he was doomed; but be had
% get out.
SDOn't, for Gods sake expose me, young
woman"
II will-get out.'
"Oh 90 thought Walter, "it's all over with
ne :" and now he shakes hands with the
clergyman, and tiings his arms around the
lunt
Mary" exclaims the mother, "our Mary
n the stage, as L live! SO, SO you would
,ome up with your cousin, eh !'
Yes, mother; and what do you think the
mpuGent East Indian had been doing' Ho
has kissed me at least hundred times, and
hat isn't all he tried to persuade me 10
Keep on in the stage and not get out at
ali %
All, no wonder be kissed you he hasn't
,een you for some years. How glad you must
nave been when you met! But what lie the
natter with you, Walter? Let the driver stop
and leave your trunk at your fathers as he
,oes by, and do you come into the house. Why
What is the matter? Are you dumb ?"
"Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Walter,
lot to speak to my mother, when she is talk
np TO you?" chimed in Miss Molly.
Walter now found his voice, and before he
,ot fairly inside Miss Mary was his debtor for
round dozen of kisses, which she took very
,indly But as for Walter his mind was mado
Up. He had turned over the subject during
he last three minutes. He would marry that
TRANCE girl. He was grateful; she had saved
i'm from degradation, loss Of character, and
very thing else; but would she forgive him
or being so free with a strange girl in stage
Oach? Doubtful; but she should have the
hance, at any rate.
Tie wanderer received glad welcome from
lis family and friends in has old native VII
age; and Mary Fuller was his travelling com
,apiou about the place and together they
rossed the door-sill Of every old farm house
fitbin a circle of FIVE miles round. Walter