The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-08-22


brought the blood to my cheek, and made
me for an instant ashamed and angry. Bui
on glancing again q my dress, could moi
hslp laughing, in spite OF myself. stood
in the mud at least six inches above the
tops of my shoes. Ny riding skirt waa
plastered all over, 30 that it was almost i'm
possible to tell Of what it was made. Ny
hands and arms were mud to the elbow, Tor
had instnctlvely extended them as fell
in order to protect myself.
The young man, as he spoke, turned to
the neighborlng fence, and taking top rail
he placed it across the puddle; then put
ting his arm around my waist, be lifted me
out though not without leaving my shoes
behind. While he was fishing these out,
wn.cn he began Immediately to do, stole
behind the enormous oak to hide my blush
ing facs, and scrape the mud from my stock
ings and skirt; when my companion made
his appearance with the missing shoes which
be had scraped till they were quite present.
able and leading Milo by the bride.
'Pray let me see you home,' he said. If
you will mount again, 'll lead the colt; and
there will be no chance Of his repeating the
trick.
| could not answer for shame, but when
in the saddle murmured something about
mot troubling him.
sIrs no trouble, not the least, he replied,
standing hat in hand like mighty cavalier,
and still retaining his hold on the bride,
'and can't really let you 20 alone, for the
colt is as vicious as he can be to-day. I
saw you coming down the road, and expect
ed you to be thrown every minute, till 1 saw
how well you rode.
cannot tell how soothing was his grace
full way of excusing my mishap. stole
glance under my eyelids at the speaker, and
saw that be was very handsome and gentle
manly, and apparently about six and twen-
ty, or several years older than myself.
had hoped that uncle would be out in
the fields, overlooking the men; but as we
entered the gate, saw him sitting provo
kinkly, at the open window; and by the
time had sprung to the ground, he came
out, his eyes brimful of mischief. didnot
dare to stop, but turning to my escort, l
said, sMy uncle, sir, won't you walk in p
and then rushed up stairs. ..a
lnabout half an hour, just as had dressed,
there was knock at my door, my uncle's
knock; could not but open. He was laugh
ing q low, silent laugh, his portly body
shaking all over with suppressed merri-
ment.
'Ah! ready at last,' he said. Il began
to despair of you, you were SO long, and
came to hasten you. He's waiting in the
parlor still, he said in malicious whisper.
You've my consent, for like him hugely;
only who'd have thought of finding hus-
band in q mud puddle?'
! slipped past my tormentor, preferring
to face my escort than to run the gauntlet
of uncle's wit; and was soon stammering
my thanks to Mr.. Templeton-for as sue
my uncle, who followed me down, introdu-
ced him.
10 make short Of what would be a long
story, what was said in jest turned out to
be earnest; for in less than six months, in
that very room, l stood up to become Mrs.
Templeton. How it all came about hard
ly know, but certainly did find husband
on that day. Harry, for that is the name
by which call Mr.. Templeton, says that |
entered the parior so transformed, my light
blue tissue Aoatlng about me so like
cloud-wreath, my cheeks so rosy, my eyes
so bright, my curls playing sucn hide and
seek about my face, that, not expecting such
an apparatiou, he lost his heart at once
lie adds-for he still knows how to compli-
ment as well as ever-that my gay, intelli-
gent talk, SO different from the demure Miss
he had expected, completed the business.
Harry was the son Of an old nelghbor,
who had been abroad for three years, and
before that had been at college, SO that |
had never seen him; but uncle remembered
hiln at once, and had insisted on his staying
till came down, though Harry, from DELI
cacy, would have left after an inquiry about
my health. My uncle Was one Of those who
wall not be pus OF, and SO Harry remained.
'Ihe luckiest thing he says, Il ever did,
Milo is now my favorite steed, for Harry
broke him for me; and we are all as happy
as the day is long, uncle included; for uncle
insisted on our living with HIM, and told
him, at last, 1 would consent, sif only to
keep Pol Wilkes from cooking his dinner.'
10 which he answered, looking at Harry,
You see what a spIt-tire she is, and you
may bless your stars if you don't rue the
uaV she went ont To rISn A uuSp.Np3