The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-10-27
Communicated to the Columbia Times.
RACING FOR A HUSBAND.

There never was such a romp as myself
Yet was little bit of thing, ever ready
to ssranish into thin air" when the Ortho
dox minister called, or Aunt Emma chidei
me for some misdemeanor. or pa said
Come. Fan, stop that mischief and put OF
q sober face"
I always had a strange antipathy TO the
.'masculine gender" which my mothe'
sagely observed would end in my utter ruin
for who could ever take fancy to such 6
fly away for q wife AS for pa, he said
never could stop long enough to get mar.
ried.
I always told the folks, however, that
should be married when found time, and
that had my future husbands miniature
4 miniature, in fact, had. When but 6
child, was playing in little grove, wher
l espied chain glistening in the sunbeams
l drew it from its hiding place and found
locket attached to it, which sprang open
by my accidentally touching the spring
revealing the portrait of a little boy, about
my own age, who looked so roguish at me
out of his deep blue eyes, and had such a
sweet, mischievous smile, that l danced
with delight, and ran home in childish glee
to show my mother the treasure had found
I always wore this miniature around my
neck, and when any one jested with me
about getting married, would laughingly
show them the locket, which said contain
ed my future husbands miniature.
As was quite an equestrian, my father
bought me, when was old enough to ride
alone. littlo black pony and we, that is
the pony and l. used to go racing over hills
and plain. Pa used to say l looked like
some wild gypsy. Generally I took one
particular road, which seemed more pleas
ant to me than all the rest of Fairynook. -
There was another. however, running par
allel to it for mile or two, and at a cross
ing these two met, and then ran off in op-
posite directions. 1t used to be my favor
ite route to take one Of these until reached
the crossing, and then the other, and so
around home.
One fine morning l set out, thinking
would have good ride before the rest of
the family were awake. Dick was very i'm
patient until l was fairly seated, when he
sped away like lightning, my hair flying
and Dicks name waving in the breeze
While was going at this rate, Dick sud
denly stopped short, and turned his head
to the opposite road. l looked up to see
what was the matter, when, to my great
amusement. saw tall manly figure, seat
ed on a jet-black horse, coming my way.
"Now for race thought 1. Dick darted
away at the word. knew if could reach
the crossing first should win. When
gained it. l gave glance behind to see that
my youth had not come in sight, then rein
ed in Dick behind q clump of trees and
shrubbery, where we always stopped to rest
in the cool shade. Soon my champion
made his appearance. and halting, looked
up and down the road bewildered. to see
what had become of me then bending his
eyes to the ground he tried to discover
Dicks track.
After turning his horse round at least
half dozen times in a very laughable man.
ner. the stranger came to the conclusion.
suppose, that | had not yet reached the
crossing, for he turned down my road as if
to meet me. could see him quite plainly
as he passed, and made the interesting dis
covery that he was a tall, handsome man of
7
merry twinkle in the eyes and roguish
smile. that looked extremely natural to me.
and made me almost think | had seen him
before. I waited until he was fairly out of
sight, then bounding from my hiding place.
/ crossed over to his road and started back
with railroad speed. | soon saw him on the
other road, and he saw me as quickly. /
could not help giving him hearty laugh at
his astonishment, which he answered by
doffing his hat, with an air that seemed to
say, you've caught me this time, but will
hardly succeed again. now thought I
had fun enough for one morning, SO Dick
and FASTENED home.
When we arrived father came to help me
off. Giving me glance. he burst out in
loud laugh at my disorderea Costume. l
ran up the stops and was soon in my own
room, and taking peep at the mirror,
could not myself help laughing at my wild
appearance. My hair was all over my
eyes, my hat ON one side, my fingers peep
ing out from my gloves, my collar unfas-
tened and dangling down my back. AS
met father and mother at breakfast, they
told me that must sober down little. for
Colonel Frederick Parkes was going to call,
and they wished me to be in readiness to
welcome him. | had heard great deal
about Colonel Parkes, but had never met
him.
welcome colonel! its preposterous :"
thought I, and with one Of the pleasantest
smiles in the world informed father and
mother that had an engagement at Cousin
Maud's. He must be some great, tall,
whiskered, long -nosed ogre. enough to
scare the wits out of me-" said and with