The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-02-13
4 MILITARY COURTSIsIP.

SO YOU won't marry me-" said Her.
bert Miller. As he stood with folded arms,
his d" six feet one inch" Of altitude calmly
drawn up, towering high above Matte Ar
nott's curly head.
The usual programme of Wooing seemed
10 be reversed in this individual instance,
for Matte was bluShng and embarrassed,
twisting her blue ribbon sash round and
round. while Herbert was provokingly
cool and satircal, even though he had just
listened to the fatal NO.
II am So young, Herbert" taltered the
girl: only sixteen, you know; and |
hardly SNOW my own mind yet; and it is
ungenerous OF you to press me so urgently I;
and
Now, Matte, this won't do" said the
young soldier, resolutely OBTAINING her by
one firm hand. Answer me plainly. yes
or nO.
No, them p0uted Matte, her blue
eyes flashing, ana her cheeks rosy vita
flame.
Very well; just as yoa please, Miss
Mat, said Herbert, complacently. " On
the whole I'm much obliged TO yoa for
pronouncing that monosyllable 50 decid-
eddy. You're very pretty, but don't think
you'd suit ne exactly. We should get
tired of one another. We have been
brought up together, you know, and same
ness is always tedious You are a lovely
blonde, but think | should prefer a bru-
nette; and, besides, | can go of peaceably
to the war ROW, without any REMEMBRANCE
IN the shape OF an engagement. The medi-
al l,,,- doubt II
viii DO me good. Adieu, Nattie-anl ]
wish y0u good hu>hand.
and Off walked Mr.. Herbert, whistlng
most cavalerly, and looking provokin@iy
handsome in his cool disdain.
Matte Arnott did not know what 20
make OF the young soldiers audacious self
possession. She never had real lover
before, but she was quite certain they new
or acted in this way after a rejection.
Somehow she had an idea that Herbert
Miller had been making fun OF her-and
she was not altogether certain that she had
done a sensible thing in saying No" Be
sides, she had fully calculated on his being
unwilling to take her at her word. Why
didn't he coax and inplore, and renew his
entreaties-why didn't he take her by
storm, in short, as the lovers in novels did !?
Matte Arnott waited until her discarded
chevalier was safely out of sight and then
she ran up to her own room, locked her
self in, and cried passionately.
Dear me, Martha, how red your eyes
are, ;" said Mrs. Arnott, as the girl took her
place at the beautifully spread tea-table.
What IN the name of common sense ailS
you?''
It's settin up late o. nights, readin
them story papers," growled Squire Ar
mott. "Shell be blind before she's twenty
five years old, at this rate, or have tO
wear specs-a gal in specs don't have hall
the chance to catch a beau. Halo
what's the matter with the child 2"
For Matte had burst into tears again,
and left the table All, it was sore little
heart that beat underneath Matte Ar
mott 5 black velvet, Spanish waist.
If she could only have lived that day
over again, But the sun was low in the
crimson tides OF the great western sea, and
the young moon was mounting up, and
the day with all its chances and changes,
was eone-gone to return no more. Slow
ly the months rolled by, and Matte Ar
mott grew queter and more thoughtful
every day. The fair forehead was not
less air for the shade OF sweet gravity or
its smooth eXpanse-the blue eyes shone
! luminously through dropping lashes. Mat
tie had changed-but she was even more
beautiful than ever. She read the news
from the seat of war with feverish interest.
yet she never once mentioned Herber,
Millers name, not even when she saw iI
the daily papers that he had been breveteG
on the field for steadfast gallantry and
noble herosm
''You will come tonight, won't you
Matte? Lieut.. Miller has promised to hon.
or me-positively his first appearance a.
an officer in this, his native village,
laughed Miss Marsland, as she rose to TAKE
her leave, after morning visit.
Eyes, I'll COME" sighed Matte, for i
she were obliged to meet him, the frs
sharp pang mi ght as well be undergone
now as ever. But o, that Kate Marslant
should have known Of his return-tha
Hates house should be the first at whicl
he had called.
How carefully she arranged the folds
her white muslin dress that evening-hoN
long she was in adjusting the spray OF iv,
leaves in and out among her golden curls
And even then she was dissatisfied wit
the pretty image reflected back from tn
mirror. But Matte was prejudiced judg
she had never looked more lovely in al
the seventeen years of her life.
As she entered Katy Marsland' s crowde,
parlors, the first person her eyes fell upol
| WAS Herbert Miller, tall and handsome q
ever, in his blue and gold uniform. He wa
talking with spirit and animation, the cen
tire of knot of young people; he did no
even see her! All! she might have ex
pected it-and Matte leaned fearful,