Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-02-05
A Lesson for Young Men.

Mamie Houston stood patting the hearth
nervously y with the pretty foot she had put
out to warm, her red lips tightly COM
pressed, and spark Of fire in her brown
eyes, which was not reflection from the
blazing hearth before her.
Father, you don't know Wallace
Myles."
Don't want to, daughter" responded
Mr.. Houston. ..
But how can you judge him unless
you know him ?"
"Thc name is enough. l never knew a
Myles yet that was worth the powder it
would take to kill him. No use talking. |
won't have him foolng about here"
"And | won't have Tom Ogden fooling
about Inc" pettishly responded the daush-
ter.
Every we'll. Do as you please. I'm
not going to make you marry Tom Ogden.
But the Ogdens are Il rich, aristocratic
city family, and 'tisn't every little country
girl can get hold of rich fellow like him"
81 don't care copper for him, or his
money either" snapped Mamie
"Wcll, well, we won't quarrel over 'em,
pussy. Have your bcaux, or let 'em
alone, just as you please. Only don't send
that Myles fellow to me with any questions,
for he'll be sure to get no for an answer
There, now, give me kiss and go off to
bed, and 50 will |. You know l must be
off early in the morning"
Mamie went up stairs, but she did not
90 directly to bed. She turned down the
lamp and frightened the fire in her room,
and then took from her pocket bit of
pasteboard, which bore the shadow Of Il
manly face, and sat down beside her win
dow, holding it in her hand, in the moon
light, for hong time. And once or twice
something bri ehtcr than moonlight spark
led upon Nanne's round cheek, and fell
down upon the bit Of pasteboard in her
lap.
Next morning there was very heavy
snow upon the ground. Mr.. Houston
proposed to go to the city that day, and
the manner of his conveyance became Il
question. His own buggy was too light
for such a snow, the little sleigh was lent
to neshbor, and he did not want to
drive the big onc, all by himself. So he
settle | the matter by taking an old buggy
which stood in the barn and was seldom
used. 1t was rusty looking old concern,
| must confess but MIR. Ilouston's bust
ness was important, so he mounted into
the crazy old thing and rode away.
With his affairs in the city We have
nothing to do. Suffice it to say, he ar.
ran eed them successfully, and late in the
evening started for home again. 1t had
been showing nearly all day The roads
were very heavy. and tedious, bu. Nj.
Houston plodded bravey on until they
were scarcely two miles from home
Suddenly, distant behind him but rap
idly approaching, he heard the merry jim
gle of sleghbels and the shouts of gay
voices. He turned his head, and oked
through the little fanlight in the back of
the buggy. A sleigh containing three
young men, drawn by span Of strong
bays was driving up with 4 speed aud
recklessncss which threatened his crazy
old buggy with demolition.
Mr.. Houston spoke to his horse, but
before he could turn out the sleigh dashed
by, striking the old buggy and carrying off
one wheel.
The well-trained horse stoppedat word
and in an instant Mr.. Houston was on his
feet among the ruins. The sleigh stopped
too, but instead Of springng to the old
mans aid, the haftipsy set burst into
shouts of maudlin laughter at the smart
ness of the feat they had performed, aud
the young fellow who held the rcins called
| out:
Sorry we've spoiled your fine turnout,
old codger; but really We couldn't stop for
triAes. Reckon you can foot it home to
your roost. lIeigh, up here, beauties
Get along"
And with that he gave hishorses cut
with his whip, and they dashed on, leaving
the old gentleman alone with the gather
ing darkness, the heavy snow and his use
less carriage.
While he stood considering what was
best to do the jingle of h.bells sound.
ed again, and light sleigh, driven by a
solitary young man, came up from the
same direction as the preceding one. The
moment the stranger drew near to Mr..
Houston, he stopped his horse, sprang
from his sleigh, aud touching his hat to
the old gentleman, said respectfully:
"Good evening, sir. You seem to be in
some trouble here. Can be of service -
Trouble, sir! Yes, sir call it trou.
BILE! A lot of rascally scamps-halfdruuk
I've no doubt-dashed by in big sleigh,
with bay horses, just now, and took off my
buggy-whecl."
But surely they stopped to assist you,
SIR"
"Surely they didn't. They paused long
enough for young chap on the front seat
to call out some insulting words, and then
off they went at full speed
| What a cnwardly trick ~ said the