The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-03-20
Selett Storp.
HATTIE HYDE.

am Hattie Hyde, an old maid, or to at
least, not young one, and | intend re-
main so.
But | come very near getting married
last spring, and | will tell you how il hap
pened.
am thirty-ive, and not absolutely ugly
at least, when | look in the glass, |
see reflected there good fresh complex
ion, sparkling hazel eyes, and an abundance
of brown hair.
might have married two or three
times, only | wasn't really in love.
But when Clarence Raymond came
down to spend the vacation with his aunt
Mrs. Raymond-I must confess to a
little womanly Autter around the heart,
for he was tall and handsome, and in short,
lust the hero Of romance that had always
dreamed about.
"Hattie, said Mrs Richford--we were
quite confidential friends, and call one
another Hattie and Pamela, and borrowed
each Others books, and all sorts Of things
-" Hattie, think Clarence rather fan
cies you"
DO you?" said |, feeling the tell-talc
bushes come into my face, and my heart
began to thump beneath the pretty lace
fuckers Of Valenciennes and pink ribbon
that had taken to wearing every day.
al am certain Of it," said Mrs Rich
ford "and how nice it will be to have
you for cousin
That evening Clarence usked me IL !
would marry him. and of course said
"Yes."
1t was very nice to be engaged.
He gave me lovely cameo ring, choicer
and more antique than any diamond could
have been.
II had been his mothers ring, he said,
and he repeated the most delicious poetry,
and vowed that it expressed the very SEN
timents of his heart.
And we had wanderings in the cool,
ferns- -eented woods, and moonlight talks
on the porch, and | began to wonder
whether should be married in white satin
or dove-colored travelling dress, and pink
ribbons in my hat
One evening, just after Clarence had
returned to his unavoidable engagement in
the city, old Uncle Elnathan came to visit
me-
Uncle Elnathan was one of those people
Of whom we are apt to ask, "why were
they ever created9 ?"
He was venerable old gentleman, with
long silver hair, that fell over the collar Of
his bottle green coat, and cloth gaiters that
irresistably reminded one Of black pussy
cat, and he took snuff and talked through
his nose.
Harriet" said Uncle Elnathan, sis
this true p
SIS what true, Uncle 2"
"All this fol.de-rol about you being en-
gagged to n man ten years younger than
yourself. Harriet Harriet thought
you had better sense"
It's only five years Uncle, said l, pout.
ing, and l suppose | have right to get
engaged without sending to you for per.
nit"
Harriet, this is not subject to be flip
pant about said Uncle Elnathan. .tYou
may depend upon il, that this young man
isa mere fortune hunter You have prop
erty, Harriet, and he has found it out.
Uncle y | cried starting up, II will
not listen tamely 10 such aspersions upon
the character of one Who"
We'll, upy dear, gen needn't get ex-
feited' said the intolerable old gentleman,
tapping his hand upon the lid of his silver
snuff box.
You are not child, Harriet, nor yet
sentimental school girl Let's talk the
matter calmly over"
:" l decline to discuss it, sir" was my
digniied reply "My mind is made up
and no amount Of meddling interference
can induce me to alter il"
" But aren't you just little pert to
wards your old Uncle Hattie ?"