The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-05-29
HATTIE HYDE.

| But L came very near getting married
last spring, and will tell you how il
happened.
I am thirty five, aud not absolutely
ugly-at least, when look in the glass,
I see reflected there a good fresh com,
plexion, sparkling hazel eyes, and an
| abundance of brown hair.
I 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. Ricbford-I must confess
to little womanly flutter around the
! and, in short, just the hero of romance
that had always dreamed about.
Hattie" said Mrs. Richford-we
were quite confidential friends, and
ca led one ano her Hattie and Pamela.
and borrowed each others books. and
all sort of things Hattie, I think
Clarence rather fancies you"
"Do you?" said 1, feeling the tell
tale bushes coming into my face, and
my heart began to thrump beneath the
pretty lace fuckers of Valenciennes and
pink ribbon that 1 had taken to wear
ing every day.
81 am certain of it." said Mrs. Rich
ford "and how nice it will be to have
you for a cousin"
eyes"
1t was very nice to be engaged.
He gave me a lovely cameo ring,
choicer and more antique than any dia-
mond could have been.
1t had been his mothers ring, he said,
and he repeated the most delicious
poetry, aud vowed that it expressed the
very sentiments of his heart.
And we had wanderings in the cool,
fern scented woods, and I began to
wonder whether I should be married in
white satin or a 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 per-
sons of whom we are apt to ask, Why
were they ever created ?"
He was venerable old gentleman,
with long silver hair, that fell over the
collar of his bottle-green coat, and cloth
CATERS that irresistibly reminded one of
black pussy cat. and he took snuff and
talked through his nose.
Harriet" said Uncle Elnathan, sis
this true?''
"All this fol-de-rol about your being
engaged to man ten years younger
than yourself. Harriet Harriet ! l
thought you had better sense"
6" It's only five years, uncle" said 1,
pouting, "and I suppose l have right
to get engaged without sending to you
for permit"
Harriet, this is not a subject to be
fiippant about" said Uncle Elnathan.
"You may depend upon it, that this
young man is mere fortune hunter.
You have property, Harriet, and he has
found it out"
Uncle !" 1 cried, starting up, 81
will not listen tamely to such aspersions
upon the character of one who"
"Well, my dear, you needn't get e1-
cited" said the intolerable old gentle
man, tapping his hand upon the lid OF
his silver snuff-b box.
"You are not child, Harriet, nor
vet sentimental school girl. Let's talk
the matter calmly over"
81 decline to discuss it. SIR" was
my dignifed reply. My mind is
made up and no amount of meddline
interference can induce me to alter it. u
"But aren't you just little pert to-
wards your old Uncle, Hattie ?"
So my Uncle went away, silver hair,
snuff box, pussy CATERS, and all, and
sat down to make memorandum of the
things should require for my wedding
outfit. For had resolved to make al
especial journey to London on thai
business.
Alb, the delight of reveling ove1
counters full of choice, filmy laccs
pillows of bridal silk, oceans of tuIle
it brought the color to my cheeks only
to think of it.
And besides, was it not necessary
that Clarence's wife should have al
that custom required?
didn't care for myself SO much
but 1 was determined not to disgrace
Clarence.
So one radiant September day, wher
the sky was as blue as blue ribbon, anC
the very leaves hung motlonless IN the
yellow atmosphere, like ships at another
on sea of gold, took the early trair
from c. with a purse full of money
buttoned in an nnder pocket of my
polonaise.
I had read all sorts of hOrrid stories
about pickpockets, and didn't mean t.
part with my bank notes except fol
value received.
/ felt a little fiuttered at first, anC
scarcely ventured to look around me
for it seemed that everybody must know
that was going to London to buy my
wedding outfit.
If attempt to tell you anything abou
the adventures of that day I know
shall not succeed.
Women could perhaps understand
how l felt in that fairy land of thos,
| great circles of fashion that exist onl,
| in London-glitteripg halls where tn,
poor sewing girl or the laborer's wifi,
are treated with as much consideration
and respect as the millionaire's lady o
the Young damsel who can't get or
| glove for the diamond ring on her fin
ger.
bought the wedding dress, whit
rep silk and veil of tulle, suspende,
from a garland of orange blossoms, an,
/ selected blue silk, and a peach col
ored silk, and q maroon silk, and dea
me what is the use of cataloguing ther
all?
Other girls have been brides elect be
fore me, and they all know just how
all was.
And as for those who haven't, just IL
them wait until their turn comes.
And then as the sun began to declin
on its western way, l felt excessivel
and automatically hungry.
els there nice ladies' dining roel
near here ?" l asked.
One of the shopmen went with me
the door to point out a glittering estal
lishment, with its windows full of no
, house fruits, and morseIs of PAGES an
/ delicately tinted cakes.
Dear me, London is the place
feel ones insignificance.
, I do not think that I, Hattie Hyd
! | avar r"if -. a-----h - A. whole course
\ over the flee
an TeStauTan
i Lafnra IN, moi