South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-05-28
HATTIE HYDE

Dut L came very near getting married
last Spring, and will tell YOU how it
happened.
l am thirty-five. and not absolutely
ugly-at least, when / look in the glass.
L see reflected there a good fresh com.
piexion, sparkling hazel eyes, and an
abundance of brown hair.
l 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. Richford-I must confess
to a little womanly futter around the
heart, for he was tall and handsome,
and in short just the hero of romance
that L had always dreamed about.
Hattie said Mrs. Richford-we
were quite confidential friends, and call.
ed one another Hattie and PAMELA, and
borrowed each others books, and all
sorts of things-"lIattie, L think Clar.
ence rather fancies YOU"
DO you?" said I, feeling the tell-tale
bushes coming iuto my face, and my
heart began to thump beneath the pref.
ty lace fuckers of Valenciennes and
pink ribbon that had taken to wearing
every day.
Il am certain of it." said Mrs. Rich
ford land how nice it will be to have
you for cousin
Yes"
1t was very nice to be engaged.
He gave lovely cameo ring. choicer
and more antique than any diamond
could have been.
1t had been his mothers ring, he said.
and he repeated the most delicious poe.
try, and vowed that it expressed the We
ry sentiments Of his heart.
And we had wanderings in the cool.
fernscented woods, and began to won
der 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 per-
sons of whom We are apt to ask, "why
were they ever created?"
He was n 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, is
this true?"
is what true, UncIe?"
"All this fol-de-rol about your being
engaged to n man ten years younger
than yourself. Harriet! Harriet l
thought you had better sense"
Its only five years, Uncle" said I.
pouting, land l suppose that have a
right to get engaged without sending to
you for n permit
Harriet, this is not subject to be
ilippant about said Uncle Elnathan.-
You may depend upon it that this
young man is a mere fortune hunter
You have property, Harriet, and he has
found il out"
"Uncle y | cried. starting up, 81 will
not listen tamely to such aspersions up
on the character of one who"
well, my dear, you needn't get ex-
cited" said the intolerable old gentle
man, tapping his hand upon the lid of
his silver snuff-box, "You are not n
child, Harriet, nor yet sentimental
school girl. Let's talk the matter calm
ly over"
81 decline to discuss it. sir" was nv
dignificd reply. "My mind is made up,
and no amount ofmeddlng interference
can induce me to alter it."
But aren't you just little pert to-
wards your old Uncle, Hatte?"
SO my Uncle went away, silver hair,
snuf-bOx, pussy.gaiters, and all. and |
sat down to make a memorandum orthc
things | should require for my wedding
outfit. For had fully resolved to make
an especial visit to London on that bu.
siness.
All, the delight ofrevclling over coun.
tries full of choice, filmy laccs. pillows
ofbridal silk, oceans oftulle lit brought
the color to my cheeks only to think of if.
And, besides. was it not necessary
that Clarencos wife should have all that
custom required?
/ didn't care for myself so much but
was determined not TO disgrace Cla-
renee.
SO one radiant September day, when
the sky was rs blue as bluest ribbon,
and the very leaves hung motioucss in
the yellow atmosphere. like ships at an
Choir upon q sea Of gold. took tho car.
~ train from B.. with n purse full
Of money, buttoned in an under pocket
Of my polonaise.
I had read all sorts Of horrid stories
about pickpockets and didn't mean 20
part with my bank notes except for val.
ne received
I felt a little huttered at FIRST, and
scarcely ventured % look around me,
for it seemed as if everybody must know
that / was going to London TO buy my
wedding outfit
III attempt 10 tell anything about
the adventures Of that day know
shall not succeed.
Woman couldperhaps understand how
felt in the fairy land ofthose great cir
cles OF fashion that exist only in Lon
don-glittering halls where the poor
sewing girl or the laborer's wife arc
treated with AZ much consideration and