Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-01-28
HATTIE HYDE.

I am Hattie Hyde, an old maid, at lea 81
not young one, and intend to remain o
But came very near getting marie q
last spring, and will tell you how it hap.
pened.
[ am thirty-fve, and not absolutely ugly
at least, when look in the glass, see
reflected there good fresh complexion,
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.
Richford, must confess to little wo-
manly flutter around the heart, for he was
tall and handsome, and in short, just the
hero of romance that had always dreamed
about.
'Hattie," said Mrs. Richford-we were
quite confidential friends, and called one
another Hattie and PAMELA, and borrowed
each others books, and all sorts of things
think Clarence rather fancies
you"
"Do your" said I, feeling the tell-tale
bushes coming into my face, and my heart
began to thump beneath the pretty lace
fuckers of Valenciennes and pink ribbon
that I had taken to wearing every day.
II am certain of it, said Mrs. Rich
ford; land how nice it will be to have you
for cousin.''
ssYes.''
It was very nice to be engaged.
He gave me a 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 poetry,
and vowed that it expressed the very SEN
timents of his heart.
And we had wanderings in the cool,
fern-scented woods, and I began to won
der whether should be married in white
satin or dove-colored travelling dress,
and pink ribbons in my hat. 2"
One evening, just after Clarence had re.
turned 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, "WhJ
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 thi.
true?"
''Is what true, uncIe?" tgl
ssAll this fol-de-rol about your being en-
gagged to a man ten years younger thar
yourself. Harriet !! Harriet I though
you had better sense" .-i'~
cts only five years, UNCLE" said I
pouting, land suppose that I have ;
right to get engaged without sending t.
you for permit
Harriet, this is not a subject to be flip
pant about,' said Uncle Elnathan. "Yo1
may depend upon it that this young man i
a mere fortune hunter You have prop
erty, Harriet, and he has found it out"
''Uncle ~ cried, starting up, II vii
mot listen tamely to such aspersions upol
the character -"
'Well, my dear, you needn't get ex
cited, - said the intolerable old gentleman
tapping his hand upon the lid Of his silve
smum-box ssYou are not a child, Harriet
nor yet sentimental schoolgirl. Let
talk the matter calmly over"
81 decline to discuss it, sir, was m
digni led reply. "My mind is made up
and amount Of meddling interference
can in duce me to alter it,"
"Bu t aren't you just little pert to
wards your old uncle, Harrietp"
So ny uncle went away, silver hair
snuff ,ox, pussy-gaiters, and all, and I sa
downt omake memorandum Of the thing
shoul d require for my wedding outfit, fo
I had July resolved to make an especis
visit to London on that business.
Ah,t he delight Of revelipg over counter
full Of choice, filmy laces, pillows Of brids
silk, oe cans of tulle 1t brought the colo
to mye heeks only to think of it.
And, besides, was it not necessary ths
Clarens ELS wife should have all that Gu
tom req uired?
I did MT care for myself SO much, but
was da ermined not to disgrace Clarenc