The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-05-09

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manner soon wore away, and Mamie
and 1 were fast friends before dinner.
She sang for me in voice as deliciously
fresh as a birds carol, she took me to
see her pets, the new horse that was
her last birthday gift from papa" the
ugly little Scotch terrier with the beau
tiful brown eyes, the rabbits, Guinea
hens, and the superannuated old pony,
who had preceded the new horse.
In week | was as much In love as
ever John could have desired. Mamie
was the most bewitching maiden | had
ever met, childlike, yet womanly,
frank, bright and full of girlish freaks
and boyish mischief, and yet well edu-
Gated, with really wonderful musical
gifts, and full of noble thoughts. She
was perfect idol in the village, her
friends and neighbOrs thinking no
party complete without her, while the
poor fairly worshipped her.
John allowed her an almost unlimited
supply of pocket money, and she was
lavish in all charity, from blankets for
old women, tobacco for old men, to can
dies for the children, and rides on her
horse for the urchins. And she had a
way of comforting favors that never
wounded the pride of the most sensitive.
We rode together every morning, we
walked in the cool evening hours, we
spent much time at the piano, and dis
cussed our favorite authors, and one
day when / asked Mamie to be my
wife, she said coolly:
"Why, of course, l thought it was
all understood, long ago."
was rather amazed at such matter
Of-fact wooing, but delighted at the re-
suit. How could | expect any soft,
blushing speeches? l suppose | ranked
just where John and Nannie's grand
mother did in her affections.
But one morning when Mrs. Stillman
was nipping her geraniums in the sit
ting-room, and John was reading the
mornings newspapers, Mamie burst
in, her beautiful face all aglow, her
eyes bright with delight, crying;
"Oh, grandma! Walt has come
home! saw him riding up the road"
She was going then, just as John ex-
claimed:
"Confound Waltz
"Who is WALTZ" l naturally in
quired.
"Walter Bruce, the son of one of our
neighbors. He has been like brother
to Mamie all her life, but went off to
Europe two years ago, when he came
of age. They wanted to correspond,
but forbade that. SO he has turned up
again"
1t was evident that John was terribly
vexed, and very soon shared his an
noyance. Walt, tall, handsome young
fellow, improved, not spoiled by travel,
Just haunted the house.
He was generally off with Mamie as
soon as he arrived, and blind to Mrs.
Stillman's ill-concealed coldness, and
Johns sarcastic speeches about boys
and puppies.
As for me, by the time my sleepy
eyes were opened in the morning, Nan
ME had taken long walk with Walt,
was at the piano when | came into the
room, and Walt was beside Mamie
when the hour for our usual stroll ar
rived.
And the very demon of mischief pos
sessed the girl. There was no freak
she was not inventing to imperil her
life, riding, driving, boating, and |
fairly yshivered sometimes at the prospect
of my nervous terrors when it would
be my task to try to CONTROL this quick
silver temperament.
But one day when / was in the sum-
mer house, very rueful little maiden,
with tear-stained face, came to my
side.
"Walt is going away!" she said.
"Indeed"
eyes; and he says l am wicked
firtw with choking sob; 81 thought
| would ask you about it,"
"About what?"
"Our getting married. You know
papa told me / was to marry you ages
and ages ago"
eyes"
.'And l knew it was all right if he
said so. But Walt says you must be a
muff if you want wife who is always
thinking of somebody else. And you
know ! can't help it. Walt has been
my friend ever since | was little, and
we were always together. And when
he was in Europe, papa wouldn't let
us write to each other, but | kissed his
picture every night and morning and
wore his hair in locket, and thought
of him all the time. And he says you
won't like 1t after we are married"
"Well, not exactly" l said dryly.
you'll have to stop thinking of him
then"
81 don't believe ever can. And so
/ thought I'd tell papa we don't care
about being married after all | don't
think could ever be sedate and grave,
like an old lady, and of course | ought
to be if am to be an old mans Wife"
"Of course"
"And am so rude and horrld, /
am not nice like city girls, and l am
altogether hateful; but Walt don't
care"
| rather agreed with Walt as she
A.. L.