The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1878-03-20
MAMIE.

words Just when and how IL came 70
be understood between my partner,
John stillman, and myself, that |
was to marry his daughter, Mamie,
when she was old enough. l have
an impression that she was in long
clothes at the time we first talked Of
it.
Her mother died when she was a
little girl, and old Mrs. stillman
took her home to the family at Owls
Corner, one Of the prettiest little
villages l ever had the good fortune
to see. But Mamie was eighteen
when first met her woman, and
this was the scene of our first meet
ing.
John had sent for me to come to
Owls Corner on certain July day,
promising to drive out to the sta
tion and meet me, and my elderly
legs covered the ground but slowly.
We had retired from business, rich
men both, some five years before,
and corresponded regularly. But l
had been abroad and this was my
first visit in ten years, remem-
bered Mamie as romping child,
fond of swinging on the gates, climb.
ing up grape arbors and imperilling
her neck fifty times day, John al
ways saying on such occasions;
"She's u little wild, but she'll get
over that"
waited at the station for half an
hour then, seeing no sign of John,
started to walk to the house. 1t
was midday, and fearful hot, and
when had accomplished but half
the distance | turned off the road
and started through grove that
gave me u longer walk, but thick
shade. was resting on a broad
stone, completely hidden by the
bushes on every side, when | heard
Johns voice:
"Where have you been?"
There was such dismay and as
constituent in the voice that | looked
up in surprise. to find that he was
not greeting me, but a tall slender
girl, coming toward him. Such u
sight She was dark and beautiful,
dressed in q thin dress of rose pink,
faultless about the waist and5throat,
but from the waist down clinging to
her, one mass of the greenest, black
est, thickest mud and water l ever
saw.
an the duck pond" she answered,
with a voice US clear and musical
as chime of bells. Don't come
near mel"
"You are enough to wear man
into his gravel"
"There, don't scold," was the coax
ing reply; "little Bob Ryan fell in,
face down. 1t did not make any
material difference about this cos
tune, but was afraid he would
smother, so l waded in after him.
The water is not over two feet deep,
but the mud goes clear through Chi
ma, 1 imagine. 1t is rather Il pity
about my new dress isn't it,"
"a pity!" roarcd John, you'll
come to an untimely end some day
with your freaks. As if there was
nobody to pick an Irish brat out Of
the duck pond but you!"
"Thero actually was nobody else
about. There now, don't be angry.
I'll 60 up to the house and put on
that bewitching white affair that
came from New York last week, and
be all ready to drive over to the sta
tion with you, at what time, did you
say?"
"About three. Lawrence is COM
ing on the 2:1o"
And l had come on the 1210.-
This accounted for the failure to
meet me. l kept snug in my retreat
until John and Mamie were well on
their way homeward, wondering a
little how many young ladies in my
circle of friends would have SO reck-
lessly sacrificed a new dress to pick
up a beggar brat out of the mud
When |, in my turn reached the
house, John was on the porch, wait
ing for Nannio's temperance, He
gave me u most cordial welcome, or.
doring n luncheon, called Mamie,
his mother and man to go for my