The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-19
N N ME.

man, and myself, that / was to marry
his daughter, Mamie, when she was ole
enough. / have q vague impression
that she was In long clothes at the time
we first talked OF it.
Her mother died when she was little
girl, and old Mrs. Stiilman took hel
home to the family house at Owls
Corner, ono Of the prettiest little vii
lagos ever had the good fortune te
zee. But Mamie was eighteen when
first met her as woman, and this was
the scene Of our meeting.
John had sent for me to come to Owls
Corner on a certain July day, promising
to drive over to the station and meet me
as my elderly legs covered the ground
but slowly. We had retired from bust,
ness. rich men both. some five years be-
fore, and correspondent regularly. But
/ had been abroade and this was my
first VISIT to Owls Cotner in ten years
/ remembered Mamie as romping
child, fond OF swinging on the gates,
climbing up grape-arbors and imperiling
her neck fifty times a day, John always
saying on each occasion
'She's little wild, but she'll get over
that.
I waited at the station for half an
hour; then, seeing no sign Of John, /
started to walk home. 1t was midday
and fearfully hot, and when l had &C
complished half the distance / turned
off the road and started through a
grove that gave me longer walk, but
thick shade. / was resting there 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 astonish-
ment in the voice that / looked up in
surprise, to find that he was not greet
ing me, but tall, slender girl coming
toward him. Such sight! She was
dark and beautiful, dressed in thin
face and throat, but from the waist
down, clinging to her, one mass Of the
greenest. blacklist, thickest mud and
water.
'In the duck pond" she answered
with voice as clear and musical as
chime of bells. Don't come near me-"
"You are enough to wear man into
his gravel
"There, don't scold," was the coaxing
reply; little Bob Ryan fell in face
down. It did not make any material
difference in his costume. but. | was
afraid he would smother. 80 waded in
feet deep, but the mud goes clear
through to China, / imagine. 1t is
rathera pity about my new dress. isn't
it?"
"a pity" roared John; you'll come
to an untimely end some day with your
freaks. AS IL there was nobody to pick
a little brat out Of the duck pond but
you!"
"There actually was nobody else
about. There, now, don't be angry.
Til go up to the house and put on that
white affair that came from
New York last week, and be all ready
to drive over to the station with you, at
what time %
about 8. Lawrence is coming on
the 10 train"
And / had come on the u 10. This |
accounted for the failure to meet me. l |
kept snug In my retreat until John and |
Mamie were we'll on their way home |
ward, wondering q little how many
young ladies in my circle of friends
would have so recklessly sacrificed a |
new dress to pick up beggar's brat
out Of the mud.
When I, in my turn. reached the
house, John was on the porch, waiting
for Nannie's temperance. He gave
me most cordial welcome, or rather a
luncheon, called Mamie, his mother,
and man to go for my trunk, all in
one breath, and seemed really rejoiced
to see me.
Presently slender girl with truly
sbeWitching" white dress trimmed with
dashes Of scarlet ribbon, and smoothly
braided black hair, tied with scarlet
bows, came demurely into the room and
was introduced. Never, however, in
that first hour, could the widest imagi-
nation have pictured Mamie Stillman
wading into duck pond. But the half
soon wore away, and Mamie and / were
fast friends before dinner. She sang
for me in voice as deliciously fresh as
q birds carol; she took me to see her
pets, the new horse that was her last
gift from papa the ugly
little Scotch terrier with the beautiful
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
syer John could have desired. Mamie
vas the most bewitching maiden had
aver met, childlike and yet womanly,
rank, bright and full Of girlish freaks
md .boyish mischief, and yet we'll edu.
,ated, with really wonderful musical
,ifts, and full OF noble thoughts. She
vas a perfect idol in the village, her
riends and neighbors thinking no
,arty complete without her, while the
,oor fairly worshiped her.
John allowed her an almost unlimited
upply Of pocket money, and she was
aVish in all charity, from blankets for
Id women, tobacco for old men, to
andes for the children. and rides on
orseback for the urchins. And she
ad way Of comforting favors that
ever wounded the pride OF the most
ensitive. Ii
We rode together every morning: we
alked in the cool evening hours We
oent much time at the piano, and dis
used our favorite authors, and one day, {
hen asked Mamie to be my wife, she .
id, coolly:
"Why, Of course: thought that was d
Il 4 L.