The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-06-20

Duh Ouc mOEnluS, WHICH MIS- OVlAA
man was shipping her geraniums in tn
sitting-room, and John was reading tn
mornings newspapers, Mamie burs
in, her beautiful face all aglow, he
eyes bright with delight, crying:
"Oh, grandma! Walt has COM
home! l saw him from my window
riding up the road.''
She was going then, just as JOIN
exclaimed:
"Confound Waltz
"Who is Waltz 1 naturally in
quired.
Walter Bruce, the SON of one of oul
neighbors. He has been like brother
to Mamie all her life, but went of tt
Europe two years ago, when he came
of age. They wanted to correspond
but I forbade that. So he has turned
up again."
1t was evident that John was terribly
vexed, andd very soon shared his an
noyance. Walt, a tall, handsome young
fellow, improved, not spoiled, by trav.
ell, Just haunted the house.
He was generally off with Mamie a.
soon as he arrived, and blind to Mrs.
Stillman's ill-concealed GOODNESS 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 ride with Walt,
was at the piano when came into tie
room, and Walt was walking beside
Mamie when the hour for our usual
stroll arrived.
And the very demon of mischief pos.
sessed the girl. There was no freak
she was not inventing to imperil hel
life, riding, driving, boating, and !. ]
fairly shivered sometimes at the pros.
pect of my nervous terrors when, il
would be my task to try to control this
quicksilver temperament.
But one day when l was in the sum-
mer house, very rueful little maiden,
with u tear-stained face, came to my
side.
walt is going away she said.
eyes, and he says I'm wicked
dirt" with choking sob; Il thought
l would ask you about it,
"About what?''
"Our getting married. You know
papa told me l was to marry you ages
and ages ago.
"Yes.'
"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 all the
time thinking of somebody else.
And you know l can't help it.
Walt has been my friend ever since we
were always together. And when he
was in Europe papa wouldn't let us
write to each other, but I 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 it after we are married.
"Well, not exactly" said, dryly.
You'll have to stop thinking of him
them
II don't believe ever can. And so
I thought I'd tell you, and perhaps
perhaps you will 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 l am to be an old man s
wife,
Va COulScs
''And l am 50 rude and horrid,
know l am not like nice city girls, and
am altogether hateful, but Walt dom
care"
l rather agreed with Walt as she
stood in shy confusion before me, her
eyes still misty, her sweet lips CULVER
ing. 1t was a sore wrench to give her
up, but I was not quite an idiot, and l
said, gravely:
"But your father?''
"Yes, l know; he'll make a real
storm. But then his storms don't last
long, and maybe you would tell him
that you have changed your mind.
You have, haven't you?''
Eyes; the last half hour has quite
changed my matrimonial views"
I could not help smiling, and the next
moment two arms encircled my neck, a
warm kiss fell upon my cheek, and
Mamie cried:
"You are a perfect darling. per-
feet darling, and shall love you dearly
all my life.''
! So " hen lost her love l gained it.
She fitted away presently, and 1 gave
myself a good mental shaking up, and
concludedmy fools paradise would soon
have vanished il l had undertaken to
make an "old lady, out of Mamie. "a
Johns wrath was loud and violent.
He exhausted all the vituperatlye
language in the dictionary, and then sat
down, painting and furious.
"Come, now" I said, "what is the
objection to young Bruce? Is he poor?''
"No, confound him! He inherits
his grandfather's property, beside
what his father will probably leave him. :"
els he immoral?'
81 never heard so.''
"What does all him, then?''
"Nothing, but have set my heart on
Nannie's marrying you.''
Well, you see she has set her heart
in another direction, and strongly OBJ
ject to wife who is in love with some
body else.''
"What on earth sent the puppy
homer
"Love for Mamie, l imagine. Come,
John, you won't be my father-in-law,
for will not marry Mamie if you are
ever so tyrannica1, but we can jog
along as usual, the best of friends
lOokr'
1 pointed out of the window as
spoke. On the garden walk, shaded
by great oak tree, Walter Bruce stood,
looking down at Mamie with love-
lighted eyes. Her beautiful face, all
dimpled with smiles and bushes, was
lifted up to meet his gaze, and both her
little hands were fast prisoned in his
strong ones.
John looked. His face softened, his
eyes grew misty, and presently he said:
"How happy she is, Lawrence"