The Van Buren press., 1878-11-19
MIS- CElLANY Y.
N ANNIE.
THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE.

/ cannot mention in so many words
:.,a, .,l,a,, hs.,-, :. ~---- -
stood between my partner, john Stillmun
and myself that ! was to marry his daugh
ter Mamie when she was old enough
have the impression that she was in
long clothes at the time we first talked OF
| II.
Her mother died wien size was little
girl, and old Mrs. Stillman took her home
to lhe family at Owls Corner, one of the
pretiest little villages ever had the
good fortune to see. But Mamie was
eighteen when | frs met her as 81 woman,
and this was the scene of our meeting.
John had sent for me to come to Owls
Corner on certain July day, promising
to drive out to the station to meet me, as
my elderly legs covered the ground but
| slowly. We had retired from business,
rich men both, some five years before,
and corresponded regularly. But had
been abroad, aud this was my first visit
TO Owls Corner in ten years remem-
bered Mamie as romping girl, fond of
swinging on the gates, climbing up grape
arbors, ant importing her neck fifty times
day, John always saying on such &C.
casions: She's little wild, but shell
get over that. ~
waited at the station for half an hour,
then seeing no sign of John, l started to
walk to the house 1t was midday and
fearful hot, and when had accomplish
ed but half the distance | turned off the
road and started through a grove that
gave me u longer walk, but thick shade
| was resting on broad stone, complete
~ hidden by the bushes on every side,
when | heard Johns voice: "Where
have you been -
There was such dismay and astonish-
menl in the voice that | looked up in
surprise, to find that he was not letting
me, but tall, slender girl coming toward
him. Such sight She was dark and
beautiful, dressed in a thin dress Of rose
pink, faultlcss about the waist and throat
but from the waist down clinging to her
one mass or the greenest, Dlackest, thick
est mud water.
"In the duck pond" she answered,
with voice as clear and musical as a
chime of bells; Don't come near me"
"You are enough TO wear man into
his grave
"There, don't scod,' was the coax
ing re ly, =" little Bob Ryan fell in, face
down 1t did not make any material
difference in his costume, but was afraid
hh would smother, so ! waded in after
him. The water is not over two feet
deep, but the mud goes clear through to
China, / imagine 1t is rather a pity
about my new dress, isn't it,
"A pity 2" roared John, "you'll come
to an untmely end some day with your
freaks. AS if there was nobody to pick
an Irish child out of the duck pond but
you ~
There actually was nobody else about.
There, now, don't be angry. I'll go up
to the house and put on that bewitchmg
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 3. Lawrence is coming ON
the 2;l0"
And | had come on the II :4O, 1his
accounted for the failure to meet me. |
kept snug in my retreat until John ana
Mamie were well on their way home
ward, wondering little how many young
ladies' in my circle of friends would have
so recklessly sacrificed new dress 10
pick up a beggar's brat out of the mud.
When |, in my turn, reached the house,
John was on the porch waiting for Nan
MICS temperance. lie gave me most
cordial welcome, ordering luncheon, cali
ed Mamie, his mother, and man to go