The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-07-06

that he was not greeting me, but tall, sler
der girl coming toward him. Such sight
She was dark and beautiful, dressed in thi
dress of pink, faultlcss about the face ant
throat, but from the waist down clingng L
her one mass Of the grcenest, blacklist, thick
est mud and water
in the duck pond" she answered with
voice us clear and musical rs a chime of bells
I"Don't come near me-"
"Iou are enough to wear IA man into hi
gravel
There, don't scold," was the coaxing reply
"little Bob Ryan fell in face down. 1t did no
make any material difference in his costume
but was afraid he would smother, SO | wadeo
in after him. The water is not over two feet
deep, but the mud goes clear through to Chi
ma, imagine. 1t is rather II pity about my
new dress, isn't t?"
a pity" roarcd John; 'you'll come to an
untimely end some day with your freaks. As
if there was nobody to pick little brat out OF
a 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 bewitching 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 2.10
train"
And had come on the 1910 This account
ed for the failure to meet me. | kept snug in
my retreat until John and Mamie were well
on their way homeward, wondering Il little
how many young ladies in my circle of friends
would have so recklessly sacrificed new
dress to pick up bcggar's brat out Of the
mud
When |, in my turn, reached the house John
was on the porch, waiting for Nannie's reap
pearance He gave me n most cordial wei
come, or rather q 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 be
white dress, trimmed with dashcs of
scarlet ribbon, and smoothly braided black
hair, tied with scarlet bows came dcmurcly
into the room and was introduced But the
laltshy, halfdigniied company manner soon
wore away, and Mamie and were fastfriends
before dinner. She sang for me in "A voice as
fresh rs birds carol; she took
ne to see her pets, the new horse that was her
asst birthday gift from papa the ugly little
scotch terrier with the beautiful brown eyes, |
he rabbits, Guinea hens, and the supcran-
luated old pony who had preceded the new
lorse.
IL
Ohn could have desired Mamie was the !
most bewitching maiden had ever met, child |
ike and yet womanly, frank, bright, and full !
# glrlish freaks and boysh mischief, and yet
veil educated, with really wonderful musical
lifts, and full of noble thoughts. She was
perfect idol in the village, her friends and !
cghbors thinking no party complete without
Ter, while the poor fairly worshippcd her.
John allowed her an almost unlimited sup
'ly OF pockctmoncy, and she was lavish in all
harity, from blankets for old women, tobacco
Or old men, to candies for the children, and
idcs on horseback for the urchins. And She
lad way of comforting tavors that never
Wounded the pride Of the most sensitive.
We rode together every morning; we walk
d in the cool evening hours; we spent much
inc at the piano, and discussed our favorite
uthOrs, and one day when | asked Mamie to
Ne my wife she SAID coolly:
why, Of course, thought that was all un.
crstood long ago"
| was rather amazed at such matter.offact |,
'ooing but delighted at the result How
ould | expect any soft, bushing speeches? |,
oppose | ranked just where John and Nan.
les grandmother did in her affection.
But one morning, when Mrs Stillman was
nipplng her gcraniums in the sltting-room
nd John was reading the mornings newspa-
ers, Mamie burst in, her beautiful face all
glow, her eyes bright with delight crying:
"Oh, grandma! Walt has come home l.
iw him from my window riding up the
Dad"
She was going then, just rs John exclaimed:
"Contound Waltz
who is Waltz" | naturally inquired
walter Bruce the son of one of our neigh
ors. He has been like IA brother to Mamie
II her life, but went off to Europe two years
90, when he came Of age. They wanted 10
but | forbade that. So he has
lrned up again"
IL was evident that John was terribly vcXed,
nd very soon shared his annoyance. Walt
tall, handsome young fellow, improved, not
Dolcd, by travel, just haunted the house
He was generally off with Mamie rs soon
5 he arrived, and blind to Mrs Stillman's i'll
)nccalcd coldneSS and Johns sarcastic speech
) about boys and puppies
As tor me, by the time my sleepy eyes were
pcncd in the morning Mamie had taken a
ing ride with Walt, was at the piano when |
anne into the room, and Walt was walking
csidc Mamie when the hour for our usual Y
roll arrived.
And the very demon of mischief possessed ,
lc girl. There was no freak she was not in
entlng to lmpcril her life, riding, driving |
Dating, and | fairly shivercd sometimes at ,
he prospect of my nervous terrors when it I,
ould be my task to try to control this quick
liver temperament /
But one day, when | was in the summer .
Ouse, IA very ruciul little maiden, with tear 'c
aimed face, came to my side.
walt is going away" she said
Indeed
"les, and he says I'm wicked flirt," with I
choking sob; Il thought | would ask you '
bout it."
About WHAT"
"Our getting married You know papa |
Id me | was To marry you ages and ages "
20" o.
YES"
And knew it was all right if he said SO =
ut Walt says you must be a nun if you want l
wife who is all the time thinking of some Il
,dy else "
And you know | can't help it, Walt has Z,
on my friend ever since we were always to-
her And when he was III Europe papa q
nh llu't n : uritp A paph pf ksr but | EisS Ig