The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-06-28
MAMIE.

L cannot set down in so many words
Just when or how it came to be under
stood between my partner, John Still
man, and myself that 1 was to marry his
daughter, Mamie, when she was old
enough. l have a 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. Stillman took her
home to the family house at Owls Cor
ner, one of the prettiest little villages
ever had the good fortune to see. But
Mamie was Is when first met her as a
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 re-
tired from business, rich men both,
some five years before, and correspond
ed regularly. But had been abroad,
and this was my first visit to Owls Cor
ner in ten years. remembered Mamie
as a romping child, fond of swinging on
the gates, climbing up grapes rbors, and
importing her neck fifty times a day,
John always saying on each occasion:
"She's 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 home. 1t was midday
and fearfully hot. and when I accom-
plished half the distance / turned off the
road and started through q grove that
gave me longer walk, but thick shade.
L was resting there on a broad stone,
completely hidden by the bushes on
every side, when L heard Johns voice:
"Where have you been?"
There was such dismay and astonish-
ment in the voice that 1 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
dress of rose-pink, faultless about the
face and throat, but from the waist down
rclinging to her, one mass of the green
est, BLACKLIST, thickest mud and water.
In the duck pond" she answered
with voice as clear and musical as 9
chime of bells. "Don't come near me. ,
You are enough 10 wear a man into
his grave %
"There, don't scold," was the coax
ing reply little Bob Ryan fell in face
down. 1t did not make any material
difference in his costume, but was afraid
he 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 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 if there was nobody to picl
a little brat out of duck pond but
your
"There actually was nobody else
about. There, now, don't be angry. II
go up to the house and put on that be
witching white affair that came from
New York last week, and be all ready tc
drive over to the station with you, a
what time?"
"About 3. Lawrence is coming OF
the 2:10 train"
And ! had come on the 1910. Thi.
accounted for the failure to meet me.
kept snug in my retreat until John anC
Mamie were we'll on their way home
ward, wondering a little how man,
young ladies in my circle of friends
would have so recklessly sacrificed new
dress to pick up beggar's brat out o
the mud.
When I, in my turn, reached tn,
house, John was on the porch, waitinl
for Nannie's temperance. He gave me
most cordial welcome, or rather lunch
con, called Mamie, his mother, and
man to 90 for my trunk, all in on,
breath. and seemed really rejoiced Il
see r1e.
Presently elender girl, with trul,
bewitching" white dress, trimmed
with dashes of scarlet ribbon, anC