Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-03-08

| supply Va pUChCO uOuCy duO ouO wac IoNAo
in all charity, from blankets for old wo
men, tobacco for old men, to candies TO
children, and rides on her horse for tn
urchins. And she had way of conferrini
favors that never wounded the pride of tn
most sensitive.
We rode together every morning, w
walked in the cool evening hours, we spent
much time at the piano, and discussed oul
favorite authors, and one day, when ask
ed Mamie to be my wife, she said coolly
"Why, of course, thought that was all
understood long agol"
Twas rather amazed at such matter-of
fact wooing, but delighted at the result
How could l expect any soft. blushing
speeches. I suppose ranked just where
John and Nannie's grandmother did in
her affections.
But one morning when Mrs. Stillman
was nipping her geraniums in the sitting
room, and John was reading the morning
newspapers, Mamie burst in, her beauti-
full face all aglow, her eyes bright with de-
light, crying:
sob, grandma! Walt has come home!
I saw him from my window riding up the
road"
She was going then, just as John ex-
claimed:
s'Confound Waltz"
"Who IS Walt?'' I naturally inquired.
"Walter Bruce is the son of one of our
neighbors. He has been like brother to
Mamie all her life, but went off to
Europe two years ago, when he came of
age. They wanted to correspond, but I
forbade that. So he has turned up pagan. y
It was evident that John was terribly
vexed, and I very soon shared his annoy
ance. Walt, tall. handsome young fell
low. improved. not spoiled by travel, just
haunted the house.
He was generally off with Mamie as
soon as he arrived, and blind to Mrs. Still
mans frowns, 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, Mamie had
taken long ride with Walt, and was at
the pi ano when came into the room, and
Walt was walking beside Mamie when the
hour for our usual stroll arrived.
And the very demon of mischief possess
ed the girl. There was no freak she was
not inventing to imperil her life, riding,
driving, boating, and I fairly shivered
sometimes at the prospect of my nervous
terrors when it would be my task to try to
control this quicksilver temperament.
But one day when was in the summer
house, very rueful little maiden, with a
tear stained face, came to my side.
'"Walt is going away!'' she said.
"Indeed -
eyes, and he says I'm wicked flirt!"
with a choking sob; 81 thought / would
ask you about it,
"About whatp"
"Our getting married. You know papa
told me was to marry you, ages and ages
ago?"
eyes"
"And knew it was all right if he said
so. But Walt says you must be muff if
you want wife who is all the time think
ing of somebody else. And you
know I can't help it. Walt has been
my friend ever since we we're little,
and we we're always together. And
when he was in Europe papa wouldn't let
us write to each other, but 1 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're married."
"Well, not exactly" I said dryly.
Y QUILL have to stop thinking of him then"
II don't believe ever can. And so I
thought I'd tell you, and perhaps-per-
haps you will tell papa we don't
care about being married after all. don't
think 1 could ever be sedate and grave,
like an old lady, and of course ought to
be if I am to be an old mans wife,
'sOf course"
"And am so rude and horrid, I know
l am not nice like city girls, and am al
together hateful; but Walt don't care"
rather agreed with Walt as she stood
in shy confusion before me, her eyes still
misty, her sweet lips quivering. 1t was a
sore wrench to give her up, but I was not
quite an idiot, and said, gravely: =
''But your father 20
Eyes, know; he'll make a real storm.
But then his storms don't last long, and
maybe you have changed your mind. You
have, haven't you 20
eyes; the last half hour has quite
changed my matrimonial views.'
| ~, +bn
moment two arms encircled my neck, a
warm kiss fell upon my cheek, and Nan
ME cried:
s'You are perfect darling; a perfect
darling, and shall love yon dearly all my
life.''
So when lost her love I gained it. She
fitted away presently, and gave myself
good mental shaking up, and concluded
my fools paradise would soon have van
ished if had undertaken to make an s'old
LADY, out of Mamie.
| Johns wrath was loud and violent. He
exhausted all the vituperative language
in the dictionary, and then sat down, pant
ing, but furious.
Come now," said, ''what is the objec-
ton to young Bruce ? Is he poor ?"
"No. confound him He inherits his
grandfather's property, besides what his
father will probably leave him."
lis he immoral ?"
| II never heard So"
"What does all him, then 20
"Nothing; but have set my heart on
Nannie's marrying you.'
"Well, you see, she has set her heart IN
another direction, and strongly object to
| a xy;fo x,ho ia in love with SomhodV elS0.N