Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-06-22
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lcontipued from first pagsl
"Oh, grandma Walt has come home
saw him from my window riding up the
road
She wvs going then, just as John ex-
claimed:
''Confound Waltz
"Who is Walt ?" | naturally inquired
walter Bruce, the son of one OF our
neighbors. He has been like brother
to Mamie all her life, but went off t.
Europe two years ago, when he came OF
age. They wanted to correspond but
forbade that So be has turned up
again"
Ii was evident that John was terribly
vexed, and very soon shared his annoy
ance. Walt, a 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
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. Mamie had
taken long ride with Walt, was at the
piano when | came into the room. and
Walt was walking beside Mamie when
the hour for our usual stroll arrived.
And the very demon was in the girl
There was no freak she was not invent
ing to imperil her life, riding, driving
boating. and fairly shivered at the pros
pect OF nv nervous terrors when il would
be my task TO thy and control this quick
silver temperament. But one dav when
| was in the summer house. very rueiul
little maiden, with tear-stained face.
came to my side.
Walt is going away she said.
'Indeed"
'Yes, and he SAYS am a wicked drt,
with choking sob; thought | would
ask you about it,"
About what ?"
"Our getting married You know
papa told me / was to marry YOU ages and
ages ago"
Yes
And knew it was all right if he said
so. But Walt says You must be muff il
you want a wife who is all the time think
ing of somebody else
''And you know | can't help it, Walt
has been my friend ever since we were al
ways together. And when he was in
Europe papa wouldn't let us write to each
other. but | kissed his picture every night
and morning and wore his hair in lock-
ct, and thought of him all the time. And
he says you won't like it after we are
married.
'Well, not exactly" | said dryly.
GU will have to stop thinking OF him
then"
II don't believe | ever can, and so |
thought Id tell YOU, and perhaps-per-
hon NFn xxrsll t..1 :.
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 | am to be an old mans wife"
'Of course"
land am so rude and horrid, know
am not like nice 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
sore wrench to give her up, but | was not
quite an idiot, and said gravely:
but your father ?'
Yes. know; he'll make 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 It
you p
Yes; the last half hour has quite
changed my matrimonial views"
could not help smiling, and the next
moment two arms encircled my neck, a
warm kiss fell upon my cheek, and Nan
ME cried.
You are perfect darling, a perfect
darling, and | shall love you dearly all
my lie"
SO when lost her / gained it. She
hilted away presently, aud gave myself
good mental shaking up, and concluded
my TOOLS paradise would soon have van
ished ii had undertaken to make AN "old
LADY, out of Mamie
Johns wrath was loud and violent. He
exhausted all the yitlperative language in
the dictionary, and then sat down, painting
and furious.
Come, now" said, what is the OBJ
lection to young Bruce Is he poorP"
mo, confound him He inheri his
grandlather's property. beside what his
father will probably leave him"
us he common P"
" never heard So"
"What does all him, then p
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 wife who is in love with somebody
else"
what on earth sent The puppy home ?"
Love for Mamie, | imagine. Come.
John, you won't be my father-in-law, for
| will not marry Mamie il You are ever so
tyrannical, but we can jog along as usual,
the best OF friends-look !"
pointed out oil the window as spoke.
On the garden walk. shaded by great
oak tree, Walter Bruce stood looking
down at Mamie with loved-lighted ewes,
Her beauli ul face, all dmpled with smiles
and bushes, lifted up to meet his gaze.
and both her lifted hands were fast pris
oned in his strong ones.
John looked. His face softened, his
eyes grew misty, and presently he said:
"How happy she is, Lawrence.
"And we will not cloud her happiness.
John, answered. This is RIGHT and
fitting. Mamie is too bright a May fow-
er to be wilted by being tied up to an old
December log like me-"
SO when, half fearful, the lovers came
in, they met only words OF affection. and
Nannie's face lost nothing of its sunshine.