The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-19

blushing speeches. suppose ranked
just where John and Nannie's grand
mother did In her affections.
But one morning, when Mrs. Stillman
was shipping her geraniums IN the sit
ting-room, and John was reading the
mornings newspapers. Mamie burst 10,
her beautiful face all aglow, her eyes
bright with delight, crying:
"Oh, grandma Walt has come home!
/ saw him from my window riding up
the road"
She was going then, just as John ex-
claimed:
"Oonfound Waltz"
"Who Is Waltz" naturally inquired.
walter Bruce, the son OF one Of our
neighbors. He has been like a brother
to Mamie all her life, but went off to
Europe two years ago. when he came OF
age. They wanted to correspond, but /
forbade that. So he has turned up
again"
1t was evident that John was terribly
vexed, and very soon shared his annoy
ance. Walt. q tall, handsome young
fellow, 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 Game into tho room,
and Walt was walking beside Mamie
when the hour for our usual stroll ar
rived.
And the very demon of mischief pos
sessed the girl. There was no freak she
was not inventing to imperil her life,
riding, driving, boating, and l fairly
shivered sometimes at the prospect Of
my nervous terrors when 1t would be
my task to try to control this quicksil-
yer temperament.
But one day, when was In the sum-
mer- house, a very rueful little maiden,
with q tear-stained face, came to my
side.
Walt is going awayl' she said.
Eyes. and he says I'm wicked firt,"
with choking sob II thought would
ask you about it."
about what?"
'Our getting married You know
papa told me was to marry you ages
and ages ago"
"And ] knew it was all right ii he
said so. But Walt says you must be
muff IL you want wife who Is all the
time thinking Of somebody else"
And you know l can't help it. Walt
has been my friend ever since we were
always together. And when he was in
Europe papa wouldn't let US write to
each other, but l kissed his picture
every night and morning and wore his
hair in a locket, and thought Of him all
it after we ere married"
"WeIl not exactly - GniI 1rvly
you'll have to stop thinking of him
then"
II don't believe ever can. And so
thought I'd tell you, and perhaps
perhaps you will tell papa we don't
care about being married after all.
don't think l could ever be sedate and
grave like an old lady, and of course |
ought to be IL am to be an old mans
wife,"
"Of course"
"And I am so rude and horrid, |
know am not nice like city girls, and |
am altogether 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 CULVER
ing. 1t was a sore wrench to give her
up, but / was not quite an idiot, and
said, grayely:
Dut your IdIuel!
eyes, I 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't your"
Eyes; the last half hour~has quite
changed my matrimonial views"
could not help smiling, and the next
two arms encircled my neck, a
warm kiss fell upon my cheek, and
Mamie cried:
"You are perfect darling, a perfect
darling, and | shall love you dearly all
my life."
So when / lost her love I gained it.
She fitted away presently, and l gave
myself a good mental shaking up, and
concluded my FOOLS paradise would
soon have vanished il I had under
taken to make an "old lady" out Of
Mamie.
Johns wrath was loud and violent.
He exhausted all the vituperative Ian
guage in the dictionary, and then sat
down, painting but furious.
Come, now," | said; what is the
objection to young Bruce? Is he
poor?" il
"No, confound him! he inherits his
grandfather's property, besides what his
father will probably leave him.
rs he immoral?" {
81 never heard So" II
what does all him, then?''
Nothing, but have set my heart On
Nannie's marrying YOU {
well, you see, she has set her heart s
n another direction, and / strongly OBJ
ect to a wife who is in love with some Is
oody else." If
'What on earth sent the puppy homer" t
Love for Mamie. I imagine. Come,
John, you won't be my father-in-law,
or will not marry Mamie il you are t
sver so tyrannical, but we can jog along
IS usual, the best of friends-look,
pointed out Of the window as I i
spoke. On the garden walk, shaded by
4 great oak tree. Walter Bruce stood, E
looking down at Mamie with love- I
lighted eyes. Her beautiful face, all
limpled with smiles and bushes, was +
lifted up TO meet his gaze, and both her 6
title hands were fast prisoned in his