The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-07-05
Sslert Story.
MAMIE.

/ 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 l was to marry his
daughter Mamie when she was old
enough. have vague impression that
she was in long clothes the first time we
talked oft.
Her mother died when she was little
girl, and oId.Mrs Stillman took her home
to the family house at Owls Corner, one
ofthe prettiest little villages l ever had
the pleasure to see. But Mamie was
eighteen when l first met her as a wo
man, and this was the scene of our meet
ing.
John had sent for me to come to Owls
Corner on a certain July day, promising
TO drive over TO the station to meet me,
as my elderly legs covered the ground
but slowly. We had both retired from
business, rich men both, some five years
before, and corresponded regularly. But
| had been abroad, and this was my first
visit to Owls Corner in ten years. I re
membered Mamie as romping child,
fond of swinging on the gates, climbing
up grape arbors and imperiling her life
fifty times 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;
and then, seeing no sign of John, l
started 10 walk home. 1t was midday
and feartully hot, and when | had ac-
complished half the distance turned off
the road and started through a grove
that gave me longer walk, but thick
shade. was resting there ON broad
stone, completely hidden by the bushes
on every side, when | heard Johns
voice:
"Where have you been?"
There was such dismay and astonish
ment in the voice that / looked up in
surprise, to see that he was not greeting
me, but tall, slender girl coming to-
ward him. Such sight She was dark
and beautiful, dressed in a thin, rose
pink fauluess about the neck and throat,
but from the waist down, clinging to her
one mass of the greenest, blacklist, thick
est mud and water.
an the duck pond" she answered.
with voice as clear and musical as a
chime of bells. "Don't come near me- u
"You are enough to wear a man into
the gravel
There, don't scold," was the coaxing
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 10 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 pick
little brat out of the duck pond but
you?"
There were actually nobody Clsc
about. There now, don't be angry. III
go up 10 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 8. Lawrence is coming on the
2:10 train.
And had come on the 12:10. Thil
accounted for the failure TO meet me.
kept snug in my retreat until John ant
Mamie were well on their way home
ward, wondering a little how man!
young ladies in my circle of friend
would have so recklessly sacrificed neV
dress to pick up a beggar's brat out o
the mud.
When /, in my turn, reached tn
house, John was on the porch, waiting
for Nannies temperance. He CAV
me most cordial welcome, or rather
luncheon, called Mamie, his motheran
, a man to go for my trunk, all in on
) breath, and seemed really rejoiced to Sc
me.
. Presently slender girl, with trul
!, "bewitching' white dress, trimmed Wit
;. dashes of scarlet ribbon, and smoothl
: braided LACK hair, tied with scarlet bow
4 came demurely into the room and Wa
;, introduced. Never, however, in tbs
!. first hour could the widest imaginatio
have pictured Mamie Stillman wadin
into duck pond. But the halt shy, ha
dignifed company manner soon wor
away and Mamie and l we're fast friend
y before dinner. She sang for me as d,
liciously fresh as 4 birds carol; she too
Z me to see her pets, the new horse tn
+ 4 was her last birthday gift from papa
Is the ugly little scotch terrier with Ii
d beautiful brown eyes, the rabbits, Il
II Guinea hens, and the superannuated o.
I; pony, who had preceded the new hors
Of In a week was as much in love
~ ~ ever John could have desired. Mann
4. was the most bewitching maiden 1 hs
ever met, childlike and yet womanl
: frank, bright and full of girlish freal
N and boyish mischief and yet well ed
\ Gated, with really wonderful music
u gift, and full of noble thoughts. She W
a perfect idol in the village, her frien,
- y and neighbors thinking no party cor
plete without her, while the poor fair
IT, worshiped her.
II. John allowed her an almost unlimitt
y; supply of pocket money, and she W
oI lavish in all charity, from blankets
old women, tobacco for old men,
u candies for the children, and rides {
ng horseback for the urchins. And 81
srs had a way of comforting favors tn
never wounded the pride of the mo
:. sensitive.