The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-05-09
NANNIE.
Under the gur
UnueI Jhe gums,
Under the guns of Thy Fort on the Hill.

L cannot set uOWn Ill 80 many NOIhs
Just when or how it came to be under
stood between my partner, John Still
man, and myself, that | was to marry
his daughter, Mamie, when she was
old enough. have vague impression
that she was in long clothes when 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 /
had the good fortune to see. But Nan
ME was eighteen when | first met her,
woman, and this was the scene of our
meeting:
John had sent for me to come TO Owls
Corner on certain July day, promised
to drive over to the station and meet
me, as my elderly legs covered the
ground slowly. We retired from bust
ness rich men both, some five years be-
fore, and corresponded regularly. But
had been abroad, and this was my
first visit to OWLS COrner-in ten years.
| remembered Mamie as romping
child, fond of swinging on the gates,
climbing up grape arbors, and imperil-
ing her neck fifty times day, John
always saying on such occasions:
"She's a 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 to the house. 1t was
midday and fearfully hot, and when |
had accomplished but half the distance
turned off the road and started through
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 find that he was not greet
ing me, but a tall, slender girl coming
towards him. Such a sight She was
dark and beautiful, dressed in a thin
dress of rose pink, faultless about the
waist and throat, but from the waist
down clinging to her, one mass of the
greenest, blackest, thickest mud and
water.
oIn the duck pond" she answered,
with voice as clear and musical as
the chime of bells. Don't come near
me-"
"You are enough to wear man into
his grave"
"There, don'tscold, was the coaxing
reply: "little Bob Ryan fell in face
down. 1t did not make any material
difference in his costume, but Lswas
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, amt
itP"
ga pity" roared John. "You'll
come to an untimely end some day with
vour freaks. As if there was nobody
TO pick an Irish brat out of the duck
pond but YOU"
"rhere actually was no one else
about. There, now, don't be angry.
Pll 90 up to the house and put on that
bewitching white affair that came from
New York last week, and be all ready
TO drive over to the station with you,
at what timer"
"About three. Lawrence Is coming
on the 2:l0."
And | had come on the II 10. This
accounted for the failure to meet me. ]
kept snug In my retreat until John and
Mamie were well on their way home
ward, wondering little how many
young ladies in my circle of friends
would have so recklessly sacrificed
new dress to pick up a beggar's brat ou'
of the mud.
When |, In my turn, reached the
house, John was on the porch waiting
for Nannie's appearance. lie gave me
most cordial welcome, ordered lunch
con, called Mamie, his mother, and
man to 90 for my trunk, all in one
breath, and seemed really rejoiced tt
see pe.
Presently slender girl with truly
bcwitching white dress trimmed will
dashes of scarlet ribbon, and smoothly
braided back hair, tied with scarle
bows, came demurely into the room
aud was introduced. Never, however
In that first hour could the wildes