The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-04-12

bright with delight, crying:
ooh, grandma! Walt has come home
I saw him from my window riding u
the road"
She was going then, just as John ez
claimed
Confound Waltz
Who is Walt ?" I naturally in
quired.
Z" Walter Bruce, the son of one of ou
neighbors. lie has been like brethe
to Mamie all her life, but went off t.
Europe two years ago, when he came o
age. They wanted to correspond, bu
1 forbade that. So he has turned W
again"
1t was evident that John was terribly
yexed, and l very soon shared his annoy.
ance. Walt, tall, handsome young
fellow, improved, not spoiled by travel
just haunted the house.
He was generally of with Mamie as
soon as he arrived, and blind to Mrs.
Stillman's ill-concealed coldness, 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 1 came into the room, and
Walt was walking beside Mamie when
the hour for our usual stroll arrived.
And the very demon of mischief pos
sessed the girl. There was no freak she
was not inventing 10 imperil her life,
riding, driving, boating, and I fairly
shivered sometimes at the prospectof my
nervous terrors when it would be my task
to try to control this quicksilver temper
ament.
But one day, when I was in the sum-
mer>house, very rueful little maiden,
with a tear-stained face, came to my
side.
Walt is going away !" she said.
Z" Indeed! !"
90 Yes, and he says Pm a wicked firt "
with a choking sob; g thought 1 would
ask you about it."
ADDuL WnaL
Our getting married. You know
papa told me I was to marry you ages
and sges ago?"
Yes"
" And I knew it was all right if he
said so. But Walt says you must be a
muf if you want a wife who is all the
time thinking of somebody else.
" And you know 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 I kissed his picture every
night and morning aud wore his hair in
a locket, and thought of him all the
time. And he says you won't like it
after we are married"
"Wen, not exactly" l said dryly
" You'll have to stop thinking of him
then"
81 don't believe ever can. And so l
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 1
ought to be if am to be an old mans
wife"
"Of course"
And l am so rude and horrid, 1 knew
/ am not nice like city girls, and I am
hateful, but Walt don't care"
1 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 l was
not quite an idiot, and said, gravely:
But your fatherP'
" Yes, know he'll make real l!sterm. !
But then his storms don't last long, and |
maybe you would tell him that you have /
changed you mind. You have, haven't |
you ?"
eyes; the last half hour has quite
changed my matrimonial views"
1 could not help smiling, and the next |
moment two arms encircled my neck, !
warm kiss fell upon my cheek, and Nan.
1ie cried:
"You are perfect darling, a perfect
larling, and l shall love you dearly all |
ny life."
So when / lost her love gained it. /
She fitted away presently, and gave
myself a good mental shaking up, and /
concluded my fools paradise would soon |
nave vanished if l had undertaken to
make an old lady" out of Mamie.
Johns wrath was loud and violent. |
He exhausted all the vituperat1ve Ian
yuage in the dictionary and then sat |
lown, painting but furious.
"Come now," 1 said what is the
objection to young Bruce? Ishe poor ?"
" No, confound him He inherits his
property, besides what his
ather will probably leave him"
" Is he immoral ?"
never heard SC"
"What does all him, then? ?'
Nothing; but l have set my heart on
Nannie's marrying you"
"Well, you see, she has set her heart |
n another direction, and l strongly OBJ
ect to wife who is in love with some
'ody else"
"What on earth sent the puppy
Iome?"
Love for Mamie, 1 imagine. Come,
Tohn, you won't be my father-in-law, for |
will not marry Mamie if you are ever
o tyrannical; but we can jog along as
Usual, the best of friends-look!"
1 pointed out of the window as
poke. On the garden walk, shaded by |
great oak tree. Walter Bruce stood,
ooking down at Mamie with love-lighted |
yes Her beautiful face, all dimpled |
With smiles and bushes, was lifted up
o meet his gaze, and both her little