Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1879-01-23
MANI LIE.
MANI a n.
Am Original Story.
BY ANNIE LAURA,

Mamie was never no general favor
lte when she was child, yet she had
her friends. The children at school,
as general thing, never liked her,
yet there she found friends, and the
teacher was nearly always numbered
with them. She was not handsome,
neither was she homely. She had
strong traits Of character that shone
out at times very brilliantly, and she
had way of saying and doing things
in an original way, that would shock
the very fastidious; yet she would
say them all the same. Her parents
lived in Kentucky, and like most of
the Kentuckians owned negroes They
were not considered wealthy, yet
they lived in ease. Her recollection
OF her father was very limited, he hav-
ing died when she was quite young.
Her mother at times had serious
trouble with her. She always had
her tavorlte playmates, and to her
mothers judgment sometimes failed
to make wise choice, and she would
eXpostulate with Mamie, and try to
get her to see the error Of her choice.
But Mamie was a little self-willed,
and would always inquire "why such
a girl, or such a boy (for her play
mate was as apt to be the latter as
the former) was not as coed as any
OF the rest; - in short, she wanted a
reason for not liking them. To merely
say they were not good enough to be
with, was no evidence to her that it
was so; and this point in her charac-
ter she kept as long as she lived.
She must know reason, and see
some evidence, before she gave ND
any friendship. This made her rather
unpopular with a certain class, that
is ever ready to go with the popular
side, yet she clung to what she
thought was right, and no influence
would keep her from it. She receiv-
ed liberal education, and at the AGE
OF nineteen, would have graduated at
the seminary had she continued to 90
few months longer. Yet when she
was through school she did not give
up her study. She loved to read,
and her selections were of Il good
kind. Just at this time she made
the acquaintance of gentleman
from the East, named Henry Burns
Mr.. Burns and Mamie soon became
friends, then the good gossips began
their part of the story. The war had
closed three years before, yet the
| nt iofS h,l Al i
on the people, and many dislked
him because he came from the East. |
Mamie, by this, as in other things, |
saw no reason why that should be a |
cause Of mistreating him. She be- /
lived him to be worthy of respect,
and others opinions had no influence
with her. They met frequently till
they became acknowledged friends, |
as he chose. Mamie mOCnef ulu |
not oppose her friendship for Henry ; |
neither did she encourage it. She |
was a woman of great judgment and
sense, and never opposed Mamie |
without a reason. One evening as
Mamie and Henry were sitting to-
gether he remarked:
Il think l shall have to return
home in few days" The announce
ment was surprising to Mamie, and
she said: ''Have you got tired so
soon of kentucky" "No my dear
friend, but business calls me home.
Notwithstanding I've met with many
that disliked me, yet my stay here
has been very pleasant. Your home
and society has been my greatest
pleasure. shall never forget you
Mamie, neUer. You know without
my telling you, that you have the
present love of my soul. love you
beyond everything else. Oh. Mamie!
YOU have never told me that you
loved me, but know and feel that
YOU do. Surely such love as l have
for you, could not be given to one
that would not appreciate it. Tell
me, my darling friend, if it is not so!"
YES, Henry, L do love you beyond
all others. You know l despise af
fcctation, and / tell you truly, that |
shall miss you so much, that | don't
know what l will do. Our songs,
ouI books, our walks, all as L go over
them again, will remind me of my dear
friend that's tar away, but one that
will never be forgotten"
"My dearest Mamie, think not that
) | will ever forget you, and if l live,
know that will come back to you |
feel that no human power could him
der me. Ever love me, my darling.
and do not for q moment doubt me,
but know that am loving and think
ing of my dear Mamie all the time,
and working to get back to her. |
shall write you often, and L hope to
get as many answers. -
Eyes, Henry, II lanswer every let
ter, and wish that could hear from
you every day" With this they kiss
ed each other and took their final
leave. Each felt hopeful that they
. would meet again THAT the fates would
be propitious to their future, and
that happiness would he theirs.
: Every few days Mamie received s
message from Henry, which she an
swered punctually. Mamie hat
strong adhesiveness and also a full
I share of conscientiousness, which
made her love her friends dearly, an(
also desire that they should be true
to her in every particular. She coulo
not bear to be doubted or mistrustet
. especially by those she loved Henry
+! letters came often, only missing on'
week. She suffered much disappoint
ment, and wrote him, asking if h
9 were sick. Receiving no answer sh
,e wrote the postmaster, inquiring TO
d her Henry. Soon there came lette
: from the postmaster stating tina
Henry Burns had died the week be
- fore with the fever that he had no
II been very well for several days, bu
had kept up working hard to &C
!. ready to return to Kentucky; too
I the fever and only lived six days
'@ NV dear reader, Mamie didn't fain
cry, nor make any noise, but sh
turned deathly pale, and felt that
part of her hfe had gone never to t