Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-09-30

instinctively extended them as fell, in order
to break the fall.
The young man, as he spoke, turned to the
neighboring fence, and, taking the top rail
he placed it across the puddle then, putting
his arm round my waist, he lifted me out,
though not without leaving my shoes behind
While he was fishing these out, which he be-
gan Immediately to do, l stole behind the
enormous oak to hide my blushing face and
scrape the mud from my riding-skirt.
"Pray let me see you home" he said.
"If you will mount again, I'll lead the colt,
and there will be no chance of his repeating
his trick"
could not answer for shame, but when
in the saddle murmured something about
mot troubling him." :. ,
It's no trouble not the least" he replied,
standing hat in hand like knightly cavalier,
and still retaining his hold on the bride
"and really can't let you 60 alone, for the
colt is as vicious as he can be to-day. Look
at his ears, and his red eyes! | saw you
coming down the road, and expected you to
be thrown every minute, till saw how well
you rode. Nor would it have happened if
he had not stopped, like trick horse in a
circus"
cannot tell how soothing was this grace
full way of excusing my mishap. | stole a
glance under my eyelids at the speaker, and
saw that he was very handsome and gentle,
manly, and apparently about 26, or several
years older than myself.
had hoped that uncle would be out in
the fields overlooking the men; but as we
entered the gate, saw him sitting, provok-
ingly, at the open window and by the time
1 had sprung to the ground he came out, his
eyes brimful of mischief l did not dare to
stop, but, turning to my escort, said, my
uncle, sir; won't you walk in?" and then
rushed up stairs.
In about half an hour, just as | had dressed,
there was knock at my door-my uncle's
knock could not but open. He was laugh
ing low, silent laugh, his portly body shak.
ing all over with suppressed merriment.
"Ah! ready at last" he said IL began
to despair of you, you we're so long, and came
to hasten you. He's waiting in the parlor
STILL" he said, in a malicious whisper. "You
have my consent, for like him very we'll !;
only who'd have thought of finding a hus'
band in mud. d.puddle?"
I slipped past my tormentor, preferrlng to
face even my escort than to run the gauntlet
of my uncles wit, and was soon stammering
my thanks to Mr. Templeton-for as such
nv uncle, who followed me down, introduced
him.
To make short of what else would be a
long story, what was said in jest turned out
to be in earnest, for in less than six months
became Mrs. Templeton. How it all came
about I hardly know, but certainly did find
husband on that day. Harry, for that is
the name by which I call Mr.. Templeton,
says that l entered the paror so transformed,
my light.blue muslin floating about me so.
like cloud.wreath, my cheeks so rosy, my
eyes so bright, my curls playing such hide
and.seek about my face, that, not expecting
such an apparition, he lost his heart at once.
He adds-for he knows how to compliment
as we'll as ever-that my gay, intelligent talk,
so different from the demure miss he had ex.
pected, completed the business.
Harry was the son of an old neighbor,
who had been abroad for three years, and,
before that, had been at college, so that had
never seen him; but uncle remembered him
at once, and insisted on his staying until [
came down, though Harry, from delicacy,
would have left after he inquired about my
health. My uncle was one of those who will
not be put off, and so Harry remainea-"the
luckiest thing" he says, "he ever did"
Milo is now my favorite steed, for Harry
broke him for me, and we are all as happy
as the day is long, uncle included for uncle
insisted on our living with him, and l told
him at last would consent, "if only to keep
Polly Wilkes from cooking his dinner" To
which he answered, looking at Harry, "You
see what spit6re she is, and you may bless
your stars if you don't rue the day she went
out to find husband"