The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-09-14

me for an instant ashamed and angry. But
on glancing again at my dress l could not
help laughing in spite or myself. stood
IN the mud at least six inches above the
tops of my shoes. My riding skirt was
plastered all over, so that it was almost
Impossible to tell Of what it was made. NV
hands and arms were mud to the elbows,
for had instinclively extended them rs
Tell IN order 10 break the fall.
The young man as he spoke, turned to
the neighboring fence, and taking the top
rail, he placed 1t across the puddle; then,
putting his arm around my waist, he lif.cd
m, out, thought not without leaving my
shoes behind. While he was fishing these
out, which he began Immediately to do,
stole behind the enormous oak to hide my
blushing face and scrapc the mud from my
riding skirt.
"Pray let me see you homc,'' he said.
III you will mount again I'll lead the colt,
and there will be no chance of his repeat
ing his trick" X
| could not answer for shame, but when
i'll the saddle nurmured something abou
s'not troubling him." III
"lts no trouble not the least" he re-
piled, standing hat in hand like a knight
cavalier, and still retaining his hold on the
Srldlc; land | can't really let you 20
alone, for the colt is as vicious as he can
be to-day. Look at his ears, and his red
eyesl saw you coming down the road,
and expected you to be thrown every min
u:e till | saw how well you rode. Nor
would it have happened if he had not
wheeled and stopped, like trick horse in a
ciru,."
cannot tell how soothing was tins grace
ful way OF excuslng my mishap. l stole
glance under my eyelids at the speaker.
and saw that he was very handsome and
gentlemanly, and apparently about x-and-
twenty, or several years older than NV.
self.
had hoped that uncle would be out in
the fields overlooking the men: but as we
entered the gate saw him sitting, proyok-
ingly, at the open window; and by the
time had sprung to the ground he came
out, his eyes brimful of mischief. | did
not dare to stop, but turning to my escort
said, ;"My uncle, sir; won't you walk in7,
and then rushed up stairs.
In about half an hour, just had dressed,
there was knock at my door-my uncle's
Knock; l could not but open. He was
laughing low, silent laugh, Ills porty
body shaking all over with suppressed mcri-
ment.
"Ahl ready at last" he said. al began
to deapair-of you, you were so long, and
came to hasten you. He's waiting in the
parlor still" he said, in malicious whis-
per. "You have my consent, for like
MIN very well; only who'd have thought
OF finding husband in mud puddle9"
l slipped past my tormentor, preferring
to lace even my escort than to run the
gauntlet of my uncle's wit, and was soon
stammcring my thanks to Mr.. Templeton
for as such my uncle, who followed me
down, introduced him.
10 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
1t all came about I hardly know, but Ger
tainly did find husband on that day.
Harry, for that is the name by which I
call Nlr. I.mplcton, says that entered the
the parlor so tranformed, by my light blue
muslin floating about me so like cloud
wreath, my curls playing such hide-and-
seek about my face, that, not expecting
such all apparitlon, he lost his heart at
once. He adds-for he knows how to
compliment as well as ever-that my gay i,
intelligent talk, SO different from the de.
murre miss he had expected, 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 I
had never seen him; but uncle remembered
him at once, and insisted Oh his staying un
til come down, though Harry, flon deli
cacy, would have left after he inquired
about my health. My uncle was one of
those who will not be put off, and so Harry
remained@''the luckiest thing" he saws,
She ever did,"
Milo Is now my favoritc stccd, for Harry
broke him for me, and we are happy as the
day is long, uncle included for uncle in.
sisted on our living with him, and | told
him at last l would consent, IF only to
keep Polly Wilkes from cooking his din
ner.' TO which he answered, looking at
Harry, "You see what a spltfrc it is; and
you may bless your stars if you don't rue
the day she went out to find husband
.
Old Timber.
PrOh0lt1u f1a olfloof ki,>,l,o,. /,