Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-09-05

thi1o oA1SAJ. DuU, I'll SAHiASh6 oSoaA "o
my dress, could not help laughing in
spite of myself. I 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. Ny hands
and arms were mud to the elbows, for I
had instinctively extended them as I 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 began imme-
diately to do, I stole behind the enor-
nous oak to hide myNblushing face and
scrape the mud from my riding-skirt.
"Pray let me see you home, " he said.
eff you will mount again, I'll lead the
colt, and there will be no chance of his
repeating his trick"
I could not answer for shame, but
when in the saddlemurmured something
about "not troubling him."
"It's no trouble, not the least" he
replied, standing hat in hand like a
knightly cavalier, and still retaining his
hold on the bride; "and I really can't
let you go alone, for the colt is as vicious
as he can be to-day. Look at his ears,
and his red eyes I saw you coming
down the road, and expected you to be
thrown every minute, till saw how we'll
you rode. Nor would it have happened
if he had not stopped, like a trick horse
in circus"
I cannot tell how soothing was this
graceful way of excusing my mishap. I
stole a glance under my eyelids at the
speaker, and saw that he was very hand
some and gentlemanly, 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 sit
ting, provokingIy, at the open window ;
and by the time I had sprung to the
ground he came out, his eyes brimf1l of
mischief. I 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 I had
dressed, there was knock at my door
my uncle's knock I could not but open.
He was laughing low, silent laugh, his
portly body shaking all over with sup
pressed merriment.
"Ah !! ready at last, he said. ct be-
gan 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 mali
cious whisper. "You have my consent,
for I like him very well only who'd
have thought of finding a husband in a
mud-puddle %
I slipped past my tormentor, pre-
ferring to face even my escort than to
run the gantlet of my uucle's wit, alld
was soon stammering my thanks to MI.
Templeton-for as such my uncle, who
followed me down, introduced him.
Tomake 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 I became Mrs. Templeton. How
it all came about I hardly know, but I
certainly did find husband on that day.
Harry, for that is the name by which I
call Mr.. Templeton, says that I entered
the parlor 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 well as ever-that my
gay, intelligent talk, so different from
the demure miss he had expected, COM
pleted 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 re-
membered him at once, and insisted on
his staying until I 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 remained" the
luckiest thing" he says, she 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 in
cluded; for uncle insisted on our living
with him, and I told him at last I would
consent, "if only to keep Polly Wilkes
from cooking his dinner" To which he
answered, looking at Harry, s'You see
what a spitfire it is, and you may bless
your stars if you don't rue the day she
4 O.