Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-08-08
MARTINsBURG, VA, SATURDAY, AUG. g. 1885.
" Shall I help you :" suddenly said
a deep, a rich manly voice.

Snail help y0u !" suddenly SAID
a deep, itch manly voice.
l looked up and saw young man
the suppressed merriment of whose
bright eyes brought the blood to my
cheek, and made me for an instant
angry and ashamed. But on glanc,
ing again at my dress, l could not
help laughing in spite of myself. !
stood in the mud at least six inches
over tops of my shoes my riding
skirt was plastered all over, so that
it was almost impossible to tell OF
what it was made my hands and
arms were mud to the elbows for
had instinctiyely extended them as
fell, in order to protect myself.
The young man, as he spoke, turn.
ed to the neighboring fence, and tax
ing the top rail, laid it across the
puddle, then, putting his arms about
my waist, he lifted me our, though
not without leaving my shoes behind.
While be was fishing these out,
which he began Immediately to do,
| stood behind the enormous oak to
to hide my blushing face and scrape
the mud from my stocking and rid
ing skirt. had managed to get the
first little cleaner, but the latter
still thick as ever, when my CON-
panion made his appearance with
the missing shoes, which he had
scraped till they were quite present
able, and leading Milo by the bride,
Pray let me see You home," said
he. " If you will amount again. I'll
lead the colt, and there will be no
more chance of his repeating the
trick"
could not answer for shame. but
when in the saddle, murmured some
thing about not troubling him again.
It's no trouble; none in the least, !"
he replied, standing, hat in hand,
"and can't really let you go alone,
for the colt is as vicious as he can be
today. Look at his ears, and the
red in his eyes l saw you coming
down the the road, and expected you
to be thrown every minute, until /
saw how we'll you rode. But it would
not have happened if he had not
wheeled and stopped, like tricky
circus horse"
/ cannot tell how soothing was
the graceful way ofexcusing my mis-.
hap. | stole glance under my eye
lids at the speaker, and saw he was
very handsome and gentlemanly,
apparently about six and twenty,
several years older than myself.
Ihad hoped that uncle would be
out in the fields, overlooking the
men but as we entered the gate, |
saw him sitting provokingly at the
open window. 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 in 7" and then rushed up
stairs.
In about haitian hour, just as had
dressed, there was knock at my
door-uncle's knock. Icould but open
it. He was laughing, low, silent
laugh, his portly person shaking all
over with suppressed merriment.
+" ALI ready at last" he said. Il
began to despair of you, you were so
long, and came to hasten you. He's
waiting in the parlor," he said in a
malicious whisper. "You have my
consent, for like him hugely /; only
who'd have thought offinding a hus-
band in a mud-puddle !"
| slipped past my tormentor, pre-.
ferring even to face my escort rather
than to run the gauntlet of this witty
remarks, and was soon stammering
my thanks to Mr.. Templeton, for as
much my uncle introduced him.
My uncle had recognized in him
the son of an old friend and had in.
sisted on his staying until / came
down. Meanwhile he told him the
whole story Of my ride.
To make a long story short, what
was said in jest, turned out to be
real earnest ; for in less than six
months, | stood mp to become Mrs.
Templeton in that very room.
Milo is now my fayorite steed, and
we are all living as happy as the day
is long, uncle included for uncle insis-
ted on our living with him, and /
said at last, would consent, if only
to keep Doll Wilkes from cooking
dinner ; to which he answered, look
ing at my husband, " You see what
a spitfire she is, and you may thank
your stars il you don't rue the day
she went out to find a husband"
Resef ON All aidea