The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-09-04
A STAMMERING LOVER.
How He Overcame the Defec
and Won a Bride.


It was Sunday evening. The serv-
ices at the churches had been held, and
the time-honored hour had arrived
when in New England not a little
counting is done by the young people.
In accordance with the delightful
custom. John Anderson had accom-
panied Mary Beverly from church, and
they were now comfortably seated,
not too distant from each other, in the
pretty little parlor of the young lady's
home.
Mary was pious: John was not much
so. but he discussed with great appar
cnt interest the sermon to which they
had lust listened, and said that it was Il
mastery effort.
Mary was pleased to learn that
Johns religious views We're orthodox
and sound; and when the willy young
man saw that he had produced the de-
sired effect, he began to touch on mat
tors that more nearly concerned his
heart and to manifest symptoms of
tenderness.
Emboldened by the maiden's favor
able demeanor, John at last said:
''Na-now, Ma-Mary, if you cou-
could re-regard me as more than a
fra-friend, IL wou-would Like
it.
"Oh, don't talk that way John"
"Why-why, you kno-know II
cannot hel-help it, he Indignantly
replied, while his face redeemed with
shame and anger.
Mary saw that she had made an
awkward mistake. She had intended
to give him a hint that she did not
wish him to propose to her; but with
the suspicious senSitiveness of one who
is conscious that he is afflicted with a
ridiculous imperfection, he thought
that she referred to his habit of stam-
mering, the inability to overcome
which had embittered his life from
childhood.
You take my meaning not as l in
tended you to- said the girl, blushing
deeply. Il meant that desired you to
say nothing more than a friend should
say
"Why-why sho-sho-should not
fra-friend say any-anything-thing
lIldG IL pfOp-pTop-cl Sdlu IHe lover,
now somewhat Modified.
"Oh. don't be so inquisitive.
''Inqui-qui-quise Why sho-
shou-should II not be so? 70
You must sus-sus--pect how IL feel:
and it is not sur-sur-prising- |
sho-shou-should want to know VIII
whether you re-cip-cip-clp-
cate the feeling
II do like you quite well, John"
said Mary, hesitatingly, but it is best
that we should be to each other no
more than friends"
"Why?"
81 would rather not give the reason.
/ do not wish to cause you pain
But II want to know the rea-
reason. Pepper -haps lean O.
overcome it."
Il am sure that you cannot
"Do you refer to my stam-stam-
mer -mer-ing?" asked poor John, a
feeling of sickening despair taking pos
session of him.
Mary was silent She turned aside
her head.
John groaned.
What foo-fool II have been"
he exclaimed; Il ou-ought to have
kno-known that no wo-wo-man
wo-would mar-mar-ry man with
such a de-de-fect
"Do not say that my dear friend -
said the maiden, deeply regretting that
she had been forced to infiict cruel
wound. "Some good girl, am sure
will appreciate your worth and be glad
to marry you. But do not be rash
enough to fall in love with an Episco-
palian. l, unfortunately for you, be-
long to the Episcopal church. l could
never consent to be married by any
other than the service of my own
church; and you know, John-I am
sorry to say it, but you compel me to
be frank-you know that you could not
repeat your part of the service without
making the people laugh and spelling
the wedding. But all girls are not