Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-01-21
MY LOVER.

My name is Hattie Hyde. People can
me an old maid--or at least not young
one-and intend to remain SO. But
came very near getting married last
spring, aud this is how it happened.
/ am 35 and not absolutely ugly; AT
least, when / look in the glass see re-
flected there a good fresh complexion
sparkling hazel eyes, and an abundance
Of brown hair. might have married
two or three times, only wasn't really in
love. dare say you don't believe this,
but can show the letters of declaration
up in my writing desk now--old Squire
Pease. Rex, Mr.. Poppelthorne, and Doc.
tor Richford. SO there!
But when Clarence Raymond, barris.
ter. came down to spend the vacation
with his aunt. Mrs Richford--you see.
the doctor married, after all. wife
much more suitable in point of mature
years than could have been, and didn't
care, not IL must confess to little
womanly autter around the heart-for ho
was tall and handsome, and. in short
Just the hero Of romance that had al
ways dreamed about.
~Hatty, said Mrs. Richford--we were
quite confidential friends, you see, and
called one another Hatty and Pamela,
and borrowed each others books, and all
that sort of thing Hatty, think Clar.
ence rather fancies YOU"
"Do your" said /, feeling the tell
tale bushes come into my face, and my
heart began to thump beneath the pretty
lace tucker of Valenciennes and pink
ribbon that had taken to wearing every
day.
Il am certain of it." said Mrs. Rich.
ford; land how nice it will be TO have
you for cousin.
That evening Clarence asked me IL l
would marry him, and Of course said
~yes."
1t was very nice TO be engaged. He
gave me lovely cameo ring, choicer and
more antique than any diamond could
have been-it had been his mothers ring,
he said-and he repeated the most deli.
cious poetry, and vowed that it expressed
lhe very sentiment Of his heart. And
we had wanderings in the cool, fern
scented woods, and moonlight talks or
the veranda, and / began to wonder
whether / should be married in whits
satin or dove colored dress.
One evening. just after Clarence had
returned to his unavoidable engagements
in town, Uncle Nathan came to visit me-.
Uncle Nathan was one OK those people
Of whom we are apt to ask, in common
with mosquitoes and Aies, "Why were
they ever created7" He was venerable
old gentleman with long silver hair that
fell over the collar of his bottle green
coat, and cloth CATERS that irresistibly
reminded one Of black pussy cat. and
he took snuff and talked through his
nose.
Harriet, said Uncle Nathan, "is this
true?"
lis what true, Uncle Nathan2"
@All this folderol about your being en-
gagged to man 10 years younger than
yourself. Harriet, Harrietl l though;
you had better sensel"
Its only five years, Uncle Nathan, :"
said /, pouting. And I suppose l can
get engaged without sending to my rela-
tions for permit"
Harriet, this is not . subject to be
hippant about, said Uncle Nathan.
you may depend upon it, that this
young man is a mere fortune hunter.
You have property, Harriet, and he has
found it out. |"
@Uncle, cried. starting up, II will
not listen tamely to such aspersions on
the character of one who"
my dear, my dear. don't get excited, Z"
said the intolerable old gentleman, tap
ping upon the lid of his silver snuffbox.
~You are not child, Harriet. nor yet a
sentimental schoolgirl. Let's talk the
matter calmnly over"
Il decline to discuss it. sir, was my
dignified reply. Ny mind is made up,
and no amount Of meddling interference
will ever induce me to alter it.
So my Uncle Nathan went away. sill
yer snuffbox, pussygaiters and all, and
sat down to make out memorandum OF
the things should require for my wed.
ding outfit.
For had resolved not to buy my
things at the little shops in Buttercur
Hollow, but to make an especial journey
TO London on that business All, the de
light of reveling over counters full Of
choice filmy laces. billows OF bridal silk
oceans OF tullei 1t brought the color to
my cheek only 70 think of it. And, be-
sides, was il not necessary that Clar
ence's wife should have all that custom
v.,,,sr.19 dsdnsf cara for vnvaalf e<,
much, but was determined not to dis.
grace Clarence.
So, one radiant September day. when
the sky was rs blue as the bluest ribbon.
aud the very leaves hung motionless ir
the yellow atmosphere like little ships at
anchor II a sea Of gold, took the early