Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-05-15
THE IMPRoMPru MARRIAGE.

THE IMPRoMPrU MARRIAGE.
For Hsaye's sake, Susy. do be serious, il
you can, for i've minutes. Pray cease this tri
ning, which is but cruel playing with my feel
ings. and let us treat this subject as il deserve.
soberly and seriously "a
We'll. there, them cried the laughing
black ed girl, to whom Chas Wes.srly spoke
There. Is ft;a grave enough See, the corner,
.of my mouth are duly turned down, my eve,
are rolled up, and L am "a sober ~ n pa tieni
who has caught sight Of the dentists instru.
ments. DO L suit you sol'' -..,.
You snit me anyhow, and you know il well
You witch.' cried Charles, gazing with smile
At the pretty facc, puckered mp in its affec Ia
tIon OF occurrences. But no was not 10 be
driven from his point, and he resn med, gravely
after pause, "The time has come Susy. when
feel have right to demand an explicit an
sWcr to my suit. You have triaed with inv
earnest feelings long enough. i heye grown
restless under my fetters y . -
- shake them of, then. Char1eys' interrupt-
ell the ssuey girl, with a pretty defiant toss Of
her head which plainly said, . defy you to
- cannot, Susy, and you know il. replied
the hapless lover, impatientIy.
i" That being the case, W said Susy, " take my
advice-wear them gracefully, and don't pull
and jerk 30; IL only makes them hurt you
The young man turned away, and walked
silently mp and down the room, evidently fret
ing and fuming Internally Susy, meantime,
looked out OF the window, and yawned. Charles
continued his moody walk
oh, what beautiful bird is on the lilac
tree cried Susy, suddenly. DO come and
Charles mechanically approached the win.
dow and looked out
Don't you think, Charley said susy, lay.
ing her hand on bis arm, and looking up ca ge rly
y nh
age to
What, Susy dear ," asked Charles, all his
Tenderness awakened by her manner "whstg'
. Drop pinch Of salt on his back" returned
the provoking girl, with an afectation of SIM
piicity; . Tor then, you know, You could easily
catch it -
his answer was to turn angry away
His walk this time was longer than before
and ms eogitatiOns were more earnest for he
dtd not heed iauy of Su,y's artfully artless de-
wees to allure his notice. At last he stopped
abruptly before her. and said
Susy, for three long years have been your
suitor, without either confession of love or
promise OF love on your part Often az have
demanded to know your sentiments toward
me, You have always coquettishly refused me
an answer. This state Oi things must cease
love You better than my life but will no
longer be your plsything Tomorrow you are
going away to a distance, to be absent for
throw aside your eOquetry, AMI give me an
honest yes for my answer, I shall consider
that have received q no, and act accord
ingiy."
And how would that be- What would You
do asked Miss Susy, curiously.
Begin by tearing your false and worthless
image from my heart ~ cried Charles furiously
- 1t would be a curious piece Of business.
Charley; and you would not succeed either, >
said Susy.
Il should and would succeed, - said Charles.
Z" as you shall see, If you wish, cruel, heartless
girl -
But 1 don't wish, Charley. dear-I love
dearly to have you love NE, :" said Susy
Why, then, cried the foolish youth, quite
won over again, why, then, dearest Susy,
will YOU not consent p
Remember. said like to be loved, >. re-
Piled Susy; II did not say any thing about
loving. But pray how long did you say you
had been courtng me, in that pretty little
speech of yours 30
Three long years" replied Charles
Neatly and accurately quoted, Charley
But You know my cousin Rachel was only won
after FIVE years eourtship. You don't suppose
am golug to rate myself any cheaper than
she did, do you' Suppose we drop this tire
some subject for two years perhaps by tina,
time 1 may be able to work myself up to the
talllDg-in-loyc point-there is no knowing W hat
wonders time may effect
:" Ii you are not in love now, you never will
be, returned Charles sturdiy; - and will
have my answer now or never
Never, then, laughed Susy. But she had
gone step too far. Her often severely tried 4
lover was now too much in earnest to bear her
trihing any longer.
Never DO it then,'' he cried and seizinc
his hat strode from the room
Susy listened to his receding footsteps with
dismay. Had she, indeed. by her incorrigible
-, l.. L r..
the soul to think so. As she heart him open
the front door, impslled by feeling OF despair
she raised the windOw-sash, and, leaning for
ward, whispered:
Charley, Charley you will be at the boa;
tomorrow to bid me good-by, won you! Sure
ly we are still friends ,''
As sEo spoke, she tore rose from her l1so m
aud threw IL to him 1t lodged on his ARA, bu:
he brushed il away as though it had been poi
son, AZ d pas ed on without looking up.
Susy spent the rest OF the day in tears
Elrly the next morning the hustle of depnrt,i re
began Susy was going 10 accompany her
widowed and invalid mother on q trip for her
health.
As hey reached the wharf and descended
- frOu Il carriage, Susy's eyes made themselves
busy searching for one wished for face but IL
nowhere to be seen.
The steamboat lay painting and pufTin.
seemingly impatient to be let loose Susyfs
mptnel, aiGeu Dy tue serVanJ-lnaD W no accom-
panied them, had already crossed the gangway
which lay between the wharf and the boa;
and Susy was reluctantly following, when the
s0und Of q voice behind her-the very voice
she vas longing to hear-startled her. She
turned TO look around and, missing her foot.
ing, fell into the water.
Another instant, and Charles had thrown of
his coat, and, calling out loudly, "Tell the
captain not 10 allow the wheel to stir, and tC
lower me a rope. he sprIug into the river
But OF her whom he was risking his life 10 save
be was unable TO see any trace
Judging that the current OF the river might
have carried her n little forward, he swan
around the wheel, but still he saw her not and
despair seized bis heart as he conjectured tha,
she might be under the boat. He straiped hi:
eyes 10 see through the water, and at length
discernei, tar below the surface. what seemed
the end OF floating garment lodged between
the wheel and the rounded bottom Of the boat
Ii this were indeed the unfortunate girl, the
least mOVsnent Of the wheel must inevitably