Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-06-17

It had been misdirected, had travelled
half over England, and was covered with
very many postmarks It was dated
Bath, and began-"My dearest Dick. .
[ looked at the envelope closely instead
of "Glover, Moore & Co.," to whom /
knew I owed a bill, [ found printed on
the seal, Il love your more and more, f"
with heart or something in the middle
[ am not much of a coward, but [ bust
into cold perspiration as [ read some
thing to this effect: "My dearest Dick
We left home before the arrival of
your dear letter, which [ shall forever
keep, and have been travelling incessant-
ly, so that it was not till last night that
received your. offer. I at once referred
the matter to my dear papa: I gained
his consent; and now let me tell you that
you have made me the happiest of women.
| do not believe that any girl in Ireland
can be happier than I am" And then
she went on writing about the oak and
the ivy united in foreign land, and BRAY
ing together the storms of adversely, say
ing she would cling to me forever, and
winding up with "Always, my dearest,
darling Dick, your most fondly affection
ate Fanny" Now all this was pleasant;
| was engaged to two women at once
1t will readily be perceived that [ was
in fix, and how to get out of it was the
question. [ could not see my way to
doing it creditably, but [ determined |
would not be blackguard NJ AIRY two
women [ could not. Prefer one of the
innocent little dears to the other, [ also
could not [ wished both the affection
ate loving lambkins of Jericho, but
could not choose one before the other, nor
could | bear the tossing up, now
that had hooked them both-or rather
[ should say, they had both hooked me,
Then, again ugly ideas of irate fathers,
aud gunpowder, horse-whipping brothers
loomed in the distance. What on earth
could be done? At one time thought
DISABLING straight off to New Zealand
prematurely; and [ remembered all at
home, the tarnish to the family name, and
the anathemas that would be launched at
me across the water by those [ loved.
Well, | made up my mind to go through
it all, to see every one, explain the mat
ter fully. Surely, thought [, they must
see it was a mistake, and will make al
loWance for me. What allowance they
made your shall hear
About three o'clock next morning
knocked at a certain rectory, not many
miles from Exeter. the residence Of the
Rev. Henry Martlakc Leslie The foot
man answered the door, and on my en-
4uinng if his master was at home, show
ed me into the dining room, which was
empty. The wretch knew me well en-
7ugh-probably knew what was up, and
certainly was acting under orders. In a |
Few minutes Miss Margaret Jeanne in with
'heepish smile: and, having shaken hands,
began in her demure way to show signs |
hat she expected something more-ex-
oected me to kiss her, or paw her, or dc
something Of that kind called me dear
EST Dick cooed about her happiness;
wanted but the faintest sign to
.all on my neck and kiss me. [ backed /
'ound the room; she followed, I with my |
hands behind me- She looked as if she |
would ike to stretch out her hands to-
ward me. However, this would never do.
At last, [ brought up suddenly on the |
'ug. She subsidized into a sort of hang |
log position, head down forepaws trem-
bling.
"Ahem, Miss Leslie" said I.
"Miss Leslie Dick, dear Dick, what
ire you about ?"
"Why, you see, Miss Leslie, the fact
S-''
"Miss Leslie Dick! the fact! Why,
what p she gasped.
[ then burst into an explanation
What [ said [ know not the next thing
L recollect was, that she lay on the rug
shieking. [ rang the bell hard twice
in rushed the servants, papa and mamma
"Oh, the wretch y howled Margaret
''he has married another p Then she
tainted again. Water dashed in her face
only caused her to shrek once more:
Papa, mamma, he is going to bring his
wife here; he has got her in the hall
Oh-o,o."
Things were at a pretty pass. "Per-
haps," said to the father, you will let
me see you in another room, and [ will
explain ALL"
"Certainly, sir, if the matter admits of
James," added he to the
footman, 'be close in attendance in the
hall. Now, sir, turning to me, "come
this way"
We entered the study. He heard me
with compressed lips, and a face pale
with rage; even his rubicund nose be-
came white for the once. When [ had
all but finished, he burst out: Sir, you
blackguard, you brute, you villain, you
scoundrel!"