Weekly Trinity journal., 1869-04-10
The Curate's Engagement How 1t was
Broken on!


He was the shyest-the most painfully modest
man ever knew; and he oftentimes suffered
in consequence most cruelty. He was the one
who went most out of his way to avoid hurting
peoples feelings, and for the sake of delicacy :;
and, as it usually happens, he was treadng on
peoples mental toes continually. When he first
came among us, and was furnishing his cottage,
and getting introduced to his future parishon-
ers, remember calling with him ION our way to
the market town. upon man who had u club
foot. 1t was not long before poor Flush, who
was not aware of this, and was very near
sighted, observed with a smile, that our host
seemed to take excellent care to keep himself
out of the dirt among the lanes. What a SEN
sible boot that is of yours, Mr.. Layman why,
it's treble soled ~ And before he had re-
covered himself from the flame of bushes into
which he burst on the discovery of this mistake,
he informed Mrs. Layman and her four daugh-
ters, that the object of our expedition into the
town was to procure him (Peony Flush) pair
of comfortable drawers, meaning thereby a
chest, suppose, but sending the whole company
into shrieks of laughter, and sufusing himself
from top to toe with beautiful rose color.
Those sort Of things, he confessed to me, an
noyed him for months afterward, depressing him
like sins; and could not forbear remarkng,
" Why, Flush, how will you ever have the face
to propose to the future Mrs. P. F.?' He rose
coloreG in such manner at this, that | said, i,
'Come, Peony, tell us all about it at once-do -
which accordingly after little pressing, he
did.
81 was, indeed" he began, "once engaged 10
be married, believe; how l went so far as that
is marvel to me still, but an incident of so
frightfnl character took place to put the
matter entirely out of the question. was a
young Undergraduate, spending the summer
with a reading party at the Irish lakes, when l
met with-with Lucy, and got in short to be ac-
cepted. She was residing with her mother, in
the same hotel in Killarney as ourselves, and we
all met every day. We boated ON the lake to-
gether, and ished, and sang, and read. We
landed on the wooded islands in the soft summer
evenings, to take our tea in Gypsy fashion, and
to sketch it but she and | mostly whispered
not about love at ALL as remember, but of the
weather and the rubic only it seemed so sweet
to sink voices and speak low and soft.
"Once, in party over the moors, while |
was leading her pony over some boggy ground,
l caught her hand by mistake, instead of the
bride, and she did not snatch it away. 1t was
the heyday and the prime Of my life my friend
and that youth of the spirit which no power can
evermore renew. l knew what she felt, and
what would please her, as soon as the feeling
and the wish themselves born. Our
thought-my thought, at least, leapt out with
thought to wed, ere thought could wed with
speech She took fancy to huge mastif dog
belonging TO fisherman and | bought it for
her at once, although it was terribly savage, and
except for Lucy's liking it, not either good or
beautiful. Its name, also-the only one it
would answer to, and sometimes it would not
answer to that-was Towser, not name for a
ladys pet, after all, and scarcely gentleman S.
There was little secluded field hedged in by a
coppice, which soped into the lake, about a
mile from the hotel and there Lucy agreed flor
the first time) to meet me alone. / was to be
there, before breakfast, at eight o'clock in the
morning, and you may be sure that / was there
at six-with Towser.
Perhaps was never happier than at that
particular time. The universal nature seemed
in harmony with my blissful feelings. The sun
sbone ont bright and clear, so that the fresh
morning breezes could scarcely cool the pleas
ant throbbng of my blood. But the blue rip
ping waves of the lake looked irrepressbly
tempting, and could not resist swim. Just a
plunge and ont again, thought / ; for though /
had plenty of time to spare, determined to be
dressed and ready for the interview an hour at
least before the appointed time. Lucy might
like myself, be little earlier; and at all events
with such an awful consequence in possible ap-
prehension, / would not run shadow of a risk
Mind my clothes, mind them, said to Towser
(who took his seat thereon, a: once, sagaciously
enough, for l had heard of such things as
clothes being stolen from unconscious dippers
before then, with results not to be thought of !:
and in went. ! remember the delight of that
bath even to this day the glow, the freshness.
the luxurious softness of every particular ware
just as the last view which his eyes rest on is
painted on the memory Of one who has been
stricken blind, or the last-heard melody is trea-
sured IN that of man stuaned by fall it was
my Last perfect pleasure, and succeeded by
shock that shall never, l think, quite get over
When had bathed as long as l had judged
TO De prudent, landed and advanced towards
the spot where my garments and Towser lay.
As did SO every individual hair upon his back
seemed to bristle with fury, his eyes kindled
Goals OF fire; be gave me notice by low de-
termned growl that he would spring on me and
tear me into fragments if approached nearer !;
1T was evident that he did not recognize me in
the least without my clothes. Tow, Tow, Tow,