The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-07-02


was tired Of travelling" said Layinia,
with a slightly mischieyous look from
one corner of her eye.
/" That depends upon my company
while travelling replied the General.
You might not find my company
very agreeable. --..-, -,
Il would be glad to risk it. :,
Well, perhaps MIR: Barnum would
engage YOU if you asked him, SAID
:" Would you really like to have me
go2" asked the General, quie thy ms
inuating his arm around her waist,
but hardly close enough to touch her.
"Of course / would, was the reply,
The little Generals arm elasped the
waist closer, as he turned his face
nearer to hers, and said s a
Don't you think itWOuld be pleas
anter if we went as man and wlfeY
The little fairy quickly disengaged
his arm, and remarked that the
General was funny fellow to joke Ia
that way. 5ra
g [ am not joking at all, said the
General, earnestly, lit is quite too SER
ious a matter for that.
81 wonder why the Commodore
don't come?n said Lavinia.
- | hope you are not anxious for
his arrival, for / am sure | am OF,
responded the General, aud what is
more, do hope you will say yes,
before he comes at all
Really, Mr., Stratton, said Layinia,
with dignity, if you are In earnest
in your strange proposal, l must say
I am surprised" a.sarn
We'll, / hope you are not offend
ca. replied the General, for L am
never more IN earnest in my life, and
| hope you win consent. The first
moment / saw you | felt that you
were. crnated 10 be my wife,"
g But this is so sudden. 11s.t
mot 20 Ueyy sudden; it is several
months since we first met, and you
know all about me and my family,
and l hope you find nothing to object
to in me. .
Not at all; on the contrary | have
found you very agreeable. in fact l
like you very much as a friend, out L
have not thought of marrying, and"
Aud 1ohGtg my DEAR" said the
General, giving her a kiss. Now l
beg of you, don't have any butts or
: ands' about it. You say you like me
as friend, why will you not like me
as a husband? You ought to get
married; | love you dearly, and /
want you for a wife. Now, deary, the
Commodore will be here in a few
minutes may not have a chance to
see you againi alOne-dO say that we
will re married, and / win get Mr.
Barnum to give up your engagement.
Lavinia hesitated, and finally said:
q" | think | love you well enough to
consent, but l have always said |
would pever marry without my moth
er's consent"
. Oh I'll ask your mother. Mag l
ask your mother2 Come say yes to
that. and l will go and see her next
week. May [ do that. pet?"
/ Then there was a sound of some
thing very much like the popping of
several c0rks from as many beer
bottles. The young caves choppers
had no doubt as to the character of
those reports nor did they doubt that
they sealed the betrothal, for immedi-
ately after they heard Lavinia say:
= Yes, Charles, you may ask my
mother" Another volley of reports
followed, and then Lavinia said.
: Now, Charles, don't whisper this to
q living soul; let US keep our own
secret for the present"
"All right, said the General, 4
will say nothing; but next Tuesday l
shall start to see your mother"
" Perhaps you may find it difficult
to obtain her consent, said Lavinia.
/ AT that moment Garage drove up
to the door. and Immediately the bell
was rung. and the little Cmmodore
entered.-P. 7. BARNUM, iB Pack
ards Monthly, tor July.