The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-01-28

say that its object was an unhostile meet
ing between myself and Miss Wilton on
the following morning, without seconds
ground fixed in KensingtOn Gardens.
slept but few hours that night, partly from
| love OF Florence, partly from supping with
B and H, and stopping up till
| five, when the meeting was to take place
at eight.
"The next morning,I was first on the
ground"
more fool you'll" said I, interrupting
him. No wonder the girl gives herself
airs when you behave in such an absurdly
attentive style to her"
"Silence, barbarian |" Frank exclaimed,
and then continued his story.
Though Florence declared she could
never meet me again, she very kindly
pointed out the means BY which I could
gain admission to ball which was to take
place the next evening, and at which she
was 70 be present. I spoke to her on the
subject of marriage" (hear, hear, and
laughter from myself; "and was some
what astonished at her saying she had al
ready been offered to one young man, who
had at once refused her, and that she
had from that time Indignantly resolved
to give up ali thoughts of matrimony.
"That very morning" continued my
visitor, 81 called on my father. and told
him briefly that I was DESTROYS of getting
married, though not to the lady for whom
be SO kindly destined me. Ny father
taxed me with folly, reproached my intel
lect with infirmity, and ended by saying,
was more amiable, more pretty, and more
wealthy, than any other was likely to
meet with, and that was at liberty to go
to the prince of iniquity if refused to
marry Florence Wilton!
&c If her name is Florence Wilton
exclaimed, 'Pn marry her.
Why SOP said my father; have you
seen her, then?
Ono said I, unwilling to compromise
the girl; I have not seen her; but Flor
ence Wilton is very pretty name, and no
one with any other name shall be my
Wife
"And the young lady you say you
are so desperately in love with9' my
parent suggested.
"tOh, if | marry Florence Wilton 1
shall be equally pleased must marry
my dear Florence I declared.
why you must be mad to take such
a fancy to the girl without having seen
herr was the next paternal remark
"'What am | to do?' I demanded, you
call me mad when I wish to marry that
darling Florence, whom I have never
seen-and forbid if I speak of marrying
any one else
"Marry Florence, by all means said
my father, smiling she will be at the
ball you say you are going to tomorrow
night, and 1 will introduce you then to
the whole family
"'I viii dance with her tomorrow
night, and marry her the day after 1 ex-
claimed frantically.
"' Good morning; you're insane at
present. my father answered, as he re.
tired to another room.
"When the ball arrived I was intro
duced to Florence, and, as had been ar
ranged, no signs of recognition were ex-
changed. But when we were alone, she
still seemed disposed to forget that we
had ever met, and treated me with the
most rigid politeness. I attempted to
touch her heart, but to reach her intelh-
gence every now and then was all could
do. I paid her q few compliments, but
she analysed them, if she attended to
them at all. Then tried to make love to
her, but one can't make love to q marble
statue, excepting in a ballet. At the close
of the bail she became e little more
friendly: but by no means in tender
manner. Before leaving. she informed
me she was going out of town the next
day, and was uncertain as to when she
should return to London. She shook
hands with me as 1 handed her into the
carriage, and never saw her again"
"That comes from running after girl
too much" said soothingly.
l wish you would not interrupt me-"
pursued Frank. az was saying that I
never saw her again until a fortnight af-
forwards, when she accepted me without
affectation."
"Do you think, then, that she knew
you were the person who had refused her
hand when she saw you in Kensington
Gardens ?" I asked. ~
"That is the first question shall put to
her after we are married." he answered
"Well, even now" continued, "you
have not told me why you have risen SO
early today, which is what you began
your story with Of course, in the mean
time, l condole with you seriously, at your
good fortune"
"Whv," said the Soon to-be- married
man, you only returned to England last
night, and had to call on you, get you
out of bed, give you your breakfast, dress
you, and bring you down to the church,
where am just going to be married, be-
fore twelve o'clock"
before twelve o'clock ?" exclaimed
"Well, to oblige a friend, don't mind !;
but really it's thing wouldn't do for
myself"
Frank walked down to the church like
a hero, as his hours of bachelorhood drew
to close. He departed this life at five
minutes before twelve, and it was who
watched his last moments