Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1870-10-01


The worthy lady was a red hot p0liti-
clan, and for three mortal hours she
kept him at this delightful task; at the
expiration of which time he succeeded
in escaping to his own room, where he
wrote the following note to Eva:
DEAREST EVA: am OverjOyed at
the contents of your brief cOmmunica-
lion. If, as you say, my features are
not altogether repulsive to you, may |
hope that you will consent to be mine
mime only? .
WILLoUGHBY."
Back came the reply next morning
"DEAR WILLoUGHBY-Your reply
has made me feel very happy. 1t is
very dull here-no society here except
my father and mother. IhOpe for more
congenial companionship. Thine,
"EvA.p
In this delightful manner the days
flew on--halcyon days, too, they We're
for Willoughby, and sweetened by the
interchange of this and similar love
like correspondence. On the following
Monday morning Mrs. Vane left town
on a visit to some friends in Devon
shire, leaving hor son to keep house at
home. That same afternoon one of
Captain Blacks servants brought the
following note for Willoughby:
WILLIE-Have you any objection
to my telling my dear papa all2 Mat
ters have now gone so far that it will
be impossible for either of us to retract
what we have written. Let us take
papa into our confidence. | know his
kind and generous nature well, and
have no fear that he will oppose our
union. Pray send me line by bearer.
"EvA.h
The answer was as follows:
"MY OWN EVA: Do whatever you
consider best. My fate is in your hands.
If your papa should refuse his consent,
=. But / will not think of any
thing so dreadful! Fear not that l
should ever retract. Life without you
would be a desert, with no oases to
brighten it. Yours until death,
"WILLOUGHBY.n
That evening, just as Willoughby
had finished dinner, lie heard loud
double knock at the street door, and on
its being opened, a strange voice in
quired, in loud tone:
rs Mr.. Willoughby Vane at homeW
His heart beat violently as Jane, en-
tered his room, said:
"a gentleman wishes to speak with
you in the library, sir"
And she handed him a card inscribed,
Captain Choker Black, c. b. II. Ms
10Th Foot"
81 will be with him in a moment y
said Willoughby; and he swallowed 4
couple Of glasses of sherry, to nerve
him for the interview.
Captain Choker Black, l believe? p"
he said, as he entered the library.
" Your servant, sir" said the gallant
Captain, who, glass in eye, was busily
engaged in scrutinizing an engraving
of the battle Of Navarino. "Your SER
want, sir.n HaveI the pleasure of ad-
dressing Mr.. Willoughby?
Willoughby bowed.
Then, sir, Of course you know the
business that has brought me here?"
Terribly nervous, and scarcely know
ing what answer to make, our hero
bowed again.
"Come, come, sir don't he afraid to
speak out ! My daughterhas made me
her confdant, 50 let there be no reserve
between us. Eva has told me all y
Here poor Willoughby blushed up to
the roots of his hair.
" You see, know all about it. You
have fallen desperately in love with
the poor girl; and although you have
never exchanged three words together,
you are already engaged to be married.
Mighty expeditions, upon my word.
Ha! ha! ha! Pray excu e me for
laughing, but the idea is somewhat
comical! Hal ha ha!
As the Captain appeared to be in a
very good humor Willoughby's cour-
age began to rise.
"Don't mention it, sir You ere her
father, and have right to do as you
please. But sincerely trust you have
no objections to offer"
al! None! Believe me, shall he
delighted to see Eva comfortably set.
tied. But bark, ye, sir, Business is
business, | am plain, blunt man, and
fifteen years sojOurn with ones regi-
ment in India doesn't help to polish
one. First of all, what is your pros
pects?" ..... .. ...'
And the Captain drew a note,b
from his pocket, and proceeded to eX-
anime our hero, as If he Were in "a court
You are an only son, l believem
Il am.n ......
"Good." And down went the note
in the poke, book.
Your age?n -..
"Twenty-eight next birthday
"Twenty-eightl Good. Is your con-
stitution hcalthy?n ...
al believe 50. | have had the
measles, whooping cough and mumps.n
"Disorders peculiar to Infancy
Good and the Captain scribbled away
again. '
Are you engaged in business or
prolessi0n?n
"None.n
Then how on earth do you liveW
?" On my private income, Captain
"Then all can say is that you're an
uncommonly lucky fellow to be able
to suhsist on that. / only wish l could,
What is your income?o
"About seven hundred year"
Is it in house property, shares in
limited companies, or in the funds? If
in public companies | should be sorry
to give you two years. purchase for
the lot.n
ain the new three per cents"
Good. 4 think l may say very
rood What sort of taOnpr are Won ~
"Well, that's rather a difficult Ques-
ton to answer,n said Willoughby smil-
ing for the first time.
Hang it sir; not at ALL returned
the Captain. "If any one should ask
me my temper, / should say, Hasty!
r--confoundedly hastyv And Cho-
ker Blacks proud of it, slr-proud. of
Iitpi
"Say about the average" answered
WillOuUhhV tirOidlV