The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-09-30

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 a line BY bearer.
L. s,All1 - ga. p f'lV. N"EvA.n
The answer was as follows: ~
"MY Own EVA: Do. whatever you
consider best. My fate is in your hands.
If your papa should refuse bis consent,
l.. But I will not think of any,
thing SO dreadful! Fear not that /
should ever retract. Life without you
! would be o desert, with no oases to
brighten it. Yours until death,
WILLOUGHBY."
That evenings: just as Willoughby
bad finished dinner, he heard q loud
double knock at the street door, and on
its being opened, strange voice in
quired, in loud tone: "a =
is Mr.. Willoughby Vane at home?'
| His heart beat violently as Jane, en-
tered his room, said: ,,',s& I..a. -
A gentleman wishes to speak with
you in the library, SIR" 1R .f.o'i
And she handed him q card inscribed,
"Captain Choker Black, G. B. H. Ms
1,794th Foot" -f!l- ,-I.f9Btf> J
~ will be with him in a moment,"
said Willoughby and he swallowed a
couple of glasses of sherry, to nerve.
him for the interview. -,
"Captain Choker Black, / believer"
he said, as he entered the library. h :.
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" HaveI the pleasure of ad-
dressing Mr.. Willoughby? nu /:
Willoughby bowed
"Then, sir, of course you know the
business that has brought me here?" 4
Terribly nervous, and scarcely know
ing what answer to make, our hero
bowed again. 4
"Come, come, sir !; don't be afraid to
speak out! My daughter has made me
her confidant, so let thereb no reserve
between us. Eva has told me all ~
Here poor Willoughby blushed up to
the roots of his hair. dr p f~,e
You see, 1 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 excuse me for
laughing, but the, idea is somewhat
cOmical! Ha! ha! ha! 4
AS the Captain appeared to be in a
very good humor Willoughby's .cour-
age began to rise. /
"Don't mention it, SIR. You are her
father, andhave a right to do as you
please. But l sincerely trust you have
no objections to offer" |
"I! None! Believe me, shall be
delighted to see Eva comfortably set
tied. But bark, We, 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 notebook
from his pocket, and proceeded to ex-
anime our hero, as if he We're in court
of Justice: , -,
81 am"
"Good.p And down went the note
in the pocket.book.
Your age?n .,..-e -.'tap
"Twenty-eight next birthday"
"Twenty-eight! Good. Is your con-
stitution healthyT' !
UcileNc So. uaNc hitOi iilc
measles, whooping cough and mumps."
disorders peculiar to infancy
Good" and the Captain scribbled away
again.
care you engaged in business or
profession ?n
"None.u
"Thep how on earth do you live?n
On my private income, Captain"
"Then all can say Is that you're an
uncommonly lucky fellow to be able
to subsist on that. Ionly wish I could.
What is your income" .b t
"About seven hundred year"
i" Is it in house property, shares in
limited companies, or in the funds? If
in public companies I should be sorry
to give you two years. purchase for
the 10TH F4EaH fT.. /,
In the new three per cents" |,
"Good. / think 1 may say very
good! What sort of temper are your"
"Well, that's rather difficult ques-
ton to answer" said WiIloughby smil-
ing for the first time. rii q. /
"Hang it sir; not'at alp returned
the Captain. "If any one should ask
me my temper, should say, 'Hasty!
sir-confoundediy hastyu And Cho-
ker Blacks proud of it, sir-proud of
itw
"Say about the average" answered
Willoughby, timidly. |,
"Temper average" said the Captain,
jotting it down. 1 think those are
about all the questions 1 have to ask
youH You know my daughter by
sightm
"I have had the pleasure of seeing
her frequently-from the window sir?''
..,. And you think you could be happy
"Think, Captain! 1 am certain of
it!n ','s- ~ go 70 .r/
every good. Now hark ye, Mr.. I
Willoughby Vane. Marry her, treat i
her well, and be happy. Neglect her,
blight her young affections by harsh
ness or cruelty, and hang me, sir, if s
don't riddle you with bullets! Cad,
sir, Pm man of my word, apd I'll do
what say, as sure as my names Cho-
ker Blackv' fa A
"I have no fear on that score, Cap
tain. Unite her to me, and if lite of
devotion"
81 know all about that,p said the /,
Captain. Keep your fine phrases for !
the girls ears. Give me your hand, ,
sir, I've taken fancy to youw Ii
"You flatter me, Captain !"
Hang it, sir, no! ChOker Black !,
never indulges in banter. Don't
be afraid to grasp my hand sir; it is
yours as long as / find you plain sailing
and straightforward. But If ever sus- ]
pect you of any artifice or deception,
I'll knock you down with it. So now
hope We perfectly understand each
other" II
"One word more" said Willoughby.
Am to understand that You consent +
to our union W r-Ht r.s
"Certainly. You can be married to-
morrow, if you please. Sir, the happi-
ness of my dear child is my first con.
sideration. Cad, sir, 1 am not brute s
mot one of those unnatural parents
people read of in novels. ChOker Black i
may be fire-eater in the field, but at {
any rate, he knows how to use his
own flesh and b.ood." s-'b r'. ~ F1f1' ]
'fCaptain, you overwhelm me with s
gratitude" t rlo-~ ~
l"Say no more about it. Clap on
your hat and come across the road I
with me, and I'll introduce you to my {
daughter at once"
Scarcely knowing what he was about
Willoughby did as he was told. They !
crossed the road together, and the Cap ,
tain opened his door with latch key.
"One moment, if you please" said {
Willoughby, who was titivating his s
hair and arranging his cravat. Il
n IL =