Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-09-20

down and converse, and greatly to my
surprise, she did not Immediately bom-
bard me with an offer of marriage. AZ
ter talking for nearly two hours, the
favorable impression she had produced
upon me was so much increased, that /
offered for her acceptance my heart and
hand. 1t was wrong, but by this time
I had become so accustomed to being
engaged, that it came to me as naturally
as eating. Much to my astonishment,
she did not accept Inc Internationally.
This was absolutely bewildering "a
woman who did not jump at me like a
trout at fly. Discouragement but
increased my ardor; before we separated
she had promised to be mine.
The next day at eleven, I was to meet
my uncle in the library As criminals,
with the calmness born of despair, have
been known to suggest alterations in
the scaffold, 1 Idreamily wondered wheth-
er I should yet have time to become
engaged to the only one left-Lizzy,
number six. My wandering doubts
were soon resolved.
Going to the library, she met and
stopped me. She was pert, forward,
scraggy girl of about seventeen, who
thought herself of much consequence,
and was consumed by an eager desire
to attract attentio on in all possible ways.
Augustus!" she commenced.
"Come,' I said; elm in hurry;
let's be quick. Don't you want to mar
ry me, too?'
Yes-oh, yes" she cried, making
rush toward me; but I happily evad-
ed her, and reached the room in time
to lock her out
My uncle was ready and waiting.
The usual formalities were soon gone
through with, and heard-not with
out sinking of the heart-the sound
of gathering footsteps in the hall.
As Mr., Snatfies said, "Now, my boy,
you are completely released from all
control" the door was burst open
with crash, and pack of girls hurled
themselves headlong into the apart
ment, while there arose upon the air
cries of, "Oh, my beloved!' "Oh, my
betrothed!' ooh, dearestw "Oh,
darlingw Oh, Augustus!' There was
no sixth voice, for Francine was not
amongst them.
seized the Feejee war-club.
"Keep back" yelled, goaded to
phrensy at the aggravated complica-
tions of my situation, as I saw that
they were all determined not to release
me-" keep back" and brandished
the weapon fercely.
The five girls stood in a row, their
right arms soutstretched and fore-tingers
pointing like the denunciatory chorus
in the .fnale OF an opera.
What does this mean?" asked my
uncle, in amazement.
He promised to marry me!' came
forth as from single speaker.
ct didn't" I shouted. cts an
infamous fraud, a swindle."
"Oh you wretch" .
"Oh, you bad mani"
"Oh, you deceiver!''
ooh, you betrayer of innocence"
"Oh, you-beat!" this from Lizzy.
"What is the explanation Of this,
sir ?" said my uncle, sternly, turning
to me.
Wait moment" ..AE
I ran out, and Immediately returned
with Francine. +..
This is the girl I wish to marry"
said I, and kissed her right before them
all.
Alice made as if she would attack
me; Grace howled; Mary rolled her
eyes furiously; Louisa went into hys-
terics, whence she soon emerged, as no
one noticed her, while Lizzy began the
execution of maniacal dance.
A few words, and I did not stop to
choose them, informed my uncle of the
martyrdom had suffered. He at once
dismissed the five yelling sisters, and
as their acrimonious revilings died away,
I breathed again.
Before night the house was cleared.
I took the first train for New York, and
did not venture to return until l was
we'll assured that no disappointed spin
sters fingered around my grounds.
Francine and 1 have now been mar
ried for more than year; the recollec-