Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-08-29

He insisted that any money that | might
in future come in possession Of,
should convert into a settlement. o.
course / could not consent to it. | had
my business to consider. OF course my
wife and clildren-if l have any--will
reap the benefit as 1 shall. However,
he wouldn't listen to me. l told Geor-
giana exactly how the matter stood.
She's Of age. [ asked her it she would
marry mo without her fathers con-
sent. Poor girl she was i'll an awful
way. But she did not care to do that.
She don't like to offend her father. SO
there's no help for 1.-THE affair is
broken off, and I'm not to be married,
it seems-not this time, at any rate
He spoke rather sorrowfully, but
still without the slightest trace of anger.
l endeavorcd to console him i'll COM
monplace sort of q way.
He opened small packet he had in
his hand
This is pleasant" he said, quietly;
"Here are all my letters sent back to
me. All, here is little present gave
her sent back Also
lUcIc were IIOp iii'ii iO'tNiS. hVil
contents, guessed, were little enough
like conventional love letters, ana the
present was a ring-a large diamond,
heavily set in pure gold, just the valua-
bic, simple, substantial present l would
have ex pected Ned Stone to select for
his hetrothed.
And now suppose Georgiana will
10 ol1 hn LOT
she sent me?'
Undoubtedly"
That is usual when engagements
como to an cnd?'
Certainly. it is the usual way"
He rubbed his chin, and seemed to
reflect little.
" Have a cigar" he said, presently,
" and let us talk about something else.
This is not the most agreeable subject
in the world. Tell me what you have
been doing with yourself lately"
So we fell to talking about this, that
and the other. Presently. when I was
going away, he said quietly,
Il think | shall see Georgiana once
more for particular reason
I did not ask him for his particular
reason, and he did not tell me-
\ few nights afterward l saw him
again. He was at no time subject to
much change of mood; or at any rate,
seldom betrayed any variation of the
kind. But he seemed in better spirits
than usual.
You did not mcntion,' he said,
what I told YOU the other night-that
my engagement was broken OFF,
| explained that | had not mentioned
it for Il good reason. l had not seen
any one whom it would interest to be
informed of the fact.
1T is just as well,' he said, "be-
cause it isn't broken off, or | had better
say, it is on again.
4" Indeed! l am glad of it.
81 told you l should try and see
Gcorgiana again. Well, l knew she Of
ten, with her father and other relatives
and friends, went to the Geological
Gardens on Sunday. SO l went to the
her with Warren and lot of people.
She saw me and understood my sign
that l wanted to speak to her on the
quiet. Well, she fingered behind a
little, and when the rest of party went
to see the kangaroos, she slipped back
with me into the snake-house. She
looked a little frightened, and tears
stood in her eyes. SO l put my arms
about her-it didn't matter to me who
saw, you know--and l told her there
was nothing to be alarmed at, and also
that only wanted to speak II word or
two. l told her l was sorry l hadn't
sent back her letters, as l ought to have
done; but the plain fact of the matter
was, couldn't do it."
"You love me still, Ned?' said she.
"Of course l do" l said. "Who's
been telling you didn't?'
She began crying terribly.
"Come, Georgy," l said, "let us get
married whether papa likes it or not.
Only say the word"
{" She didn't say the word. Poor
child! she couldn't speak word for
crying; and she looked at me with
little pout, and then she began laughing
through her tears. 1t was the prettiest
sight | ever saw. OF course l kissed
her and then turned round and who
should l see standing close by my side
but old Warren y
Georsy gave little scream, and then
tried to make believe we were looking
at the boa-constrictor. But of course
that didn't work : SO | said to Warren,
in CHEEKY sort of way, and putting out
my hands cheerily :
Mr.. Warren, Georgy and l are 60
ing to be married; that's quite settled.
But You and | may as we'll be friends
the same. We'd much rather have
your consent than not. Suppose you
give it to u.s..
"He was so astonished that before
he knew quite what he was doing he'd
taken my hand, with all his friends
standing near and looking on. OF
course he could not 90 back after that.