Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-07-18
Uncle Richards Advice.
BY MARY GRACE HALPING.

Never propose to a woman by gas
light. my dear boy was the dying in
junction Of Mr.. Culver, to his nephew
and heir. Richard.
II suppose you ci'g marry :. groancd
the old man, after a pause. looking sor-
rowiuly at the frank Young face that
was bending over him. Its family
failing, that is. All the Culvers married
Il married ~
Here lie groaaed again.
Richard had a very vivid recollection
of the selfish, exacting woman whose
death was the only real kindness she
ever did Ler husband as well as the
greatest possible relief.
Don't you worry, uncle" lie said,
clasping his warm fingers around the
wrinkled bloodless hand that was lying
upon the Counterpart. "Idon't mean
to be fooled by any woman. In fact l
don't think shall ever marry"
"Thats what all young men say /;
that's what l said. But you'll do it !;
and I'm not going to waste my breath
in asking you not to do it. Only don't
propose by gas-light. If you do ten to
Oue but yOu II NC oOllJ Aoi ~ al 'AO
rest OF your life. If you fall in love
with pretty woman got up for the &C.
casion, and feel tempted to tell her so
by gas-light, just sleep on it. If You
mast make a tool of yourself, let it be
in the morning when you know what
you are about"
There was not much that Richard
would not have promised the eccentric
old man, who, i'll spite Of all his oddi-
ties, had been to him so kind and gen
erous friend, especially at time like
this.
So he gave the required promise, to
his uncle's visible relief, who said no
more, except to enjoin his nephew to
have him buried in a remote corner of
the cemetery as far as possible from the
late Mrs. Culver.
II think l shall rest better, he said;
these brief words being whole com
mentary on the unQuiet life he had
led with her who was in popular par
lance, the gentle sooiher of his cares
and SORROWS
Whether it was family trait or not,
Richard certainly had very kindly
feeling toward everything in the guise
Of womanhood, from the fair and dainty
creatures who smiled upon him from
out their marvellous adornmerts, to the
more material and matter of fact speci-
mems who got up his linen and scrubbed
out his office.
Fine-looking, and with the double
advantage Of wealth and social standing,
our hero was the recipient of many at
tentions from anxious mammas and
marriagcable daughters. but whether
it was the effect of his uncle's i'll luck,
and consequent warnings, or because
he liked them all too we'll to have any
individual preference, he remained
heart whole until h. met Miss Ida
Seiwyn.
1t was a genuine case of love at first
sight, so far as he was concerned at
least. Her complexion was SO brilliant,
she had such lovely dark eyes, and such
a pretty way of raising them to his and
then letting them droop until the long,
jetty lashes rested quiveringly upon the
rosy cheek, that he was quite captivated
and carried away by the magic spell.
Nor did he seem to care about ever
being brought back again to the dull,
prosaic land he had quilted. Day
by day the charm grew stronger to
which he was such willing captive,
until lie finally felt that to win her for
his wife would be the browning JOY and
triumph OF his life.
A strong impulse came over him to
tell her this, az he was seated alone
with her one evening in COW corner
of her fathers parlor. Ida had lust
been singing and playing for him one
OF those sweet and tender strains which
take such strong hold on the heart and
imagination of youth.
As he saw the soft light that brootiei
IN the dark eyes that were turned upon
hlm, he was almost sure that she would
lend favorable ear to the story that
was trembling upon his lips.
In trying TO clothe in words the
tumultuous thoughts that were strug.
Cling for utterance, Richard lifted his
eyes to tue Jets of flame that cast such
. soft, subdued radiance around. As
he did so, there flashed upon his mind
his uncle's dying injunction, his own
promise. Instead OF the blooming
countenance, on which he was gazing
with all lovers rapture, lie saw a
wrinkled face, surmounted by thin.
gray locks, whiteued more by sorrow
than years, he heard again those feeble,
tremuiously.spoken words Never
propose to woman by gas-light, my
dear boy"
True, it Was a foolish promise to give,
but he had given il. He fol, this TO be
the most favorable time and opportuni-
ty, but he would not break hi. word
even to win the woman who seemed to
him to be the embodiment of all woman.
~ grace and goodness.
Our hero had arranged to leave town
the next day on trip to the noun
tains, to be gone several weeks. and he
determined that he would not go with.