Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-03-12
Nipped in the Bud.

/
my dear Frank, you talk of being the
victim of misplaced confidence. Stop
grumbling, keep still for little while,
lend your careful attention to one of my
experiences and be enlightened. But
first take this Havana, which l know
will insure me against your perpetual
Interruptions for at least half an hour.
In tue summer of 1850, you remem
Der the time, we had left college; and I,
! brimful of hope, ardor and enthusiasm,
started to make visit of ceremony
somewhere or other--I forget where
now. all recollectiOns OF the visit being
obliterated by events OF greater mo-
ment.
The second day of my journey the
train stopped for dinner at the pictur-
esque station of G., and / blessed
my natal star when l found myself
placed at table beside one OF the most
bewitching, sparkling, irresistible blu-
nettes who ever donned super ibun.
dance of crinoline.
AS q matter of course, I surrendered
at discretion. and became willing vic
tim to the first volley of glances shot
from pair of liquid brown eyes.
l had already made sort of travel
ing acquaintance with gray-haired
gentleman, the father, evidently, who
now occupied chair on the other side
OF my inamorata, and ont of respect for
his years, exerted myself as much as
possible to save him the trouble of fur
ther attendance on the young lady whom
escorted after dinner to the ladies' par
lor and then retired to the piazza to
smoke cigar with the old gentleman,
who laughed on being relieved of his
charge, and said, he, for one, much pre-
ferred attending on insensible baggage.
Here Frank, were it not for your
manifest Impotence, l could disserIate
for an hour on the mighty and beneti
cent influence of tobacco as a fraternal
introductory medium of communication.
There we sat, perfect strangers -per-
haps from opposite quarters of the
woodworking the genial, familiar as
pect of old friends, by virtue of the
transforming power OF those ever-as
cending, impalpable, pale blue rings.
There, Frank, don't interrupt. I've
finished moralizing for the present.
To return to our mutton, or, rather,
lamb. When the young lady appeared
at the sound of that most diabolical
noise, the steam whistle. she was placed
in my charge, after a hasty introduce
ton in which l totally failed to catch
the zane. or even a semblance of it,
None the less willingly did take pos
session of the little hand confidingly
placed with trembling touch on my arm,
whence it sent an electric shock through
my entire system. Heigh-ho
Confcund you, Frank There, again,
you have cut short, by your unman-
nerly, uncouth interruption, what 1
feel would have been q mastery pas
sage.
On reaching the cars, placed the
lady with all advantages as to light and
dust, then reversed the seat in front, SO
AS to make comfortable room for party
of four, and seated himself beside her.
Tho old gentleman took one OF the
unoccupied seats opposite, in a care
less, lounging manner, and, with nod
and smile, which plainly said, enjoy
yourself, young folks" settled himself
for u nap, and got it, I trust, Judging
by the sounds which presently issued
from behind paper thrown over his
face.
Insensible BRUTE" 1 mentally ex-
claimed, who but father or husband
could sleep in the vicinity of 80 much
perfection?"
My eyes must have betrayed some
thing of my thoughts, for the blush
ing angel beside me replied to the un-
spoken words.
Ho 10 <;ro,l. ,>rar ovoupa hin, ua
have been travelling some days"
The reply revealed 80 much consid-
crate sweetness. that mentally added:
Harry Blake, behold the woman,
the embodiment of the ideal you have
so long sought in vain If you let slip
so good an opportunity of winning
her, you deserve to remain unwed for
life T.
So resolved, be sure I made the most
of my naiural adrantdgeS, and never was
devotion more deeply evinced than in
that locomotive pandemonium, rail
way carriage.
All that night and the next day my
attentions were unremitting, untlring,
unrelaxed. And when we reached the
Old Dominion, in which State l un
derstood she resided, my offer of self.
property and worldly goods was ready
all but the words in which to clothe it,
and they would not come as glibly US
usual.
hemmea. hawed, fdgeted; longed
to choke the unconscious sleeper oppo-
site, who. by u snore or suort louder
than usual, severa! times put to fight
my most felicitous expressions.
In an agony of love, admiration, hos
tility and tight boots, l got posses
sion of one little hand between my
great, brown palms, and blurted out
confusedly-I don't know how, in
fact:
My dear Miss M, we are near
ing your destination, and the happiest
days l have ever spent are drawing to a
close. Will you not. in mercy, grant
me permission to call at your fathers
and try my luck after longer and
more intimate acquaintance
What think you was the answer,
Frank, as the mischievous coquetry in
her face broke into thousand ripping
dimples?
MY father, did you say? That gen.