The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-01-13

his first nights pleasure. he mentally
avowed that such vision of loveliness
could not be discovered every day, and
that ere golden sunset kissed the dancing
waves on the morrow he would obtain a
formal introduction. Blondin was DOOM
ed to disappointment, for not single
acquaintance did he meet the following
day who could oblige him in his deter
mination, neither did the sunny head run
across his path, and after day of sus-
pense he was obliged to retire, his pur-
pose still existing in his Imagination. bnt
not in reality.
The lady with whom Blondin had be-
come infatuated had just arrived few
days previous accompanied by elderly
gentleman who had taken his departure,
the same evening of the day on which
they had made their appearance. She
was, it seems, comparatively unknown,
and consequently Blondin's ingenuity
was taxed considerably for q sufficient
excuse to make her acquaintance any
moro intimately At the end of three
| days he was no nearer his determination
than upon the day of it's inception, and
he greatly lamented stern etiquette who
stood in the way for Blondin. although
living on a farm all his life, had enough
| knowledge to know that if he overstepped
the conventionalities of society he would
be stamped as rudc and unpublished.
Upon the fourth day of his sojourn, he
was pacing the beach with his accustom-
ed unrestfulness, seriously debating
whether ha should fly the scene and re-
turn to his quiet home, and startle his
good father, perhaps. because, he had
been thwarted in his calculations regard
ing the objects which had so taken pos
session of him. Wandering on II few
steps, he heaved II deep sigh, and settled
down upon a bench placed there for tired
pedestrians. His ebony cane was stir
ring up the sand, keeping time to his
swift resolution of thought, when sud
denly it turned an object which claimed
his whole attention. 1t was nothing less
than diamond cross, elegant in design
and perfect gem of the jewelers. hand
iwork, Whose it was, and how it came
there were the questions which absorbed
his mind for the next half hour, until he
was aroused by the loud laugh of II half
dozen friends who had sought him, ana
invited him to participate in a fishing
excursion to the cove several miles dis
tant. Hastily slipping the cross on his
watch chain and turning to JON his com
panions, he was aroused by Ned Cooks
VOICE, who had observed the flash of the
jewels"
Il say, chum, where did y on pick up
the beautiful trinket? Perhaps it is Il
souvenir of that golden haired lasse
whose acquaintance you seek SO persls-
tently."
Come. now, tell us all about it, they
cried in unison.
But Blondin declined, and many n
twit he received during the excursion.
Blondin caught no fish, his thoughts
being directed to the soiree that had
been promised that evening, and the fact
that he was down on his charmers tablets
for two waltzes.
Again the ballroom is ablaze and gal
liant men and women throng ITS spacious
floor. Oh there is our friend, pushing
his way to the side of Miss Rollins-the
name the hotel clerk had surreptitiously
furnished him-and claiming her for the
uttered IA little exclamation OF Joy, and
pointing to the sparkling cross, said:
II am so glad. " hen were you so
| fortunete to find that ! was deeply
| grieved least it had been washed way
] L
| Blondir. handed it to her and MS if to
assure him that she was the riShtful
owner she touched q secret spring which
parted the cross, ami he beheld II minia-
! ture of herself This afforded Blondin
rare opportunity and he lost no time in
claiming closer acquaintanceship which
in return for her treasurer she sanction
ed. Blondin fingered by her side longer
than the prescribed two weeks, which
heightened into two months, farmer Hale
not Directing, as the heiress, his friend 5
daughter, had not yet arrived.
Blondin determined to bring matters
to close with Miss Rollins and declared
to her his passion and was duly accepted.
To his amazement he was informed that
Miss Rollins name was not Rollins but
something else, n mistake having been
made by the hotel clerk in registering her
and her cousin who accompanied her.
A wedding-a quiet one-took place.
Need we revert to the old farmhouse and
picture farmer Hale's Indignation when
he received n message from Blondin in
forming him that he would be home in Il
few days with his wife? The best laid
schemes of mice and men aft gang aglee,
thought the old gentlemen, when he
realized the significance of the bit OF
delicate paper he held in his hand Gale
ing to his aid the good common sens
that had never yet deserted him, he sum
moned his wife and acquitted her with
Blondins fate. Bowling to the inevitable,
he determined to make the best one of his
sons escapades, and set about preparing
him a handsome reception. Judge OF