Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-10-26
Gales a1to Sketfkts.
A CLOSE SHAVE.
Confined from Yesterday

Continued from yesterdsy.)
kitty :" repealed the stranger.
..Oh, good gracious p said the young
lady, and started of again, but checked
herself
.Kitty. Don't you know me?" asked
the mysterious one, coming for second
into full view, and taking of the blue
glasses. The girl gave a second little
scream, and the young man lodged pre-
cipitately behind his shelter.
"Mr. Eyton! Well, I never. In blue
glasses. And. oh. good gracious me,
what's gone Of your mustaches?"
"Hush-h-h-h-v said George in a tremu-
LOGS whisper. "Hush-h-h Where's the
General p
"He's upstairs. in his study reading the
paper. Well, of all the sur-r'
.Yes,I know! Where's Miss Boswell?''
s.Sbe's gone into the village to see old
Mrs. SlocOmb. Well, il ever-r'
"All right, never mind all that. Look
here, YOU see this letter, I'll put it here.
in this cleft of the tree. Ycn can come
out and get il, and give it to Miss Boswell
Don't lei her see the General till she reads
it. Where's Mrs. Tresham?"
"She's in the dining-roOm."
"Asleep?"
IL don't know, / should think So"
go and see, there's a good girl. II
she Is, give me signal, and I'll come in
You must open the door for me, and
smuggle me up to the General. Don'l
wait to ask me any questions; Miss Bos
we'll will tell you all about it, expect
when she's read the letter, or will, some
other time"
Kitty retreated, wondering, to fulfill
her commission. She shared, in a lesser
degree her mistress affection for Mr..
Eyton, and her admiration OF him had
been commented by divers presents from
the young man, and perhaps also (hon1
soft Qui NAL ypense) by those means
which are even vet more efficacious in en-.
listing the sympathies of pretty girl thar
more enduring tokens of regard. Aunt
Eliza slumbered placidly in the dining
the promised signal and admitted George
after due presentation OF his card to the
General. in whose face the young mar
recognized. with a sinking heart. the
lineaments of the chairman OF the pre-
ceeding evening.
The General, without clearly knowing
WHY, was somewhat puzzled by the ap
partition of the claimant of his daughter.
hand, whose appearance answered neither
to his own uniformed expectations, nor II
those of the casual scraps Of description
he had received from Nelly and from Aun
Eliza. The General was sufficiently ex
perienced in the ways of women to know
that their likings or disliking are amongs
the things least certain in most uncertain
universe, but he felt it strange that thi;
semi.clerical young gentleman shoulC
have been the man to bear off the affec
tons of such girl as his daughter agains
all opposition. But he was exceedingly
fond Of his child, and had no doubt O
the depth of her affection tor her lover
nor was he so preiudiced as to hold an ad
ditional inch or two of length in a coat, OIL
a shade OF blue in pair of spectacles, a;
an insuperable bar against loves progress
sion. So he received with cordially
which increased the feeling OF guilt the
young man already felt within himself.
II am very happy to see you. MIR
Eyton, very happy indeed. Pray take 8
seat"
Thank you." stammered George
"It's very hot. don't you think so. sir p
The General assented. and sat looking
at his visitor with a beaming face.
spare and rather wizened little man, with
thin reddish locks GROWING scarlet Wis
age, framed with fiery whiskers. He sal
in his chair rs he might have done in his
charger on parade.
Ill never felt hotter" said George
desperately.
.'Indeed" said the Genearl.
II suppose you find il almost cool, af
ter India ?" continued the young man.
'Not quite so hot as it is there, some
times" assented Sir Maxinus. Though
suppose 1t was warm for England. What
on earth can Nellie see in this min
compoopp" he asked himself silently
docs his courtship of her consist of me
neurological comparisons. wonder2'
George, as we know found other mate
rial for conversation with Nelly. but Al
present his usual fluency had deserted
him. However. perceiving that his half
formed fears of being recognized. in spite
of his DISCUSSES. by his future father-in
law were apparently groundless, he gained
courage. and spoke out in such fashion
as vastly improved the Generals opinion
of him. His affection for Nelly was deer
ana genuine, and under its influence he
waxed almost eloquent. to the thinking o
the fatherly heart which drank in the
young mans praises of Miss Boswell
Sir Maximus listened with a pleased
smile. and George, thawing more and
more under the old mans geniality. made
rapid progress in his good graces.
"Well. Mr.. Eyton." he said presently
II am an old soldier. and. as you know
old soldiers are cautious. l shall throw
no obstacle in your way. You are admit
ted as my daughters sutton. and if. as
believe you will. you continue to deserve
my good opinion. you shall marry her.
hear the best accounts of you. both from
my daughter (though her opinion is moi
worth much, for reasons best known to
YOURSELF and from my sister, whose
Judgment is worth more. You are admit
ted. sir. on probation. What do you
say?"
George made such an answer as the
General anticipated. and as my reader
may imagine for himself.
Then that's settled" said the General
genially. clapping him on the shoulde,
and shaking hands with him. You will
dine here to-day? You have no other en-
gagementp"
"None at all. Thank you General
You are very good"
.And here comes Nelly in person. tc
second my invitation" said the old mar