The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-04-19

mysteriously requested me to come to
the smoking-room at once. There I |
found Budoll and Marby. Smithers |
had convened the club, and we had the |
room to ourselves. Ho briefly ex-
planned his object. "IhaT2 an announce
ment to make" he said, "similar to |
one made by Budoll not long since. |
I'm going to follow his example, and [ |
hereby invite you all to the wedding.
Like Budell, haven't yet put the final |
question, but am not afraid of the an |
swer. L have no objection to tell you
that the young ladyis ut present in this
house, and that her name is Miss Max
we'll"
"Good heavensr' calculated Budcll.
"Wcll," said Marby, 81 may as we'll
take this opportunity of informing tho |
club that l, too, am going to follow suit.
Only I've taken the precaution to speak
| to the young lady first, and Fanny
Carlyon is shortly going to become Mrs
Marby."
| was thunderstruck. "In that case"
/ said, with dignity, rs l strodo from
the room, II am now tho only member
of the Square Club"
just rs was tying my Eec!ltie q few
minutes before dinner, and rejecting
that, though nervousness, want of lcis-
ure and even blighted affections might
be got over. I at least had reason that
would preserve me from matrimony,
Budcll hurried into my room.
"Look here" he said, "Tm in the
deuce of a box! Smithers is going to
propose to Miss Maxwell; and hang it,
| that's Edithr'
"What! you're both in love with Miss
MAXWELL"
fl>ot
ers, will be sure to propose right off;
and I've never had good opportunity"
"My dear Budell, you must make
your opportunity. Do it tonight"
"To-night? Why, it's dinncr-time
already! and after dinner we're to have
these blessed tabledur UiU0ntS; and good
ness knows what Smthcrs will do wnilo
I'm looking after the wretchcd affairs
! And then tomorrow, rvo promised
Carl yon to start for the east moor at
nine o'clock"
1 endcavorcd to comfort him by sug-
gesting that possibly Miss Maxwell
might refuse Smithcrs; but Budell shud-
dered at the possibility Of being fore
stalled. He was palpably upset, and
he looked nervous and anxious oil din
ner-time. Tho company generally at
trlbuted it to 'v'iL..trlcal responsibility,
but they were wrong; Budell was too
Old hand to be :nxiouS about any
thing so simple as tdblcaur UiuantS.
SmitEcrs, on the other hand, had Sc
cured a scat beside Miss Maxwell, and
seemed TO be making himself vastly
agreeable.
The ta6lcamr began Immediately after
dinner, and they were great success.
Budell had skilfully arranged them,
without attempting to make them into
n series; and music, supposed to be ap-
propriatc or to have somo rcfcrHI CO TO
each tnblcdu, was played while the cur
tain was up. Curiously enough, in tho
second last tablcou. Miss Maxwell.
S GERS and Rudcl wtro to ap ,car by
III nsclvcs; and stu! more curiousy
tn subject of it was II ne
Rivals" Where Bu,loll had got it
l don't know; probably in his
inner consciousness. T. was supposed
to be n woodland scene in the paint
and-powdcr days. A young lady was
discovered seated on n bank, with q
lover knccling at her feet and holding
one of her hands. At a little distance,
and unseen by either of the lovers, was
a rival glarng from among the trees at
tho unsuspccting pair. The tablcan
was very effective. Miss Maxwell
looked very charming in her costume,
and Smithcrs glarcd splcndidly. Bu-
dcll's face it was impossible to see, fox
his back was turned to the audience.
Up till now the performers had all man
aged to remain as rigid as statues; but
in this tablcam Miss Maxwell. who had
already appeared sever times, seemed
to lose her nerve. The curtain ,ad not
been up minute when sho started
looked down at Budell and at last
flushing crimson, fairly ran off tn
stage However, the last tGblcdu ven
off without a hitch. and the Slight mis-
take did not affect the genor Il verdict
An adjournment was maze to have a
lance in Ihc hall, and / was standing
dly looking on when Budell, once more
his usual garb, rushed up to mo in q
fever Of excitement.
"By George sir" he whispered, econ.
sratulatc me! I've done it; it's all right"
And he dragged me along with him
rom the hail into the empty library. -.
J "What on earth duyOu mean, man.
exclaimed. "What have you donc?'
"I'vc proposed, sir; and lVo been
accepted"
I cordially congratulated him; and
;hcn | inquired: "IlOw did you man
lgc it when did you find tho timo-and
where the couragc?"
"Ill tell YOU. / did 1t in that
MbIcnu. Under cover Of the music
;old Edith that in all sober earncstness
was ut her feet, not in jest alone; and
asked her to be my wife. That's why
! she ran away" .---
"No wondcrr' intcriccted.
"Wasn't it splendid doing it under
Smithcr's very eyes? And then, OF
course, | saw Edith afterwards in the
IitI" drawing-room; and she'll be here
directly, whenever she has changed hel
costume"
"Wcll, I'm glad you've settled it
) and think Smithcrs was rightwhon ht
said you would end by proposing il
: some extraordinary way. And itscems
l TO me that it was decidedly embarrass
ing for Miss Maxwell"
Smithcrs married Edith MAXWELL
ulster eighteen month after the ta6Ledu
; --BetqraUi0.
"A man who was kept in the lock. a
| iC,h -