The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-08-31
coming Benedicts shall be surprised.

When i arrived i found the house
full of pleasant men and agreeable girls;
while the grouse gave very fair sport.
The club was there in full force.
Budell was in tolerable spirits, and
came out in grand style as master oil
the ceremonies, and as the originator
of all sorts Of amusements. He was too
busy to infiict any more condolences,
but L had no reason to suppose that he
had yet accomplished his purpose.
One afternoon heavy rain-storm had
driven the sportsmen in sooner than
usual; / was examining my breech-
loader in the gun-room when Smithera
mysteriously requested me to come ia
the smoking-room at once. There !
found Budell and Marby. Smithera
had convened the club, and we had the
room to ourselves. He briefly explained
his object. Il have an announcement
to make" he said, similar to one made
by Budell not long since Pm going
to follow his example, and 1 hereby in-
vite you all to the wedding. Like
Budell, haven't yet put the final ques'
ton, but L am not afraid of the answer.
l have no objection to tell you that the
young lady is at present in this house,
and that her name is Miss Maxwell"
"Gosd heavens" calculated Budell.
well" said Marty, Il may as well
take this opportunity of informing the
club that /, too, am going to follow
suit. Only I've taken the precaution to
speak to the lady first, and Fanny Car
lyon is shortly going to become Mrs.
Marby."
1 was thunderstruck. ain that case"
/ said, with dignity, as / strobe from
the room, Il am the only member of
the Square Club"
Just as l was tying my necktie few
minutes before dinner, and rejecting
that, through nervousness, want of leis-
ure and even blghted affections might
be got over, L, at least, had reason
mony, Budell hurried into my room.
Look here" he said, "I'm in deuce
of box! Smithers is going TO propose
to Miss Maxwell, and, hang it, that's
Edith
What! You both in love with Miss
Maxwell?'
yes, and that forward beast, Smith
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"
Tonight! Why, it's dinner time al
ready; and after dinner we're to have
those blessed tableaux vivants; and
goodness knows what Smithers will do
while I'm looking after the wretched
affairs. And then, tomorrow, I've
| ,,rN,,,;anI TarlxrD,, 10 30 - 60 he 81
moor at 8 o'clock"
/ endeavored to comfort him by sug-
costing that possibly Miss Maxwell
might refuse Smithers; but Budell
shuddered at the possibility of being
forestalled. He was palpably upset,
and he looked nervous and anxious all
| dinner-time. The company generally
attributed it to the theatrical respon-
sibility, but they were wrong, Budell
was too old hand to be anxious about
anything 30 simple as tableaux vivants.
| Smithers, on the other hand, had Sc
cured seat beside Miss Maxwell, and
seemed to be making himself vastly
agreeable.
The tableaux began Immediately after
dinner, and they were great success.
ltu JItlll,
without attempting to make them into
series, and music, supposed to be APP
propriate or to have references TO each
tableau, was played while the curtain
was up. Curiously enough in the sec
ond last tableau, Miss Maxwell, Smith
ers and Budell were to appear by them
selves, and still more curiously the sub
ject of it was "The Rivals. Where
Budell had got it don't know; prob
ably in his inner consciousness. 1t was
supposed to be a woodland scene in the
paint-and-powder days. A young lady
was discovered seated on bank with a
lover kneeling at her seat, and holding
one of her hands. At little distance,
and unseen by either of the lovers, was
a rival glaring from among the trees at
the unsuspecting pair. The tableau
was very effective. Miss Maxwell
looked very charming in her costume,
and Smithers glared splendidly. Blu
dell's face it was impossible to see, for
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 tableau Miss Maxwell, who had
already appeared several times, seemed
to lose her nerve. The curtain had not
been up minute when she started,
looked down at Budell and at last,
flushing crimson, fairly ran off the
stage. However, the last tableau went
off without hitch, and the slight mis-
take did not affect the general verdict.
An adjournment was made to have a
dance in the hall, and l was standing
idly looking on when Budell, once more
in his usual garb, rushed up to me in a
fever of excitement.
by George, sir" he whispered,
congratulate me! Pve done it; it's all
right"
And he dragged me along with him
from the hall into the empty library.
what on earth do you mean, man 2"
1 exclaimed. "What have you done ?"
"I've proposed, sir, and I've been ac-
copied"
cordially congratulated him, and
then inquired: How did you manage
it-when did you find the time-and
where the courage?"
I'll tell you. did it in that tab
leau. Under cover of music / told
Edith that in all sober earnestness /
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