The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-05-24
BUDELL'S PROPOSAL.

bUDELL'S fhOfVOALs
This time two years ago our Square
Club was fourishing; now I am sole
member. Budell, Marby, Smithers and
myself had formed into private bache-
lors' club for the purpose of whist and
other intellectual occupations, and very
good time we contrived to have together.
We hadn't many rules and by laws in
our club. We were sworn bachelors,
and each OF us had to allege a reason
why he did not intend to we'd. but we
had 90 far recognized the possibility of
Q change in our sentiments as to solemn
" bind ourselves to inform the club at
once if we should ever mediate 'halving
our pleasures and doubling our ex-
penses." Smithers said he hadn't time
to marry; I was too poor; and Marby,
who was regarded as our romantic MEM
Der, gave us indefinitely to understand
that "blighted affections" stood between
him and the hymeneal altar. Budell at
first laughed at the idea of assigning
reason: and he wished to allege as his
that he hadn't met Mrs. Budell yet.
That was unanimously rejected by the
rest of the club; whereupon he insisted
upon our accepting as an alternative
that he was afraid of ladies. We were
willing to stretch point in favor of Blu
dell, who was one of the jolliest possib BILE
fellows at q bachelor supper, and so we
received this second reason. For the
rest we resolved not to fly, but to with
stand temptation; our maxim was that
every lady is charming so long as one is
not married to her; and we were all
ready to go into society, and even sus.
tain the reputation of being dancing
men," We used to relate to each other
over our celibate pipes wonderful stories
of narrow escapes from guileful women
every season; but if these were all as de-
pendent upon the narrator's fancy for
their important details as my contribu-
tons to the conversation, the escapes
were somewhat more than hair breadth.
ciety; he was one of those rare phenom-
ena, young barristers with some prac
tice, and he had besides very comforta-
BILE allowance from his father. Like the
rest of the club, had at first taken as
joke his assertion that he was afraid of
ladies'; but l gradually came to see that
there was some truth in it. So long as
Budell was in large company-in q ball
room or any place like that-he was
quite at his ease and as bold as lion;
but if by any chance he happened to fall
temporary captive to o solitary daInsel's
bow or spear, he was almost overwhelmed
with nervousness, and his usual powers
OF conversation completely deserted him.
I met him at the Royal Academy. es-
corting very pretty young lady, anil
looking rs uneasy ss if he had q worse
conscience THAI King Herod; and have
seen him tremble ut the mere mention of
the conservatory by his partner at q
dance. However, in the Square Club he
was our most enthusiastic member; and
horror and indignation filed our souls
when We realized the direful fact that
Budell was in love and doing his best to
be married.
Had we been women We might proba-
bly, have seen the symptoms of the sd-
vancing malady; but We were only OBJ
tuse and shortsighted men. Now as
look back over these months recall in
cidents that might have been warnings.
The gradual decrease Of Budell's hilarity
ct the club, and the gradual increase Of
his excursions into society could hardly.
indeed, have been portents, for Budell
always did 60 more into society than the
rest of us. The first allusion that be
made to me about the lady who was At
tervard to play Beatrice to mis- Benedick
was ct q concert-or rather in the CLOAK
room after the concert. That's what
call pretty girl" he whispered to me;
that dark-eyed girl over there in the
warm. feecy brown shawl-none of your
hinsy white opera cloaks." The girl WAS
pretty in fresh piquant sort Of way;
and even sworn bachelor might have
been excused for being pleased at receiv-
ing such frank smile - she greeted
Burdell with. Again, not many
days after, he remarked 10 me
spropos des bottes-"Mst rather
- interesting girl last night;
quite agrees With ne on the subject Of
na0ss-" ney Be excused for neglect
Ing tAis hint; Budsll / think voald have