The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-08-04

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you. o, Fanny, l adore you; say you
win be my wife,"
al gave you an answer the other
day." she replied. zone which l thought
you should have remembered, she.
added, laughing little notwithstand-
ing her terror.
II remember it perfectly" / an
swered, ssbut intend to have q differ
emit reply to that. You see those five
sandbags; shall ask you FIVE times to
become my wife. Every time you re-
fuse shall throw over a sandbag. So,
lady fair Gas the cabmen would say) re-
consider your decision and consent to
become Mrs. Jenkyns."
"Iwon't," she said. II never will!
and, let me tell you, that you are acting
in very ungentlemanly way to press
me thus"
{" You acted in a very lady-like way
the other day, did you not" rejoined.
"when you knocked me out of the boat?"
She laughed again, for she was plucky
girl, and no mistake-a very plucky
girl. However" went on, ssit's no
good arguing about twill you prom
ise to give me your hand?"
- Never" she answered. "I'll 60 to
Ursa Major first. though ! have got q
big enough bear here, in all conscience.
Stay; you'd prefer Aguarius, wouldn't
you?'
She looked so pretty that was almost
inclined to let her off Il was only trying
to brighten her, of course-I knew how
high we could 60 safely well enough,
and how valuable the life of Jenkyns
was to his country; but resolution is
one of the strong points of my charac-
ter, and when I've begun thing l like
to carry it through, SO I threw over
another sandbag and whistledth dead
March in Saul"
" Come, Mr.. Jenkyns," she said, sud-
denly-"come, Tom, let us descend now,
and Pllpromise to say nothing whatever
about all this" / continued the execu-
ton of the " Dead March," ssBut if
you do not begin to descend at once I'll
tell papa the moment 1 set foot on
ground!' / laughed, seized another
bag, and. looking steadily at her, said:
"Will You promise to give me your
hand?
i've answered you already?" was
the reply. Over went the sandbag,
and the solemn notes of the dead
March" resounded through the car.
II thought you were a gentleman -
said Fanny, rising up in terrible rage
from the bottom Of the car, where she
had been sitting, and looking perfectly
beautiful in her wrath; II thought you
were q gentleman, but l find l was
mistaken; why, q chilnney-sweepcr
would not treat lady in such way.
Do you know that you are risking your
oUn life as well as mine by your mad
ness!' l explained that / adored her
so much that to die in her company
would be perfect bliss, SO that / begged
she would not consider my feelings at
all. She dashed her beautiful hair
from her face, and. standing perfectly
erect. looking like the Goddess of An
ger Tor Boadicea-if you can fancy that
parsonage in a balloon -she said: III
command you to begin the descent this
instant" The dead March, whis-
tied in a manner essentially gay and
lively" was the only response. Aft<kI
few minutes silence took up another
bag and said: 1--WE are getting rather
high; if You do not decide pretty soon
we shall have Mercury coming to tell
us that we are trespassing-will you
promise me your hand p She sat in
sulky silence at the bottom of the car.
I threw over the sand. Then she tried
another plan. Throwing herself upon
her knees, and bursting into tears, she
said: 20, forgive me for what I did
the other day; 1 was very wrong, and l
am very sorry. Take me home and
will be sister to you.'' mot wife?-
said l. II can't; 1 can't she an
swered.
Over went the fourth bag, and 1 be-
gan to think she would beat me after
all, for did not like the idea of going
much higher. l would not give in Just
yet, however. / whistled for a few
to give her time for reflection,
and then said: Fanny, they say that
are made in Heaven-if you
do not take care ours will be solemn
lied there" took up the fifth bag
and last. Come" 1 said, s.my wife
in life, or my companion in death,
which is it to be?" and l patted the
in my arms as if it had been
> baby. ''Come, Fanny, give me your
PROMISE could hear her sobs. I'm
The most soft-hearted creature breath
ing. and would not pain any living
thing. and l confess she had beaten me.
| forgave her the ducking; forgave
her for reiecfinO mo WAS an Tho
point of fiinging the bag back into the
car, and saying: Dearest Fanny, for
give me for trying to brighten you.
Marry whOmsoever you will. Give
your lovely hand to the lowest groom
IN your stables-endow with your price,
less beauty the Chief of the Panki-
wanki Indians. Whatever happens,
Jenkyns is your slave; your dog; your
Iootstool. His duty hence:orth, Is to
20 whithersoever you shall order, to do
whatsoever you shall command"
was on the point of saying this, l
y Z