Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-05-24
celibate principles were less fixed than
Marbys or Smithers.

Marby's or Smithers'.
| His announcement that evening was re-
ceived in solemn silence by the Square
Club; even Smithers at first had nothing to
say. At last Mary asked, "Is it permitted
to inquire the lady's name, and when the
marriage is to take place." Budell looked
uncomfortable. "Well the fact is," he said.
! but haven't-that is l don't quite know
how to set about asking the lady"
Budell looked so comically distressed as
he made this confession that the club hailed
| it with q shout of laughter. The notion of
bold and confident Budel finding himself
muzzled by the tender passion was too sug-
gestive for our risability. Budell was Sc
riously annoyed. 81 don't Think" he said,
'that my courtesy to the club has been met
specially had been guilty of revealing his
confidence. We apologized humbly and at
last pacifed him. He really was puzzled
as how to accomplish his proposal. Marby
suggested the old fashioned plan of plump
ing down on his knees; like swain in a
valentine but Budell paled visibly. 1t
was such coldblooded way, he objected;
vet it appeared he had almost adopted 1T
on two occasions. The first time a little
brute of a brother had inopportunely ap,-
peared-I never knew nice girl that hadn't
dell hastily generalizing; and on the sec
ond occasion he had even got the length OF
informing the object of his affections Ito
adopt phrase that used to madden BudelD
that he had something to tell her, when
her mother entered, and he had hastily to
devise some idiotic factabout flower show:
It was quite evident that his nerve was not
equal to third attempt. | suggested that
he should write; but it seemed that the
80 %o1l hn, Il
ell, had laughed the hero to scorn for re-
sorting to 50 cowardly plan as writing
his proposal. .,,.
Cant you save her life in some thrilling
manner and then cast yourself at her feet?"
asked the romantic Marby..
"Or can't you get overtaken in shower
and then YOU could neatly ask her to share
your lot as well as your umbrella?" sugges-
ted Smithers.
Budell smiled family. "Itis all very well
for YOU fellows to make fun of it when you
haven't to do it yourselves; but all the same
it is aticklish thing to do it well. wish to
do it in neat and direct manner and With
out any humbug."
"It's my opinion" said Smithers, "that
you'll end by popping the question: in some
altogether extraordinary and absurd man.
ner."
"Very well sir" said Budell with dignity,
1--WE shall see."
But when we lost him, the idea Of the ir-
repressible Budell being tongue-tied before
dainty little damsel who couldn't even SIT
on a jury came upon us again with redouD-
led force, and we awOke the echoes OF the ST.
lent street with renewed shouts of laughter.
Poor Budeu could find no opportunity OF
settling his fate. He revolved drearily
round nv rooms, where he materially in
terfered with my work by constantly put
ting skillfully elaborated questions to me,
devised to extract my opinion as to his lady
love, without revealing her name. rose
and fell in his estimation as my answers
were as he desired or not and committed
myself to an immense number Of definite
opinions as to the preference between
blondes and brunettes, large mouths and
small ears, ETC., etc. "Whether do you pre-
fer Greek or Saxon names for ladies ?'' ne
once asked me. l answered at random that
I liked them both equally. "No, but real
w." he persisted. "f mean modern names
derived from those languages" "Well, |
replied, at a venture, 81 like Saxon names"
"Do YOU ?" he exclaimed; "why SO do l.
For example, I don't think you could find
prettier name than Edith anywhere. "Oho!'
I cried, cher name is Edith, is it?" Budell
blushed, but couldn't denyit; and daresay
he would have revealed her surname also,
had pressed MIN.
August brought me an invitation from
Will Carlyon to spend a fortnight at his
fathers place in Scotland, and have a shot
at the grouse. ''I've asked Marby, Smith
ers and Budell" he wrote, "and l expect
them all. l know you four have frightful
chains-and-slavery notions about matrlmo-
ny; but there are lots of nice girls staying
here with Fanny, and if you don't all go
home with the full intention of forthwith
becoming Benedicks I shall be surprised.
Anyhow, we have plenty of birds.
When l arrived l 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
of 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 proposal.
One afternoon a heavy rain storm had
driven the sportsmen in sooner than usual;
I was examining my breechloader in the
gun room when SmitherS mysteriOusly re-
Guested me to come to the smoking room at
once. There l found 'Budell and Marby.
Smithers had convened the club, and we
had the room to ourselves. He briefly en-
planned his object 81 have an announce
ment to make,"he said, similar to one made
by Budel not long since. Pm going to
follow his example, and hereby invite
you all to the wedding. Like Budell, L
haven't yet put the final question, and am
not afraid of the answer. | have no oblec-
ton to tell you that the young lady IS at
present in this house, and that her name is
Miss Maxwell"
"Good heavensn' calculated Budell:
"Well," said Marby, 81 may as we'll take
this opportunity Of informing the club that
too am going to follow suit: Only, Ivs
taken the precaution to speak to the young
lady first, and Fanny Carlyon is shortly go
ing to become Mrs. Marby."
{ was thunderstruck. '"In that case,"
said with dignity, as | strobe from the
room. 81 am now the only member of the
Square Club"
Just as / was tying my necktie few
minutes before dinner, and rejecting that,
though nervousness, want of leisure and even
blighted affections might be got over, at
least had a reason that would preserve me
from matrimony, Budell hurried into my
| room.
"Look here" he said, "I'm in a deuce
of box! Smithers is going to propose to
Miss Maxwell and, hang it, that's Edith"
"What! you're both in love with Miss
MAXWELL"
eyes, and that forward beast, Smlthers,
will be- sure to propose right OFT; and i've
| never had good opportunity
"My dear Budell, you must make oppor-
tunity. DO it tonight"
sTo-night? Why, it's dinner time al
ready and after dinner we re to have those
blessed taJleaur riruats; and goodness knows
what Smithprs will dO while Pm looking