McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1883-10-11

he had left me? He had not even
smoothed the way for an explanation.
l collected my senses-there was no
escape. "Miss Damian," 1 began seri-
ously, "believe any ill of me that you
please, perhaps the champagne was not
very good q had not stopped to con-
slider its quality at the time), but my
memory is not so faulty as you imagine,
and at least accept my assurance that
anything l uttered to you the day before
yesterday l am prepared to stand by
now, and if the devotion of life CAM
She interrupted me with an incom-
prehensible smile. "Ah, that is what
you all say, but how can l place any
dependence on such expressions when
you seize the first opportunity to leave
me for the society of my niece?"
'sMiss Damian, belive me-
"Mr. Carew, will believe nothing
now, but see, your father is going, and
it is time for Ethel to be returning with
me. Good-by for the present, and if
you and your father care for our society,
come and lunch with us one day next
week" Here the governor came up
in time for the invitation, which he ac-
cepted with a positive chuckle of de-
light.
So had committed myself and could
not now retract. Farewell, Ethel, my
vision of light, farewell to all my hopes
and dreams for the future, henceforth.
"Father,''I exclaimed, with digni-
fled sheer, as soon as we were left alone,
"permit me to express my gratitude for
the able manner in which you have
helped me upon the most trying occa-
sion of my life."
"Why, you young cub; you don't
know when you are well off. Miss
Damian is a perfectly charming woman.
l had no idea from your description
that she could be such delightful crea-
ture. 'Made-up,' indeed, you puppies
of moderns seem to think that no woman
who has outgrown the follies of the
school-room can retain vestige of nat
ural beauty
'Thank you," l replied, sullenly,
"but whatever Miss Damian.s preserva-
tive qualities may be, [ have no wish to
marry a woman 'old enough to be nv
mOther.'''
"You have only yourself to thank in
the matter, and must abide by the con-
sequences. Don't blame me. AS it
happens, you have :done by accident
perhaps the wisest action in your life,
and selected a wife in every way fitted
to enhance your position, and keep
you out of mischief"
l clearly saw it was no use to go on
arguing with the governor while he was
in this mood, so with Il half-smoothed
ejaculation, which was not blessing,
let the matter drop for the time.
For several days after this / went
about with a hang-dog expression
which seemed to cause no little amuse-
mcnt omy cousin Raj pn, who was for
ever popping in upon me and rallying
me upon my appearance i'll i manner
which he, no doubt, thought very witty
l wonder did not kill Ralph when
look back at that time. He richly de-
served it.
The governor and 1 had accepted
Miss Damian's invitation to lunch for
the following Wednesday. was rather
at a loss to understand his evident i'm
patience for the starting hour to arrive
as soon as the day came round.
He had disappeared unusually early
to make his toilet, thought, as 1 sat
smoking in the library and feeling far
from comfortable at the prospect of
this luncheon with my elderly be-
trothed.
While 1 was engaged in this manner
the governor entered, dressed to state |
of discomfort that almost looked like
a iainat inr tho uoH1ipn
"Why, Dad" [ exclaimed, 81 never
saw you look so young before! You
seem to have cast off twenty years of |
your life with your old coat, just like a
snake. Where did you get that gar
denia from?''
Nonsense, my boy, nonsense, there
is nothing unusual, 1 suppose in making
ones self look respectable; but what |
are you doing here, Charlie at this
hour? You ought to be ready 20 start,
and for goodness sake throw away that
filthy cigar. l don't want to go to Miss
Damian's reeking of tobacco (The
Governor never used to object to tobacco
At any time of his life; he was an in
Teterate smoker himself.)
ssIt wants more than half an hour to
he time" l replied, nonchalantly-
mo hurry, we shall be quite soon
enough"
"There, that's just the way with all
7ou modern young men; YOU ought to
De ashamed of yourselves. When /
vas young it was considered an
ltrocious breach of good manners to
Keep lady waiting, but you youngsters
ire all so stuck up in your own conceit
hat believe it is a part of your re-
igion to go late everywhere for the
of creating an excitement,