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

off so badly as l had anticipated, all
things considered. The governor had
been more animated than ever remem-
Der having seen him, and he most con-
siderably monopolized nearly all Miss
Damian's attention during the meal.
Now he had, apparently with some re-
luctance, given up his seat next Miss
Damian to me. We were sitting half
shaded by screen, and Ethel was max
ing conversation in her graceful manner
with the governor.
"And so l am really to believe that
you hold to the declaration you made
to me up the river last week, Mr.. Ca
rew?''
"Can you doubt me? Did l not re-
peat it to you in all earnestness in the
Row only few days ago, Miss Da-
mianp"
"You are very chivalrous young
man, the apt pupil of chivalrous
father wonder if you mean all you
say, and still more l wonder if you dis
tinctly remember what you really did
say at the picnic. l have always had
my doubts on that subject.
"Miss Damian, do you wish ME to re-
peat 1t now?"
Certainly not, for 1 am sure you
could not if you tried; but to relieve
you OF all further anxiety on the sub
ject l will tell you, not all that you
said, for that would be to repeat too
much good-humored nonsense, but the
one important declaration which evil
IDENTIFY weighs SO heavily upon your
conscience"
81 am all attention.
"Well, you confided to me, of course,
In the strictest secrecy, that you never
could marry any woman if you thought
she were capable of consuming as much
lobster salad as any one of those three
young ladies did, against whom you
seemed to bear such grudge for re-
fusing to flirt with you in the very pres
ence of their frances. There, | thought
you would feel relieved, but it is very
bad compliment to me to let it be so APP
parent"
Good heavens! and was this all?
Had been making myself miserable
and Objectionable to all my friends fr
the past week, and for nothing? Even
my habitual self-control failed me now,
and the expression of delight on my
countenance no doubt deservedly called
forth Miss Damian's reproof.
| was free man again, vet honor
forbade me to jump at the position too
eagerly.
"YOu cannot Think" said, ssthat
this little misunderstanding can alter
the relations between us?"
''Relations! what relations? I don't
understand you. Mr.. Carew"
"Surely, You could not have mistaken
the nature of my offer to you the other
day in the Row."
She burst into Il little fit of laughter.
"You foolish boy, do you take me for
an ogress? Could you not see that L
was only amusing myself? value the
freedom of my maidenhood great
deal too much to part with it so easily.
An old maid l am, and an old maid l
mean to be to the end of the chapter.
Besides, do you think have no eyes?
am far too experienced in reading the
signs of love- not to have observed
where your heart is fixed, perhaps not
without good grounds and she looked
across the room to where
Ethel was sitting. Glove at first sight
sight is no such uncommon occurrence
after all, is it, Mr. Carew?''
raised her taper hand and reverently
kissed it. ''Miss Damian, you have
taught me a most gracious lesson, and
should be most ungrateful not to
profit by it. Believe r1e this time when
L assert that my allegiance to you is, in
another form, stronger than ever"
"That is well, and now 90 and talk
to Ethel and leave me to amuse your
father; that is more in the fitness of
things.
And 1 was in a delirium of delight
for the rest of the afternoon. What
need to say how often called at the
house i'll Kensington after this? Indeed,
could not if L attempted Enough
hat at last ''screwed my courage to
The sticking-place,' and obtained the
one word from Ethel that was wanting
20 make my happiness complete
Our wedding took place in the follow
ng month, with the usual orange bios
sons, white lace, fees, and frippery.
That abominable Ralph was nv
,roomsman. The laugh was all on
ny side now, and he has never to this
lay suspected the real facts of the case
when he drove with me to Kensington
hat morning after the picnic, and
waited outside the house in hanson.
sob! CHARLIE exclaimed my Ethel
IS we started for Paris on our wedding
Zip, "what a good thing it is you mar
led me, for now | shall make such an
EXCELLENT chaperoneforA Aunt Barbara"
When we returned to London, the
I'D governor was the first to greet us.
l could not make out what had come
L.