The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-03-29

With him. for ! eel, sadigsant II Was al
mos, an insnl, TO select mo a. bis ocnh'
dspi. ss though my celihats pTincipia'
wav less 6xed THAN Msrb, or Smiiherss
I His announcement that evening MAS re-
eeivei ia solemn silence by tho square
Club; even SmitLers At drst had nothing
TO say. At last Marby asked: "is Il per
mitied 10 ask the ladies name. apd when
the marriage is to take placer Budei'
looked uncomfortable We'll, the fact
is. he said. II thought ought TO tell
tho club at once; but haven't that -,
don't quite know how 10 set about ask
ing the lady"
Budeli looked 80 comically distressed
As be made this confession that the club
hailed it with laughter. The notion OF
/ the bold and confident Budell finding
himself muxzled by the tender passion was
too suggestive for our risibility. Budel
was seriously annoyed Il don't think. Z
he said. 'that my courtesy to the club has
been met with courtesy. He glared at me
as il ! specially had been entity Of reveal.
| ing his coniidcnce We spolcktaed hum
bly, and at last pacifled him. He really
vas puzzled as TO how 10 accomplish his
proposal. Marby suggested the old.fash-
ioned plan Of plumping down on his knees
like aswain in 3 valentine; ,but Budell
paled visibly. 1T was such q cold .blooded
way, he objected. Yet it appeared that
he had almost adopted it on two occasions.
The first time little brute OF brother
had inopportunely appeared. II never
knew nice girl that didn't have little
brute OF brotherlp exclaimed Budelh
hastily generalizing: and on the second oc.
casion he had even got the length OF in
forming the object OF his affections ITO
adopt phrase that used TO madden Bu-
| dell that he had something to tell her,
when her mother entered, and he had has.
| tily TO devise some idiotic fact about
flower show. 1t was quite evident that
his nerve was not equal to athird attempt.
| / suggested that he write, but il seemed
that the yoang lady in talking about q
certain novel had laughed the hero to
scorn for resorting to SO cowardly plan
as writing his proposal.
Cant you save her life in some thrill
ling manner, aud then cast yourself at her
feet?' asked the romantic Marby.
'Or cant you get overtaken III shower
and then you could neatly ask her to share
your lot as well as your umbrella, sug-
gested Smithers.
Budell smiled family. ITS all very
we'll for you fellows to laugh when you
haven't it to do yourselves, but all the
same it's ticklish thing to do we'll. !
wish to do it in neat and direct manner
without any humbug
"It's my opinion, said Smithers, THAT
you'll end by popping the question in
some altogether extraordinary and absurd
manner
"very well, sir, said Budell with dig
nifty, ''we shall see. y
But when we left him the idea OF the
irrepressible Bndell being tonguetied be-
fore u dainty little damsel who couldn't
even sit on jury, came upon us with re
| doubled vigor, and we awoke the echoes
| OF the silent street with renewed shouts Of
laughter.
| Poor Budell could find no opportunity
OF settling his fate. He revolved drearily
around my rooms, where he materially in.
terfeied with my work by constantly put
ting skilfully 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 an
swers we're what 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. 'Do
you prefer Greek or Saxon names for Ia
dies?' he once asked me. answered at
random that liked them both equally.
"No, but really" lie persisted, II mean
modern names derived from those Ian
guages." "Well, replied at venture,
II like Saxon names. "Do you?' he ex-
claimed. "Why so do l. For example,
/ do not think you could find prettier
name than Edith anywhere. /" "Oho" ]
cried, 'her name is Edith, is it?" He
blushed but could not deny it, and dare.
say he would have revealed her surname
too had pressed him.
i August brought me an invitation from
Will Carlyon to spend fortnight at his
fathers place in Scotland and have shot
at the grouse. Il have asked Marby,
Smithers and Budell," be wrote, "and
expect them all know you four have
frigh tful chains. and slavery notions about
mstrimony; but there are lots Of nice girls
staying here with Fanny, and II you dom
all 20 home with he intention OF becom'
! ing Benedicks forthwith, shall be sur
prised. Anyhow we have plenty Of birds
When arrived found the house full
OF pleasant men and agreeable girls, while
the grouse furnished very fair sport Th'
} club was there in full force. Budell wal
in tolerable spirits and came out in erant
style as master Of the ceremonies and 4h'
originator OF all sorts Of amusements. ID
was too busy to inaict any more confidenc
Q en-, but had no reason TO suppose that b
had yet accomplished his proposal.
4 One afternoon heavy rainstorm ha'
:. driven the sportsmen in sooner than usu
al. was examining my brsech-losder i
/ the gun room when Smi,hers mysteriousl
Il requested me to come TO the smoking
! room at once. There ! found Bude
N .nd M.yhv 4mitbera Rad convened th