The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-08-30

teresting conversation about woman's
education, with maiden / even
quoted Scripture to her"
bet yoii hat you inisqiioted,' said
the irreserent Bmithers; who thought
every one was as ignorant as himself.
mo, I'm not joking; its fact, and I
got an idea or two, let me tell you.'
Had he only told us that he had vent
ured into the conversation in order to
carry on his conversation without in
terruption, / am convinced that /, at
least, would have surmised that the ac-
QUESTION of IN idea or two was not the
only result. However, I was not long
in my state of ignorance. One day, a
month or 30 after, Budcll hunted me
up to confide to me that the bachelors
club was oil bosh; he was over head
and ears in love, and did l think he
ought to tell the other men? Then
there followed shower Of apologetics
in which soft brown eyes" and good
ness knows what other personal at-
fractions were prominent. When re-
covered breath l assured him that /
thought it was quite incumbent upon
him to inform the club. was rigid
and cold with him, for felt indignant;
| it was almost m insult to select me as
his contidant, as though my celibate
principles were less fixed than Marby's
| or Smithers.
His announcement that evening was
received in silence by the Square Club;
even Smithers had at first nothing to
say. At last Marby asked:
as it permitted to inquire the lady's
name, and when the marriage is to take
place?' Budcll looked uncomfortable.
"Well, the fact is" he said, Il
thought l ought to tell the club at
once; but l haven't-that is. / don't
quite know how to set about asking the
lady,"
Budell looked so comically distressed
as no made this confession that the
club hailed it with shout Of laughter.
The notion of the bold and confident
Budell finding himself muzzled by the
tender passion was too suggestive for
our risibility. Budell was seriously an
noyed. Il don't think he said, "that
my courtesy to the club has been met
with courtesy" He glared at me rs if
/ especially had been guilty Of reveal
ing his confidence. We apologized
humbly, and at last pacified him. He
really was puzzled as to how to accom-
plish his proposal. Marby suggested
the old-fashioned plan OF plumping
down Oh his knees, like a swain in a
valentine; but Budell paled visibly. It
was such cold-blootled way, he OBJ
iected; yet it appeared he had almost
adopted it on two occasions. The first
time u little brute Of brother had in
opportnnely appeared. Il never knew
a nice girl that hadn't a brute of O
brother" exclaimed Budell, hastily
generalizing, and OF the second oc-
casion he had even got to the length Of
informing the object of his affections
ito adopt phrase that used to madden
| Budelll that he had something to tell
her. when her mother entered, and he
had hastily to devise some idiotic fact
about fower-show. 1t was quite evil
dent that his nerve was not quite eq;,al
to third attempt. / suggested that
he should write, but it seemed that the
young lady, in talking about n certain
novel, had laughed tho hero to scorn
for resorting to sc cowardly plan as
writing his proposal.
"Can't YOU save her life in some thrill
ing manner. and then cast yourself at
her feet? asked the romantic Marby.
"Or can't you get overtaken in a
shower, and then you could neatly ask
her to share your lot as well as yeur
umbrella?" suggested Smithers.
Budell smiled family. Its all very
well for you fellows to make fun of it
when You haven't to do it yourselves
hut all the same it's ticklish thing to
do we'll. l wish to do it in neat and
direct manner without any humbug."
Its my opinion said Smithers,
"that you'll end by popping the
question in some altogether extra
ordinary and absurd manner"
"Very well, sir" said Budell with
dignity, I'VE shall see."
But when we left him, the idea of the
irrepressible Budell being tongne-tied
before dainty little damsel who
couldn't even sit on jury, came upon
MS again with redoubled force, and we
awoke the echoes of the silent street
with renewed shouts of laughter.
| Poor Budell could find no oppor-
tunity Of settling his fate. He revolved
drearily round my rooms, where he
materially interferred with my work by
constantly putting skillfully-elaborated
questions to me, devised to extract my
opinion as to his lady-love, without re-
vealing her name. / rose and fell in
his es imation as my answers were what
he desired or not. and l committed
myself to an immense number of definite
opinions as to the preference between
blondes and brunettes. large mouths
and small ears, ETC. whether do you
prefer Greek or Saxon names fol
ladies ?" he once asked me. answered
at random that l liked them both
equally. No, but really" he persisted
Il mean modern names derived from
these languages" "Wel:," replied n,
venture, Il like Saxon Names" @De
yon,' he exclaimed; "whv, so do /
For example, l don't think you could
find a prettier name than Edith any
where" "Oho" cried, "her name il
Edith, is it?" Budell blushed, bu
couldn't deny it, and / dare say ht
would have revealed her surname also
had l pressed him.
August brought me an lnvltatlon iron
Will Carlyon to spend fortnight a
his fathers place in Scotland, and have
shot at the grouse. @i've asked
Marby. Smithers and Budell, he wrote
"and 1 expect them all. / know yo,
four have frightful chains s-and-slaver,
notions about matrimony; but there ar,
lots of nice girls staying here Will
| Fanny. and il YOU don't all go HON,
with the full intention of forthwith be
coming Benedicts shall he surprised
Anyhow, We have plenty of birds"
When 1 arrived l found the hous,
, 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, an,
, came ont in grand style as master O