Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-04-07

it with shout of laughter. The notion of
the bold and confident Budell finding him.
self muzzled by the tender passion was too
suggestive for our visibility. Budell was
seriously annoyed. 81 don't think, he
said, "that my courtesy to the club has
been met with courtesy" He glared at
me as if specially had been guilty of re.
vealing his confidence. We apologized
humbly, and at last pacifed him. He
really was puzzled as to how to accomplish
his proposal. Marby suggested the old
fashioned plan of plumping down on his
knees, like a swain in a valentine but
Budell paled visibly. 1t was such cold
blooded way, he objected yet it appeared
he had almost Adopted it on two occasions.
TIE first time a httle brute of brother
had inopportunely appeared-"I never
of brother" exclaimed Budell, hastily
generalizing-an on the second occasion
he had even got the length of informing
the object of his affections Ito adopt
phrase that used to madden Budell) that
ne had something to tell her, when her
mother entered, and be had hastily to de.
wise some idiotic fact about a fiower-show.
1t was quite evident that his nerve was not
equal to third attempt Suggested that
he should write /; but it seemed that the
young lady, in talking about a 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.
ing manner, and then cast yourself at her
feet asked the romantic Marby.
"Or can't you get over.aken in
shower, and then you could neatly ask her
to share your lot as well as your UNI
brella ?" suggested Smithers.
Budell smiled family. =" It's all very
well for you fellows to make fun of it
when you haven't to do it yourselves
but all the same it a ticklish thing to do
well. l 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 ques.
ton in some altogether extraordinary and
absurd manner"
Every well, SIR" said Budell with dig
nifty, "we shall see"
But when we left him, the idea of the
irrepressible Budell being tongue tied before
dainty little damsel who couldn't even
sit on jury, came upen us again with re-
doubled force, 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
round my 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 an.
swers were what he desired or not and l
committed myself to an immense number
of definite opinions as to the preference be-
tween blondes and brunettes, large mouths
and small ears, etc. Whether do you
prefer Greek or Saxon names for ladies'? "
he once asked me. l answered at random
that liked them both equally. "No, but
really" he persisted. q mean modern
names derived from those languages"
Well, replied at venture, 81 like
Saxon names IS Do you ?" he exclaimed |
why, 30 do 1. For example, don't
think you could find a pretsier name than
Edith anywhere. "Oho," 1 cried, "her
name is Edith, is it," BudelI blushed,
but couldn't deny it; and l daresay he
would have revealed her surname also had
pressed him.
August brought me an invitation from
Will Carlyon to spend 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 | expect
them all. know you four have frightful
chains-and slavery notions about matri.
mony but there sre lots of nice girls
staying here with Fanny, and if you don't
all go home with the full intention of forth
with becoming Benediets, l shall be sur
prised. Anyhow, we have plenty of BIRDS"
When arrived | founu 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 toll |
cradle 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 infict any more conf
denoes, but | had no reason to suppose
that he had yet accomplished his proposal.
One afternoon heavy rsin-storm had
driven the sportsmen in sooner than usual
l was examining my breech. loader in the
gun-room when Smithers mysteriously re-
quested nae 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 ex-
planned his object. 81 have an announce
ment to make, he said, "similar to one
made by Budell not long since. I'm going
to follow his example, and 1 hereby invite
you all to the wedding. Like Budell, l
haven't yet put the final question, but 1
am not afraid of the answer. l have no
objection to tell you that the young lady
is at present in this house, and that her
name is Miss Maxwell"
Good heavens !" calculated Budell.
"Well, said Marby, 81 may as well
take this opportunity of informing the
club that too am going to follow suit.
Only I've taken the precaution to speak to
the young lady first, and Fanny Csrlyon is
shortly going to become Mrs. Marby."
| was thunderstruck. "In that case"
l said with dignity, as l strobe from the
room, g 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 reason that would pre-.
serve me from matrimony. Budell hurried |
into my room.
" Look here" he said, ''I'm in 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"
" Yes, and that forward beast, Smithers,
will be sure to propose right off and I've |
never had good opportunity"
"My dear Budell, you must make your
opportunity. Do it to night"
Tonight? Why, its dinner time al
ready and after dinner we're to have those
blessed tablesux vivants; and goodness
knows what Smithers will do while Pm
looking after the wretched affairs. And
then, tomorrow, I've promised Carlyon to
start for the east moor at o'clock
| endeavored to comfort him by suggest.
ing that possibly Miss Maxwell might re-
fuse Smithers but Budell shuddered at
the possibility of being forestalled. He
was palpably upset, and he looked nervous
and anxious all dinner-time. The company