Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-05-30
nre plenty of older fools in the world.

| ~ well known colonel Inc following
conversation explains it
ooh, Gus | begin to feel so awfully
guilty. meeting you like this Why can't
we love each other openly? There's
nothing to be ashamed of i'll it.
'For more than one reason, my dar-
| ling. I've a bad reputation down here !;
all fellows have in country places who go
up to town, belong to club, drive down
to Ascot take medicinal B.-and-S. 5, and
80 on. If the old man were to know that
| was spooning you, led rush off to your
father and warn him. If your father were
to know, he'd rush off to mine and tell
him that | wasn't fit aspirant for the
hand of his daughter.
"But is your father such terrible old
gentleman, then? What is he like I've
never seen him"
"No, | don't suppose you have. He
fights shy of anything with apetticoat on
1t like the plauge. I've known him cut n
good run short because there were ladies
alone with him in the same field, and he
was afraid that in case of accident he'd
have to assist them. He's tall old fell
low. with fresh complexion and gray
mustache, and always wears shepherds
plato trousers, summer and winter. Why,
what's the matter ?"
90 dear o dear Gus, don't go on,
please don't, or | shall die of laughing -
"Why, what is there to laugh ut in it,
Mile? BY Jove. if you saw him in a
temper you wouldn't laugh !"
"Why, my dearest Gus -he's-he's in
love with me -
1.-The old boy-my father love with
You Nonsense, my deur-nonsense,
| l,', nf, &c ,,;, al
of an earthquake, or a boa-constrictor, or
anything. What on earth makes you
thluk that he's i'll love with you q
why, Gus, every day when | come
along here he's walking III the garden
I've always taken HIM for the steward, or
some one, and he makes such eyes at me-
Oh, you'd laugh if you could see him.
try not to, but [ know | blush aud look
uwfully silly
"BN Jove, Mile, it's no laughing mat
ter-thHt it isn't A man father his IL
val i'll love y
That evening Mr.. Gus appeared at
home at an unusually early hour.
"Well ~ was the greeting of his parent.
you re not here SO precious early, with
that goodvgoody face, for nothing, I'm
sure, You young scamp! When You turn
!
methng ont of me. But, mind, not an
ether hulfpcnny do You get. I've already
advanced Your quarters allowance, and
If you've been squandering it on actress
es and race meetings, and unlimited too.
and dinners at the Bristol, ! dout help
you. And not only that, sir, tat Inl 60
my to put stop to it. Ouce for aLl-uuu
Augustus Chopleigh's n man of his WORT
| t,,1t, : 4.
Moses, or any Of them come down and
dun you at this very door, not Il rupee do
you get out of me. :"
| "What deuce of hurry you're in,
father said the young man. II don't want
any money"
"Well, what the dickens is it then q
said the old gentleman, seeing that his
son looked confused.
| "Why--well, I'm in love, that's all. -
replied Gus; "and Tn going to be mar
ried to the best girl in England-a perfect
lady, well bred, well connected, and
The effect of this speech upon the old
Colonel was electrical. He Jumped up
from his end of the table, almost upset
Parker, who was handing him the chilies,
rushed towards his son and shook bis
band heartily, his face bcaming with ex-
cltement and pleasure, as he exclaimed.
| you're sure of what YOU say? 1t ism t
Fltine of the Jolity, hey? A lady, well
bred, well connected"
give been bit of scamp, perhaps,
father" said the young man "but I've
| never gone III Cor low form, so, when I
tell you she's all that could be wished
,, you must believe me-"
"Of couise I will of &C urse do -
roared the Colonel. "Who is she ?"
I "Well, don't want to give You her
name Just now, for many reasons, but You
may take my word for it that she's no.
body to be ashamed of, said Gus.
"All right, all right won't ask any
more questions. SO long as YOU are 90
| ing to steady down with a good, lady-iise
wife, 1 don't care" said his father. "By
gad Gus, / thought you were going to be
n milestone round my neck for the re.
mainder of my life. And now, nv boy,
you've astonished me, I'm going to as
tonish you. What d. you think is about
the most unlikely thing l should do %
GIVE up hunting?" replied GINS, cor
sell your orchids or put up for the coun-
ty ? Or"
"No, no nothing of that kind" said
the Colonel, chuckling. "Im-Tm go
ing to be married too"
: The son affected the greatest astonish-
ment. The Colonel continued
"But look here, my boy, 1t won't inter
fere with your prospects, and-aud when
say I'm going to be married, | mean
that l have my eye on some one, aud
rather think, ahem that that some one
has reciprocal eye ON me. I'm not such
an old bird, eh 2"
Not a bit of it," replied Gus "and
may | ask who the fortunate object of
Your attentions is?"
"Wcll, answered the Colonel, laugh
ing, I've good mind not to tell You,
you dog, as you keep me IN the dark
about yOur innamorata. But will Do
you know Miss Vanjuhn p
Tall girl, brown hair, brown eyes q"
asked Gus, innocently.
Yes, yes-that's the one She's going
to be Mrs. Chopleigh the second" said
the Colonel, rubbing his hands gleefully.
II think-ahem that if | can screw ltp
my pluck, shall speak to her to-mor-
row."
That evening the Reverend Aloysius
Vanjohn received an unexpected visitor
| IN the shape of Mr.. Augustus Chopleigh.
Urged by the desperate aspect of matters
| the young man had resolved to face the
terrible parson, as he believed him to be-
and to lay the whole state of affairs be-
fore him. To his glad surprise, the rev.
erend gentleman, who was really a good
fellow, and thought very well of Gus,
| laughed heartily at the notion of the Col
| onel's suit, and promised Gus that Mili-
cent should marry him when and where
he pleased.
81 say, Gus" roared the Colonel, as
they were leaving the smoking room for
bed ; ''promise me you'll bring Mrs.
Chopleigh here directly after you're mar
ried."
A few days after, Millicent Vanjohn