Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1884-09-09
MArrARD's ESCAPE.

Mr. Ma,,ari Of the lniian civil service
~as a very susceptible little man, bat be
va genuinely hear, broken when Miss
Mainwaring refused bis offer q marriage.
His afrciioa fof that young lady was no
sphemrsal fancy. aad be bad pa, OF pro-
posing 70 her i.ll almos, the lAs, momen,
before his return TO lndis from sheer ire-
pidAion ani anxiety A. 10 the issue of bis
ccar;ship. The answer be received wAs
81 unmisiakeable that il leh him 10 hope.
and he abandoned himself in despair.
he ven, to spend the remainder Of his
leave a. SolihseA. where be made the &C.
quaia;anoe q = Colonel Creep, who bad
three daughters. Il would De unjust 10
say that Mr. Ma,iAri consoled himself
for HI. di.aPPoinimen, in the society of
these damssls. BAT be certainly paid them
considerable attention. The fae, wAs that
be was coasiiiuiionAlly addicted TO mild
ar,Aiiors. though !, was chiefly owing
to piqus and wounded pride ,hA, he en-.
er,ed himself,l fascinA,e bis new friends.
Ba; be had no serious intentions. else
be would never have escaped an unengag-
"a nan from the accomplished blAndi'h-
meats of the Misses Creep. VIA, might
have hapPened bat for his early depart
are from EaglAnd there j. no snowing.
ior. though his scquain,snoe With Colo
nsl Crceps daughters Vas comparatively
slight. be nevertheless carried away With
him 20 India. the portrait Of the prei'ies,
and lovliest of TIE trio.
Now the portal, Of = pretty gifl S rAih-
er dangerous possession for q jl,ed low
er whose frame of mind Is inclined 10 des-
perai.oa an desPonlsncy. lie had looked
forward 10 returning 10 lndiA. With the
objec, Of his bligh,ed Affections, and bis
bachelors solitude weighed good deal
upon him daring the voyage. IL happened
,ha, the LADY passengers oa board the
ship were singu lAfly unin,eres,ing. and
Mr. Maiiard was 100 much downeAs, to
engage in ilr,A,ioa without little en-
couragemeai.
he had nothing. therefore, to dis,rAe,
his thoughts. which were eeniered on
Mss Mainwaring and bis own unhAPPi'
nes.. sSeeP, the portrait Of Miss Annie
Creep. he found himself gazing uPon
/, rather sentimeniAlly in bis leisure mo-
men,s. and there Is no denying that il rep
resented a pretty face and figure. lie
began to persuade himself that be Was in
love with the original and the uPsho'
was that. upon bis arrival in India. after
some weeks Of melancholy dsjoeiion, be
suddenly ehsered up and wro,e to Miss
Creep. with a proposal Of marriage.
When be had done 80. he felt like a
new man. and worked himself up into
quite fever Of joyous anticipation while
awaiting Miss CreeP's reply. lie guess
Cd ins,ineiively ,ha, bis second ven,ar'
would Be more successful than the first
and. sure enrugh. by the return mall came
a letter accepting bis offer. There ~a'
a occurrences about Miss Annie Creep''
answer TIA, surprised Mr.. MaitArd. con-
sidering th., the young lady had certain
N done her best 10 make herself agreeable
10 him At SOu,hsea.
She prOfessed AstOnishmeni At the honoi
be had paid her. As though be had not
particularly singled her oa, from her sis
ters when in England by his attentions
However. q little oOyness Is no, unbe
coming in pretty girl. and Mr.. Ms',ard
had no serious fault to hnd with tie ,On'
of his 6.ncse. BY the same post came
letter from Colonel Creep. readily accept
ing Mr. Msttard ss his son-in-law, sn'
eOassntins to his daughter going q