The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-07-11

On Il Ike the plague. I've known him
!, cut good run abort because there were
ladies alone In the field, and he wa
afraid that IN case Of accident he'd have
to assist them. He's . tall old fellow
with fresh complsxion and . grey mus
tache, and always wears shephe herd's plaid
trousers, summer and winte r, Why
what's the mattsr?" .., ~. -
20 dearl o dearl Gus, don't 70 on,
please don't or I shall die Of laughter. u
why, what il there to laugh e in il,
Millief By Jovs il you saw him in q
temper You wouldn't laugh"
"Why, my dearest Gusl-hes-he's
In love with mepn
"The old boy-my father-in love
with you? Nonsense, my dear-non.
sense. I say. Why he's more afraid Of
. girl than an earthquake, or boa-con-
strictor, or anything. Whist ON earth
makes you think that he il In love with
youi. - a -,
why, Gus, every day when I come
along here. he's walking in the garden.
I've always taken him for the steward,
or some one and he mA Akes such eyes al
me. Oh, you'd laugh il you could see
him. try not to, but I know I blush
and look awfuliy silly"
BY Jove, Mile, its no laughing
matter-that II isn't. A mans father
his rival in Lowell"
That evening Mr.. Gus appeared at
home at an unusually early hour.
"Welll was the greeting of his parent.
"You are not hear so precious early,
with that goody.goody face for nothing,
I'm sure, You young scamp! When
you turn up punctually to dinner
know you want something ont Of me.
But mind, not another halfpenny do
you get. I've already advanced your
quarters allowance, and if you've been
squandering it on actresses and race.
meetings and unlimited loo and dinners
at Bristol, I won't help you. And not
only that, sir, but I'm going to put q
stop to it. Once for all-and Augustus
Chopleigh's q man of his word-I don't
care il Stulty, or Golding, or Moses, OF
any of them come down and dun Won st
this very door, not rupee do you get
out fine"
what q deuce Of hurry you're
in, father!" said the young man. 81
don't want any money"
"Well, what the dickens is it then ~
said the old gentleman, seeing that his
son looked confused.
"Why-well, I'm in love, that's all, u
replied Gus; "and I'm going to be
married to the best girl in England, q
perfect lady, we'll bred, we'll educated,
and-n
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 chill
les, rushed toward his son and shook
his hand heartily, his face besming with
excitement and pleasure, as lie OK.
claimed: "You'rs sure of what you
say? II isn't Fifine of the Jolity, hey
A lady we'll bred, we'll connected-'
I've been . bit of scamp, perhaps
father" said the young man; 'sbut I've
never gone in for low form; so when
tell you she's all that could be wished
you must believe me-"
"Of course I will; Of course I dol'
roared the Colonel. "Who is sheP"
"Well / don't want to give 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; I won't ask any
more questions. So long as you are
going to steady down with . lady-like
gad. Gus, 1 thought you were going L
be millstone round my neck for the
remainder of my life. And now, my boy
you've astonished me, now I'm going to
astonish you. What do you think is abou,
the most unlikely thing I should do?'
"Give up hunting?" replied Gus, 20,
sell your orchids! or put up for the
coutry! Or" -
"No, no; nothing Of that kind" said
the Colonel, chuckling. "Im-T going
to be married, too"
The son affected the greatest astonish.
ment. The Colonel continued:
But look here, my boy; it won't in
terfere with. your prospects, and-and,
when say I'm going to be married,
mean that have my eye on some one,
and I rather think, ahem! that some
one has . reciprocal eye on me. I'mnot
such an old bird, eh?"
"Not bit of it," replied Gus; "and
may I ask who the fortunate object OF
your attention Isl"
"Well," answered the Colonel, laugh
ing, I've good mind not to tell you,
you dog, as you keep me in the darl
about your inamorata. But will. Dc
you know Miss Vanjohn?"
"Tall girl, brown hair, brown eyes p
asked Gus, innocently.
eyes, yes-that's the onei She's
going to be Mrs. Chopleigh the second, ,
said the Colonel, rubbing his hand
gleefully. II tlink-ahem! that if
can screw up my pluck I shall speak te
her tomorrow"
That evening the Reverend Aloyisut
Vanjohn received an unexpected visitor
in the shape of Augustus Chopleigb.
Urged by the desperate aspect Of mat.
ters, the young man had resolved tc
face the terrible parson, as he believed
him to be, and to lay the state of affairs
before him. To his glad surprise the
reverned gentleman, who was really O
good fellow and thought very we'll Of
Gus, laughed heartily at the thought
of the Colonel's suit, and promised Gus
that Millicent should marry him when
and where he pleased.
"I 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 are
married"
A few days after Millicent vanjohn
was quietly and unostentatiously made
Mrs. Augustus Chopleigh in London.
Faithful to his word the young man
wrote informing his father of his mar.
riage, and telling him that he should run
down on the following day to introduce
his bride to her new father.
The Colonel WIS at dinner-that is te
say, he was playing at dinner, for what
with his own consuming passion and the
eager expectation with which he awaited
the arrival of his son and his daughter.
in-law, ,she sent away untasted every dish
that was set before him.
The door bell rang. Tho Colonel
jumped up to answer it himself, but
checked his movement.
"No. no." he said; "I'll have it g
surprise to the last"