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

osoSoAy 1osiEculeuU upOn ulh snug uGGlo
estate in one of the pleasantest of the
homo counties. From an outsiders
point of view, the colonel seemed to
possess most things which are generally
considered to constitute mundane hap
piness. His liver had survived paw
nees, curries, and o tropical sun intact /;
his income was ample; he belonged to
two o. three good London clubs; he had
an excellent celler of wine; he was j.
p, respected by his neighbors and wor-
shipped by his tenants; and he rode to
cover on the best of cattle. Yet with
oil this, the colonel had two eternally
grinning skeletons in his cupboard.
The first was the possession of q ne'er-
do-weel son, and the second was the
non possession of wife.
Augustus Chopleigh, Jr., although a
ne'er-do-weel in the eyes of a parent
who was more rigid and precise than
are most gentlemen who have breathed
the atmosphere of barracks cantonments
during the best part of their lives, was,
after all, but an ordinary everyday
young man." Hebetted little, it is true; /;
he belonged to club where play was
sometimes high of ON evening; he could
drink his claret like man; he was q
conoisseur in cigars; he possessed two
or three long tailors' bills, and he was
given to staying in town sometimes for
week ut time. Still, after all, what
could he expected Of o high.spirited
young fellow who had received first
rate education, and therefore was un-
fitted for any serious walk in life; who
was good-looking, who dressed we'll,
who found life at stately Dunn Dunn
Hall little monotonous at times, and
who had q handsome annual allowance? {?
But in tho eyes of the Colonel all
tl,nsn 1ittla aennl;ar;tiae s,uA"., l.>.:.,~
grimes, and the poor old gentleman, as
he pondered in the solitude of what he
called his "study" saw very clearly that
unless the young man was settled in life
with well-bred, well-connected girl,
he would infallably follow. at headlong
pace, that broad road which leads to de-
struction.
Often alone at Dunn Dunn Hall, de-
prived of the society of his son, and not
caring very especially for that society
when offered, it was hardly to be won
dered at that the Colonel yearned for q
suitable partner in his exile.
The memory Of the departed Mrs.
Chopleigh could hardly be said to be
yet green, for she had succumbed to an
aggravated attack of Jungle fever some
twenty years before, when Augustus; /;
junior, was but o STRIPPING in short
dresses and bare legs. It might he
said that the remedy was easy. Why
didn't the Colonel take unto himself o
second Mrs. Chopleigh? There were
plenty of eligible spinisters who would
have jumped at ON offer from such o
fresh-facel. active wealthy gentleman /;
who was little beyoud the prime of life.
There was, however, an almost invinci-
BILE obstacle. Unlike most military men,
Colonel Chopleigh was painfully shy /;
perhaps remembrance of the departed
Mrs. Chopleigh. who was known as the
Dunn Dunn Tartar, had driven out the
youthful assurance which had won her
at any rate the futter of o petticoat
awakened feeling within the gallant
Collonel's breast which were not to be
stirred by horde of yelling, mutinous
Sepoys, or he the stiffest bulfinch in
the country. He loved at q distance a
score of times, but he lad never placed
himself within speaking reach of the
various objects ofllis affection.
Suddenly matters took different
Curn.
A young lady of strikingly prepos-
sessing appearance -Millicent Vanjohn,
only daughter of the Rev. Aloysius VAN
john, the only vicar-had been espied
by the Colonel proceeding up the lane
which ran parallel with his grounds, as
he paced along his favorite shrubbery
walk. Being on his own property had
inspired him with courage; he had
gazed st hsr, aud she and blushed and
looked down. He hurried into the
house, and shut himself up in his study.
II am 55," he said to himself. Il
Fx-well, am well-looking; my waist
oat is of decent girth; I have a good
7omplexion; and man is only as old as
10 feels. Why shouldn't I? I may be
Vailed an old fool. Well there are plenty
ljf older fools in the world. I-well-t
.Eillw
q Miss Vanjohn was walking at the
Identical hour the next day, and the
1lext day after that, and so on for more
llan week. and each day the same
title comedy was played-shcep's eyes
bn tho part Of the colonel, bushes and
lookings-down ON the part of Miss Mil
licent Vanjohn.
Did Miss Vaujohn walk up that lane
so regulally with fixed purpose? OF
course she did.
Punctually at 4 o'clock every after.
noon Mr.. Augustus Chopleigh, Jr, met
her at the top Of it. It was rather an
odd thing to do-the daughter Of q
well-known parsOn meeting sub posa
the son of an equally we'll known COL
onel. The following conversation ex-
plains it;
"Oh, Gust 1 begin to feel SO aw-
fully guilty, meeting you like this! F!
Why can't We love each other openly !?
There's nothing to be ashamed of in it. I"
"For more than one reason, my dar-
ling. I've bad reputation down here;
all fellows have in country places who
go up to town, belong to club, drive