St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-10


What had been the use of my introducing
the governor if this was the quagmire OF
embarrassment in which he left me. He
had not even smoothed the way for an ex-
PLANTATION.
1 collected my senses-there was no es-
cape. miss Danian," began seriously,
''believe any i'll of me you please; perhaps
the champagne was not very gOOd' Il had
not stopped to consider its quality at the
time), ''but my memory is not SO faulty as
you imagine, and at least accept my as
surance that anything l uttered to you the
day before yesterday am prepared to stand
by now, and if the sincere devotion of life
caI-"
She interrupted me with an incompre
hensible smile. ''Ah, that is what you all
say. but how can | place any dependence
Oh such expressions when you seize the first
opportunity to leave me for the society OF
my niece ?"
Miss Damian, believe me-
Mr.. .Carew, will believe nothing now,
but see your father is going, and it is time
for Ethel to be returning with me. Good
bye for the present, and if you and your
father care for our society. come and lunch
with us one day next week." Here the
governor came up in time for the invitation,
which he accepted with positive chuckle
of delight.
So had committed myself and could not
now retract. Farewell, Ethel, my vision
OF light, farewell to all my hopes and dreams
for the future, hencefOrth-"
Father" | exclaimed with dignifed
sheer, as SeOn as we were left alone, ''per-
NIT me to express my gratitude for the able
manner in which you have helped me upon
the most trying occasion of my life."
why, you young cub; you don't know
when you are well off. Miss Damian is a
perfectly charming woman. l had no idea
from your description that she could be such
delightful creature. 'Made-up, indeed,
you puppies of moderns seem to think that
no woman who has outgrOWn the fOllies of
the SchOol-room can retain a vestige of nat
ural beauty"
Thank you,' replied, sulenly; ''but
whatever Miss Damian's preservative quail
ties may be, have no wish to marry a
woman old enough to be my mother
You have only yourself to thank in the
matter, and must abide by the consequences.
Don't blame me. AS it happens, you have
done by accident perhaps the wisest action
in your life, and selected wife in every
way suited to enhance your position and
keep you out of mischief"
| clearly saw it was no use to go on argu-
ing with the governor while he was in this
mood, so with haIf-smothered ejaculation,
which was not a blessing, l let the matter
drop for the time.
For several days after this 1 went about
with a hangdog expression, which seemed
to cause no little amusement to my cousin
Ralph, who was forever popping in upon
me and rallying me upon my appearance in
a manner which he no doubt thought very
witty. | wonder L did not kill Ralph when
look back at that time. He richly deserved it.
The governor and l had accepted Miss
DamianS invitation to lunch for the follow
ing Wednesday. / was rather at a loss to
understand his ev d mt Impotence for the
starting hour to arrive as soon as the day
came around.
He had disappeared unusually early to
make his toilet, L thought, as sat smok-
ing in the library, and feeling far from com
Portable at the prospect of this luncheon
with my elderly betrothed.
While was engaged in this manner the
governor entered, dressed to state of dis
comfort that almost looked like anticipating
the wedding.
''Why, dad,' exclaimed, 81 never saw
you look so young before. You seem to
have cast Off twenty years of your life with
your old coat, just like snake. Where did
you get that gardenia from ?"
Nonsense, my boy, nonsense; there is
nothing unusual, 1 suppose, in making ones
self look respectable; but what are you do
ing here, Charlie, at this hour? You ought
to be ready to start, and for goodness sake
throw away that filthy cigar. 1 don't want
to oto Miss Damian's reeking with to-
baccO." The governor never used to OBJ
ject to tobacco at any time of his life, for he
was an inveterate smoker himself.
1T wants more than half an hour to the
time,' l replied, nonchalantly-''no hurry,
we shall be there quite soon enough"
''There, that's just the way with all you
modern yOungmen; you ought to be ashamed
OF yourselves. When was young it was
considered an atrOciOus breach of good man.
ners to keep a lady waiting, but you young
sters are all so stuck up in your own con-
ceit that l believe it part of your religion
to go late everywhere for the satisfaction of
creating an excitement just like parcel of
young misses, but 1 don't intend any of
these degenerate habits to influence me. Go
and make yourself presentable at once, and
for heavens sake use some eau de cologne to
Udilloll NtloSldCClUl OOOl VI SIllOk6,
Miss Damian's is not pot house."
l SUNK up stairs without further parley
and made the necessary alterations in my
dress; then we drove off together to Ken
sington.
Who shall say that acting is only acquired
by practice | believe Charlie Mathews
himself could not have SchoOled his natural
instincts to effecJa greater air of polite en-
nv fbon I inf i,,fo
greeting to Miss Damian.
And Ethel was obliged to command
my feelings still more severely with her,
perhaps not quite so successfully, for felt
the tell-tale blush mount to my face. and
my hand trembled visibly as l clasped her
dainty fingers for the space of the orthodox
few seconds.
Luncheon was over. It had not gone off
so badly as l had anticipated, all things con-
sidered. The governor had been more ami
mated than ever remembered having seen
him, and he most considerably monopolized
nearly all Miss Damian'S attention during
the meal. Now he had, apparently with
some reluctance. given up his seat next Miss
Damian to me. We were sitting half shaded
by screen and Ethel was making converse
ton in her graceful manner to the governor.
Sand so 1 am really to believe that you
hold to the declaration you made to me up
the river last week, Mr.. Carew 2"
"Can you doubt me? Did 1 not repeat it
to you in all earnestness in the Row only a
few days ago, Miss Damian?"
''You are a very chivalrOus young man,
the apt pupil of chivalrous father-I won
der if you mean all you say; andhstill more,
l wonder if you distinctly remember what
you really did say at the picnic. l have al
ways had doubts ON that subject"
miss Damian, do you wish me to repeat
it now %
Certainly not, for I am sure you could
not if you tried; but to relieve you of all
further anxiety on the subject l will tell
you, not all that you said, for that would
be to repeat too much good-humored nom