Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-04-01

old fellow, With a. IreSn complexion
and a gray mustache, and always
wears shepherds plaid trousers, sum-
mer and winter. Why, what's the
matter? What is there to laugh at,
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"
"The old boy-my father in love
with you? Nonsense, my dear; non
sense, [ say. Why, he's more afraid
Of girl than an earthquake, or a boa
constructor or anything. What on
earth makes you think that he's in
love with your
'Why, Gus, every day when | come
along here he's walking in the garden,
and he makes such eyes at me. | try
not, but | know | blush and look aw-
fully silly"
by Jove, Mile, it's no laughing
! matter. A mans father his rival in
! love"
That evening Gus appeared at home
at an unusually early hour.
"Well!" was the greeting of his pa
rent, "you're not here so early with
your goody-goody face for nothing,
| I'm sure, you young scamp! When
you turn up punctually to dinner |
know you want something out of me.
! But, mind you. not another half-pen-
nv do youget. I've already advanced
your quarters allowance, and if
! you've been squandering it | don't
help you. And not only that sir, but
I'm going to put a stop to it, and Au-
! gustus Chopleigh's a man of his
word"
"What a deuce of a hurry you're in,
father said the young man. 81
/ don't want any money"
"Well, what the dickens is it then ?"
asked the old man, seeing that his son
| looked confused.
| "Why,-well, I'm in love, that s
ALL, replied Gus; "and I'm going to
be married to the best girl in England
"a perfect lady, well bred, well con
nected and"
/ The effect OF this speech upon the
old colonel was electrical. He jumped
up from the table, rushed toward his
son and shook his hand heartily, his
| face beaming with pleasure, as he ex-
claimed: you're sure of what you
say? 1t isn't Fifne or the Jollity,
hey? A lady, we'll bred, well conduct
/ ed"
owe been bit of scamp, perhaps,
father" said the young man, "but I've
never gone in for low form, so, that
when l tell you she's all that could be
wished, you must believe"
''Of course / will. OF course [ do"
roared the old Colonel. "Who is she ?"
"Well, [ don't want to give her
name just now, for many reasons, but
you can take my word for 1t, that she
is nobody to be ashamed of, said Gus.
"All right. all right; | won't ask any
more questions So long as you are
going to steady down with a good
lady-like wife, | don't care. By Cad,
Gus, thought you were going to be a
milestone round my neck for the re-
mainder of my life. And now, my boy,
you've astonished me, Pm going to
astonish you. What do you think is
about the most unlikely thing [ should
do?"
"Give up hunting?" replied Gus, cor
sell your orchids, Or
mo, no, nothing Of that kind, F" said
the colonel. chuckling. "Pm-Tm 60
ing to be married, too"
The son affected the greatest aston
ishment. The colonel continued: "But
look here, my boy, it won't interfere
with your prospects, and-and when |
say Pm going to be married | mean
that / have my eye on some one, and |
rather think that-ahem!-soh one
has a reciprocal eye on me. I'm not
such an old bird, eh?''
Not a bit OF it, ;" replied Gus; "and
may [ ask who the fortunate object of
your attentions is?"
"Well,' answered the colonel, laugh
ing. GIVE a good mind not to tell
you, you dog, as you keep me in the
will Do you know Miss Vaniohn ?"
"Tall girl, brown hair, brown eyes ?"
asked Gus, innocently.
eyes, yes-that's the onel She's 60
ing to be Mrs. Chopleigh, the second, ("
said the colonel, rubbing his hands,
gleefully. ~ think-ahem-that if [
can screw up my pluck shall speak
to her tomorrow"
That evening the Rev. Aloysius
Vanjohn received an unexpected visit
or in the shape fMr. Augustus Chop
leigh. Urged by the desperate aspect
of matters. the young man had re-
solved to face the terrible parson, as
he believed him TO be, and to lay the
whole state of affairs before him. To
his glad surprise, thereverend gentle
man laughed heartily at the notion of
the colonel's suit and promised Gus
that Millicent should marry him when
and where he pleased.
II 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
married"
A few days after, Miliicent Vanjohn
was quietly and unostentatiously
made Mrs. 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 in
troduce his bride to her new father.
The colonel was at dinner-that is
to say he was playing at dinner, Tor
what with his own consuming passion,
and the eager eXOectatiOn with which