Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-17


next 10 Ethel, and LETT the Governor to
1 Miss Damian, altogether.
You may not believe me, but it is per-
fectly true that forgot all about my d.
lemma from the moment 1 plunged into
that heavenly tete-a-tete with Ethel, and
was oblivious of all surroundings.
At last my trance was broken. Miss
Damian leaned forward and pOlntedly ad-
dressed me:
81 am telling your father, Mr.. Carew,
that be must change places with you,
and give me a chance of renewing our
pleasant acquaintance of the day before
yesterday"
The Governor did not seem to have ex-
/ erted himself much in my cause; he was
beaming all over with an expression Of
gratitied vanity, evidently the result OF
battle fought in my favor.
l tore myself away from Ethe's side, and
changed seats.
do you think that l am going to let
my preuX chevalier of the picnic imagine
he is going to shelve me in that easy fash
/ ion, to-day? Had you very bad head
ache yesterday morning, Mr.. Carew? 1
know you attacked that champagne
great deal too severely, nasty as it was;
but no matter, compliments aside, confess
that you were inOrdinatelY bored at the
feast, and that you only fell back upon
me as pis aller pour passer lie temps.
Engaged lovers are the most selfish crea-
lures in the world, certainly. No, YOU
wont? Well, then, l shall keep you to
every word that you uttered on that occa-
sion." GOOD heavens! now it was com
ing! Then | had proposed to herb do
you remember all that passed as wildly
as Go? If so, your head is stronger than
most young mems of your age"
What in the world was she driving at.
| wondered-had proposed to her or not?
49, g,l,g do, Il a
| tone toward me { l was 20); and If not,
whatdid this occasional cOquetry of man.
ner portend?
do you know, Mr. Carew, that al
though have directed several remarks to
you, and asked you at least two plain
questions within the last five minutes,
+ You have remained absolutely mute?"
What had been the use CT my introdu-
cling the Governor if this was the quag-
mre of embarrassment in which he lett
me. He had not even smoOthed the way
for an explanation.
| collected my senses-there was no
escape. "Miss Damian," | began seri-
ously, "beleve any Ill of me you please
! perhaps the champagne was not very
| good" had not stopped to consider its
! quality at the time J, "but my memory is
not so faulty as you imagine, and at least
accept my assurance that anything /
uttered to you the day before yesterday l
am prepared TO stand by now, and If the
/ sincere devotion of Z life cam
She interrupted me with an Incompre-
/ hensible smile. "Ah, that is what you
all say, but how can place any depend
! ence on such expressions when you seize
the first opportunity to leave me for the
society of my neceY
"Miss Damian, believe me-
"Nr. Carew, l will believe nothing now,
but see, your father is going, and it is
time for Ethel to be returning with me.
Goodbye 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 in
Vitation, which he accepted with a posi-
tive 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" l exclaimed with a dignifed
sneer, as soon as we were left alone, ''per-
init me to express my gratitude for the
able manner in which you have helped
me upon the most trying occasion of my
1 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 a deli ghtful 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 natural beauty"
''Thank yOu," replied, sullenly; ''but
whatever Miss Damian's preservative
qualities 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 cOnse-
quences. Don't blame me. AS it hap
pens, you have done by accident perhaps
the wisest action in your life, and selected
a wife in every way suited TO enhance
your position and keep you out of mis-
chief"
clearly saw it was no use to 20 on ar
guing with the Governor while he was in
this mood, so with a half-smOOthered eiac-
ulation, which was not blessing, l let the
matter drop for the time.
For several days after this / went about
with hangdog expression, which seemed
to cause no little amusement to my cousin
Ralph, who was forever popping in upon
me and ralylng me upon my
appearance in manner which he, no
doubt, thought very witty. | wonder |
did not kill Ralph when ! look back at
that time. He richly deserved it.
The Governor and | had accepted Miss
Damian's invitation to lunch for the fol-
lowing Wednesday. i was rather at a
loss to understand his evident impatience
for the starring hour to arrive as soon as
the day came around.
He had disappeared unusually early to
make his toilet, thought, as l sat smok-
Ing in the library, and feeling far from
comfortable at the prospect Of this lunch
con with my elderly bethrOthed.
While | was engaged in this manner the
Governor entered, dressed to a state Of
discomfort that almost looked like antici-
Dating the wedding.
"Why, Dad" exclaimed, 81 never saw
you look so Young before. You seem to
have cast of twenty years OF your life
with your old coat, just like snake.
Where did you get that gardenia fromY
Nonsense, my boy, nonsense; there is
nothing unusual, l suppose, in making
ones self look respectable; but what are
you doing here, Charlie, at this hour? You
ought TO be ready to start, and for good
ness sake throw away that filthy cigar.
don't want to go 20 Miss Damian's reek-
ing with tobacco" CHE Governor never
used to object 10 tobacco at any time Of
his life, for he was an inveterate smoker
himselEl
at wants more than half an hour 10 the
time" replied, nOnchala ntly-"nO hurry,
we shall be there quite soon enough"
"There, that's just the way with all you
modern men; you ought to be ashamed OF