Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-03-11


his devotion In such fervid phrases, In
fact. put matters before the old lady in
such an attractive light, that she was
won over
"Of course, Mr.. Greysark," she said,
in reply, "as am only the girls aunt,
! have no direct authority in the mat
ter. But II Phyllis regards your suit as
favorably as ! do, | can only recon-
mend that you should address q letter
to her father In London. state the case |
as You have stated Il 20 me, and abide |
by his decision
"But il Is an extraordinary phase Of
our acquaintance, said the merchant,
"that ! do not know your ncice's sur
name YETI
Perhaps the old lady was struck by
the strangcness Of this avowal, but at
any rate, she hesitated a momont,
seemed little confused and then re-
piled; "Hcr name Is Fleming, Mr.
Greysark; a letter addressed to Mr..
Robert Fleming and given to me will
insure Its safe Dispatch
"But would IL not be better for me
to cell upon Mr.. Fleming mysclfPn
said Grcysark. "My basiness expert
interview is worth dozen letters"
$50 IL Is, as general rule, Mr..
Grcysark," y" replied the old lady. "But
Mr. Fleming's movements are so un-
certain, his business so frequently TAX
ing him away from home, that the
course have suggested would, ]
think, be the better"
And. after little general CONVERSE
ton, Mr. Greysark took his leave, re-
solved that he would without delay
formally propose 20 Phyllis, and II her
answer should be favorable, as he had
not the slightest reason 90 doubt il
would be, indite his letter to Mr.. Flem-
ing. Accordingly, the next morning,
upon arrival at London bridge. instead
of handing Phyllis into a Mansion
House omnibus, as usual, he insisted
that she should walk there with him.
And, by the time King Williams statue
was reached he had poured out his soul
TO her, and received her ready assent
to his proposal, conditional upon the
approval Of her father.
One or two little circumstances con-
nected with his visit to Regency square,
on the previous day, struck Jonathan
Greysark as being curious, rs he sat in
his room at the office playing listlessly
with the heap of unopened letters be-
fore him. OF course, he had observed
the old lady's hesitation in giving the
name of Fleming; and her suggestion
that the letter should be forwarded
through her instead of to a direct
address was rather unusual Per-
haps Fleming was strange sort of
man-under a cloud, or Of eccentric
habits. AT any rate, Phyllis was a
lady, as was her aunt; the surroundings
of the rooms in Regency square showed
refinement, if not opulence; and, al
though money with wife was no OBJ
ject with him, he preferred that the
lady honored by his choice should not
be an utter stranger to the style Of life
to which as Mrs. Greysark she would
be introduced. But his ardent affection
for the simple-mindcd. bright-faced
girl overcame whatever little shades of
doubt or scruples the above strange
circumstances might have awakened
within him, and, after having hurriedly
pcruscd his business letters, he called
Mr. Penn in. gave him instructions to
show nobody into the private room for
an hour. and settled himself down TO
indite the epistle to Mr.. Fleming. After
much destruction of best cream-laid
note, he produced the following:
DEAR SIR: Il ia with no little dlndence
that address ono who Is a complete stranger
70 me upon subject OF such Importance rs
that which now occupies my pen; hut am
sure Judge you rightly when think taat You
will pardon the liberty | am taking by the
time YOU arrive at the end OF the letter.
" In short, wish 20 obtain your consent 70
my marriage with your charming daughter,
| Phyllis As this T. TO some extent a matter Of
business. ! may inform you that l made the
| young ladY's acluaintance in the Brighton
train. by which we have been fclow-pass en-.
gers daily for some weeks past; that then Oh
tanned not only her consent 70 my proposal,
| but the entire appreciation OF her aunt, upon
whom had the pleasure Of calling, with your
daughters rinisslon.
For your satisfaction I may add that. al
| though am not a very young man. am In
| the full vigor OF health and strength; that I
am the sole and responsible head OF one OF
| the bcst~known and most respected bushes
houses IN the City OF London; aud that am
/ in position, which you may verify, II you
/ please, by the most minute investigation, To
maintain your daughter In fitting position
1.-THE entire happiness Of my life, and dare
add that OF your daughters rest upon your
/ decision as y whether she should be my wife
or not, and implore you not To be Influenced
/ in your opinion by the somewhat peculiar cir
| cumstances under which our meeting took
place and our consequent acquaintance aud
III you viii kindly take u week TO consider
this, 10 me vital quC stion. ! shall be incx-
| press.piy obliged; and. thanking you heartily
| ia advance for the sanction which feet Ger
/ tain you will accord, / am. my dear sir, your
"JoSATHAS GRETsARK."
Having read this two or three times
over to assure himself that he had not
said too much or too little, Jonathan
Greysark placed it in an envelope adj.
dressed 10 Robert Fleming, Esq. and
that again in an envelope which he
purposed 70 hand to the old lady al
Brighton.
The week seemed interminablc 10 the
enamored Jonathan. Men remarked
that he appeared absent-minded and
preOccupied, but two or three OF hi.
fellow-passengersby the S;45, who were
in the same market, told the story Of
his capture by the pretty girl in the
/ train, and so accounted for his pccu-
| liarity. He himself, however, was in 9
| state Of anxiety to which he had long
been n stranger. Tuesday, Wednesday
/ Thursday passed, and no answer from
the mysterious Mr.. Fleming arrived
Perhaps the old lady had forgotten tC
forward his missive. Old ladies, SO
strangely mindful of long-past occur
rences, were, he knew, often Obliyious
about matters present Perhaps-but
he shuddered at the thought, aud cast
it from him-for Phyllis was too good
too honest, too much Of 4 lady, 10 be
30 base and cruel; on the other hand
possibly Mr.. Fleming was instituting
inquiries. II was natural that an AZ
fectionate father should do so, anc
every time Penn brought in visit
or's name the merchant expected T.
hear "Mr. Robert Fleming" announced.
On the Friday afternoon he called in
Mr.. Penn.
.Kindlv sbut the door ~ he said