News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-02-25

| AO II LOuuSe on TIC NTecn, UetOOh n1Iu
self to Regency Square, and was usherec
into the presence of a smiling grey
haired lady, who might have stepped
from an ancestral picture frame, anC
who received him with the stately ur
banity of courtier of the old school
Being man of business, Jonathan Grey.
sark lost no time in beating about the
bush, but plunged at once in media8 res
described the origin of his acquaintance
with Phyllis, expressed himself in such
happy language, blew his own trumpet
in such pleasant, unassuming manner,
declared his devotion in such fervid
phrases, in fact, put matters before the
old lady in such an attractive light, that
she was completely won over.
"Of course, Mr.. Greysark," she said
in reply, "as l am only the girls aunt, ]
have no direct authority in the matter.
But If Phyllis regards your suit as favor
ably as do, can only recommend that
! You should address q letter to her
| father in London, state the case as you
have stated it to me, and abide by his
| decision"
''But it is an extraordinary phase of
our acquaintance, said the merchant,
that do not know your neico's sur
name yet"
Perhaps the old lady was struck by
the strangeness of this avowal, but at
any rate she hesitated moment seemed
little confused, and then replied "He1
addressed to Mr. Robert Fleming and
given to me will insure its safe des-
patch"
'But would it not be better for me to
call upon Mr.. Fleming myself said
Greysark. My business experience has
taught me that one personal interview
is worth dozen letters"
$50 it is, as o general rule, Mr.. Grey
sark," replied the old lady. But Mr..
Fleming's movements are so uncertain,
his business taking him SO frequently
away from home, that the course have
suggested would, l think, be the bet
ter"
And after little general conversation,
Mr.. Greysark took his leave, resolved
that he would without delay formally
propose to Phyllis, and if her answer
| should be favorable, as he had not the
| slightest reason to doubt 1t would be,
indite his letter to Mr.. Fleming.
Accordingly the next morning, upon
arrival at London Bridge, instead of
handing Phyllis into 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 as he sat in
his room at the office playing istlessly
with the heap of unopened letters before
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 direct address was
rather unusual. Perhaps Fleming was
a strange sort of man-under n cloud, or
of eccentric habits. At any rate Phyllis
was a lady, as was her aunt; the sur
roundings of the rooms in Regency
Square showed refinement, if not opu-
lorsoo and although money with wife
was no object 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 minded,
bright faced girl overcame whatever
little shades of doubt or scruple the
above strange circumstances might have
awakened within him, and, after
hurriedly perusing his business letters,
he called Mr.. Penn in, gave him instruc-
tions to show nobody into the private
room for an hour, and settled himself
down to indite the epistle to Mr.. Flem-
ing. After much destruction of best
cream-l laid note, he produced the follow
ing;
DEAR SIR: It Is with no little diffid ence that
address one who is complete stranger to
me upon subject OF such Importance as that
which now occupies my psn; but am sure
judge you rightly when think that you will
pardon the liberty am taking by the time you
arrive at the end of the letter.
In short, / wish to obtain your consent to
my marriage with your charming daughter,
Phyllis AS this is to some extent q matter of
business, 1 may inform you that I made the
young ladys acquaintance in the Brighton
train, by which we have been fellow-passen-
gers daily for some weeks past that l then
obtained not only her consent to my proposal,
but the entire appreciation OF her aunt upon
whom had the pleasure of calling, with your
dau shter'5 permission.
For your satisfaction 1 may add that, al
though l am not very young man, am In
the full vigor OF health and strength that l
am the sole and responsible head of one of the
b-st known and most respected business
houses in the city of London, and that am
in a position, which you may verify, If you
please, by the most minute investigation, to
maintain your daughter in fitting position
as lady.
The entire happiness of my life, and dare
add that of your daughters, rests upon your
decision as to 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 and
intimacy were formed.
If you will kindly take week to consider
this. to me, vital questi n, 1 shall be inexpre<-
sibly obliged and, thanking you heartily In
advance for the sanction which feel certain
you will accord, l am, my dear sir,
Your very oeedient servant,
JONATHAN GREYsARK.
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 ad-
dressed to Robert Fleming, Esq. and
that again in an envelope which he pur-
posed to hand to tho old lady at Brigh-
ton.
The week seemed interminable to the
enamored Jonathan. Men remarked
that he appeared absent-minded and
preoccupied, but two or three of his fell
low passengers by the 8 As, who were in
the same market, told the story of his
capture by the pretty girl in the train,
and so accounted for his popularity. He
himself however WAS in n state of
anxiety to which he had long been a
stranger. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thurs
day passed, and no answer from the mys-
tcrious Mr. Fleming arrived. Perhaps
tho old lady had forgotten to forward
his missive Old ladies', so strangely
mindful of long past occurrences. were,
often oblivious about matters present.
Perhaps-but he shudderod at the
thought and cast it from him-for Phyl-
lis was too good, too honest, too much of
lady, to be so base and cruel; on the
other hand, possibly Mr. Fleming was
instituting inquiries. 1t was natural that
an alTectionatG father should do =, and
every time Penn brought in visitors
name the merchant expected to hear
"Mr Robert Fleming" announced. On
Friday afternoon he called in Mr.. Penn.
''Kindly shut the door," he said; 81
have something of Importance to speak
to you about"
Mr.. Penn obeyed, and anxiously in
spected his employers face.
'NIr. Penn" began the merchant,
with preliminary clearing of the throat,
''you have been in my service now for
some years, and you have given me