The morning call., 1892-07-05

father" said the young man. "but I've
never gone in for low form; SO, when tell
you she's all that could be wished. you
must believe me-"
"Of course will of course doV' roared
the colonel. ''Who is she?"
well, don't want to give her name just
row, for many reasons, but you may take
my word for it that she's nobody to be
ashamed Of" said Gus.
'All right; ali right. / won't ask any
more questions. SO long as you are goinGi
to steady down with good, ladylike wife L
don't care" said his father. by gad, Gus,
thought you were going to be mliIstono
round my neck for the remainder OIL my
life. And now. my boy. you We asT3hlsHSo gu
me, so Pm going TO astonish you, Wpat 90
YOU think is about the most unlikely thing
"Giye no hunting?" replied Gus, "or sell
your orchids; or put up for the country;
Or"
.No, no; nothing OF that kind,'' said the
colonel, cbuckiing. "Pm-Pm going to be
married. too"
The son affected the greatest astonish-
ment. The colonel continued:
"But look here, my boy; if won't inter-
fere with your prospects, and-and, when l
say I'm going to be married, L mean that
have my eye on some one, and L rather
think, ahem! that some one has reciprocal
eye on me. Pm not such an old bird, eh ?"
mot bit of il" replied Gus; "and may
L ask VINO the IOTlunut6 ODJoCL Vi youI dt-
tention is ?"
WELL" answered the colonel, laughing,
''Pve a good mind not to tell you, you dog,
as you keep me In the dark about your
namOrata. But / will. Do you know Miss
Vanjohn?"
Tall girl, brown hair. brown eyesP"
asked Gus. innOcently.
"Yes. yes-that's the onei She's going
TO be Mrs. Chopleigh the second" said the
colonel. rubbing his hands gleefnlly. Il
think-ahem that if l can screw up my
pluck l shall speak to her tomorrow"
That evening the Reverend Alnysius
Vanjohn received an unexpeeted visitor in
the shape of Augustus ChopleIgh. Urged
by the desperate aspect oil matters, the
young man had resolved to face the terri
BILE parson. as he believed him to be, and to
lay the state of affairs before him. To his
glad surprise the reverend gentleman, who
was really good fellow, and thought very
well OF Gus, laughed heartily at the thought
of the colonePs suit, and promised Gus that
Millcent should marry him when and where
be pleased.
81 say, Gus" roared the colonel. as they
were leaving the sm0king-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 unOstentaliOusly made Mrs.
Augustus Chopeigh in London. Faithful
to his word the young man wrote in
forming his father of his marriage, and tell
ing him that he should run down on the fol-
Lowing day to introduce his bride TO her
new father.
The colonel was at dinner-that is TO say.
he was playing at diansr-for what with
his own consuming passion and the eager
expectation with which he awaited the
arrival of his son and his daughter-in-law
he sent away untasted every dish that was
set before him.
The doorbel rang. The colonel jumped
up to answer it himself, but checked his
movement suddenly.
NO, no. he said; ''Tll have it a surprise
to the last"
Gus entered.
Here l am, father" he said.
"Yes, yes; but where's" said the
colonel, impatently.
Gus went out and reappeared with Mill
cent.
The colonel staggered at first and some
thing like fr0wn gathered on his brow.
But he recovered himself, and with a smile
that illuminated his whole face, said, heart
ily addressing Millicent:
u am indeed delighted TO welcome you
to my house as a daughter" Then turn-
ing TO his son, he added, Gus, my boy,
you've had an uncommonly narrow es-
CAPE"