The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-17
Kinks COURTSHIP.
IAN the Year Round.l

lively, land. to tell you the truth there
are times when, charming as / know her
to be, l rather shrink from the thought OF
having TO spend my life at her side. But
there, man never knows what scrapes an
over-punctilious sense Of duty will drag
him into. You see, am the las. of my
family, Joseph"
lie sank his voice to a mournful wbls-
per as he said this, and understood from
1t that the only motive he had for plung-
ing into matri a ony was in order TO raise
| up fresh generation OF Binkses. where
with to decorate this forlorn earth.
"Oh, yes, Binks," | replied, in hasty
| answer to his somewhat hurt glance, Il
| quite see how il is. OF course you ought
| to marry"
"Yes. yes. it will have to be DONE" said
| Binks. with a weary sigh, people have
gone through il before, suppose. man
has duties, you know"
burst in to interrupt a string of little
moral aphorisms which l foresaw were
coming. and of which know Binks to be
| particularly fond.
oh. stow that. Binks," l said, some
| what roughly. Whats her name?"
You have a very coal heaverish way OF
putting things" said Binks. in tone of
marked displeasure, land you are always
In too great hurry, That propensity of
hurrying is fatal to a man in your PROBES
sion, Joseph
looked round for my hat and stick in
such a decided manner that Binks saw
that | was not to be trifled with. The
fatuous smile stole over his face again.
"Nou know Mrs. Huckwel?" he said, in
a whisper
started back in amazement. / am not
often moved to express myself in a vulgar
manner, but / could not refrain from Civ
ing low whistle of establishment.
Mrs. Huckwelll
She was a tail, thin, over-dressed widow
OF more than forty years-Binks' forty
/ years, too with a high, unnatural fixed
| color in her cheeks and an evident taste
for millinery and jewelry She ''gushed"
a good deal, and was the happy possessor
! OF five very handsome unmarried daugh-
ters Fancy Binks the sober. stoid old
bachelor Binks stepfather 10 five lively,
fashionable young ladies
lay back in my chair, and feebly
/ passed my hand across my forehead.
Binks tapped little nearer, and spoke
| hastily:
! I'm sure I congratulate you heartily,
Binks-so sensible. aud all that. Only |
/ am afraid YOU will find five girls rather Il
/ handful To"
| never finished that sentence. Binks
came go near that | pushed my chair
! quickly back. There was a look in his
beady eyes which did not like They
/ glowed like Goals of fire.
Why. you confounded foolv' ne ex-
claimed wrathfully, shaking an angry fist
/ in my face Mrs. Huckwell indeed !
/ What should 1 want % marry an old nag
/ like that iOr-with her painted cheeks and
ridiculous bonnets? You never wait for
me to finish sentence. Joseph. This
habit OF undue precipitancy is growing on
! you. and Will no doubt some day land you
! In an unpleasant position. No. Joseph, l
+ am not quite old enough to think OF Mrs.
+ Huckweil, thank you. | have fixed upon
Gertrude. and fesl sure that she will do
honor TO my choice"
l gave a shri I, unnatural laugh as Binks
thus brought out the name of the woman
whom he he'd candidly confessed he
rather shrank from as u lifelong compan-
ION. l know one man at least, small in
stature though great in soul, who would
have given ali that he possessed for the
chance of spending his life with Gertrude
HuCkwell, and have no doubt that there
We're many others who shared his feelings.
Now. although all the Misses HI kwell
We're eminent.y handsome girls, Gertrude
was the flower OF the flock She was also
the last of that bright band" in point OF
age, having just completed her nineteenth
birthday
thought of her light, 1.-the figure, her
charming face, her beautiful eyes. and
her bright bronze hair-and then looked
at Binks, tall and thin, and stopping, with
crow 's-feet round his eyes, aud that
fringe OF odd-colored hair adjoining his
polished head, and groaned aloud
What are you making that noise for
Joseph" said Binks sharply. Are YOU
afraid that the lady of my choice should
prove less amisble than / Think 1 as
sure you, Joseph. that she has shown her.
self quite angelic under the most trying
circumstances"
If the trying circumstances stood for
Binks himself, / conld understand that
Gertrude Huckwell must be- more angel
than woman to endure them.
Are vou-have you proposed?" / de-
manded, in the hasty manner which
Binks had so often openly deprecated. |
asked this question with a sinking heart
for, however angelic a woman may be,
riches make a distinct impression on her
sometimes If she has been brought W
amid concealed poverty. Now Binks was
a rich man and Gertrude was poor.
II cannot say | have exactly proposed, "
eaid Binks, initiating his chest once more
"but have paid her marked attentions.
/ think there can have been no mistake
about the objects OF my visit, and she has
received them with every appearance OF
pleasure. | ventured TO make her small
present Of bracelet yesterday" added
Binks. with a simper, quite an mex.
pensive little thing" what mean beg.
gar the fellow is !-diamonds would not be
good enough for GertTude-"and she let
me clasp it on her pretty arm and seemed
quite delighted"
Binks Is such a disgusting mass OF van
ity and pomposity and egregious egotism
that he makes me feel quite sick some.
times.
"0h, then it is practically settled"
said. with Rn airy attempt at jocularity
land you will be calling upon me to dra W
up the marriage settlement"
"'M-yes." said Binks thoughtfuly
rasping his chin with one lean hand
"'M-yes. / dare say there will be settle
ments l shall propose TO Gertrude in
due form tomorrow" he added, drawing
himself up with an air OF dignity, "and
an happy to say that feel quite sure oil
receiving favorable reply. She has given
me every encouragement in her pretty
modest wRy."
| could have seized Binks round his
wiry neck and flung him out of his owr
window with the greatest pleasure. ONLY
| 10 Of r4asu. .s.lt