The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-22
CHAPTER ".
SHE Is ASKED IN MARRIAGE.


had arrived it rained for the rest Of
the dav. hut it was al one 10 me; in
deed Z would rather have had rain than sun
shine. Tor IL forced Us to sit indoors while
VIII. dsfyiog the rain, went ont and left
Captain Butler and me alone. which was
Just what | liked.
will not catalogue these holiday trips;
they made me feel as if I were living for
the first time IN all nv life: they made me
know that was a girl with passions and
tastes. yet easy to delight l viii not say
that enjoyed my liberty because for years
had not known what restraint was; but l
was sensible that my being able o 60 where
pleased WAS prodigous privilege at this
time. when l had lost my heart and must
have gone mad had / been withheld from
tie society Of the man who had it.
Two days before viii sailed my aunt
called upon me. Our holiday rambles had
run out; that day was TO b. blank and
was not 10 see Captain Butler again until
Thursday was 4 Thursday, l remember
when we wers going down TO the ducks
10 see VIII OF. 1 remarked peculiar look
In my aunt's face which prompted me in
my impeiuous way to say: whats brought
You here9 What have y6u come TO tell me?
Now don. keep me waiting"
"lor, my dear, one would need the
breath Of a healthy giant to keep pace with
your Impotence Give NE leave to rest
minute"
"APs we'll at home 1 hope?"
why yes, Of cour.e, as well as It can be
with a mother and father whose only child
ls leaving them, perhaps forever. in a
couple Of days" Her eyes moistened.
But it is his wish and it is his fathers
wish. and that must make it right. yes. that
must make it right. though I'd have been
grateful. very grateful, if it hadn't been the
sea" she wept for a few minutes and l
held my peace. Then drying her eyes with
a resolved motion Of the handkerchief, she
SAID. You've been enjoying some lively
DAYS Of late Marian"
Happy days. Poor WIFI and now 1
felt as if l must CRY, too.
You're a strange creature. my dear.
Whatever YOU do seems TO me wrong. Aud
yet, somehow, I can never satisfy my mind
that your conducts improper. I believe
you'd be the same were your mother living.
! our father might have held you in. but
you'd have had your way with your poor
mother"
What have I dOne?" said I. bridling up
and flushing \ the face.
Nothing out Of the ordinary" she
answered mildly. "Of course your going
about so much with Captain Butler, often
being alone with him. as VIII has told US.
is quite contrary to my ideas of good con-
duet. Do you want the man for husband,
MariaU@
guessed by my temper that l looked
holly al her.
DO you, child. do you? You
4
ne l viii 20, and l am sure that you viii
wish this house should be burnt down rather
than that l should 60"
Ny temper went with this, and with it the
blood Of my face. What do you want me
10 say, aunt2" exclaimed in a faint voice
Would you be content to marry Captain
looked down upon the ground and said
softly, I love him"
He loves you. DO you know that?"
"He has not told me So"
lie Is a man of very gentIeman-like feel
ings, far above the average merchant sea-
captains"
"Oh, don't know itI' I cried.
~ ell. he loves you and would be very
glad TO marry you. And l daresay he
would" said my aunt, looking up anG down
nv figure and then round the room, "bat
he'll not offer marriage unless he is certain
you'll accept him. He spent last evening
with Us and had a very long and serious
talk with your uncle and me on the subject
He declines TO recognize your steDtather,
which Is quite proper under the eircUm-
stances. and regards ne AMI your uncle as
taking the place # your parents. Now, my
dear. he IS very much in love with you, and
his d iffi1ence comes from your being we'll
of We had a very long and serious talk,
and l an here TO have a serious talk with
you, If not long one"
1 felt that NY face was lighted Up; saw
the reflection Of its delight in her own
placid expression; my heart bounded; l
could have danced and sung and waltZed
about the room. / sat down, locking my
hands tightly upon my lap, and listened
with all the c3mp0sure I could summon.
She informed me that Captain Butler had
been exceedingly candid, had exactly
named his savings and his patrimAny,
which scarcely amounted 10 5000 and that
he was celebrating whether or not to invest
all that he had in a share Of tie new bark.
Arab Chief Mr.. JohnstOne had advised
him, suppOsiDg he should be so fortunate
as 20 gain my consent TO marry him, not to
make me his wife until lie had gone his
first voyage and seen how his venture fell
out.
"Your Gncle," said my aunt. 'fs strongly
OF opinion that man has no business TO 20
and marry a fine handsome young woman
Ike you. then leave her after g week or a
month AID not set eyes on her again till be
returns home from round the world"
) wish my uncle would mind his own
business" said l pouting, and feeling my
face very long.
= But my aunt insisted that my uncle was
right She added that Captain Butler
cordially agreed with him. Captain But
ler's own wish was to betr0th himself to
me, then TO make his voyage, then return
and marry me and carry me away with him
TO sea.
Ny eyes sparkled and I jumped I'D and
walked the room greatly excited. But after
this my aunt grew tedious. Was it lmagin-
able that any sort of love fit to base so
solemn an affair as marriage upon could
exist between two people who had known
each other fortnight only? Here was
JOyOusly aV0wing my love for Captain Butler
and expressing the utmost eageTness to marry
him. Did / know what / was talking about?
Had | given a moments reflection to what
marrying sailor signifed? l was rich.
young and handsome; | had fine house of
my OWE; | had liberty and health; l was
without children TO tease me, to pale
me with midnight wat2hings, to burden
my spirits with anxiety for their future:
should ! not be giving myself away very
cheaply by marrying q sea captain, re-
spectacle, gOOd-loOking man certainly, but
poor, following calling in which no one
can make any sort Of figure. an underpald,
perilOus, beg5aTly vocation? She did not
deny that Captain Butler came from a high
" respectable stock. de had mentioned
two members Of his family whom ar.
Johnstoue perfectly well knew by name
His father had been in the royal navy and
had served under Colllngwood and Lord Ex-
mouth and had died Door lieutenant
ION, he's a gentleman Of BIRTH" said my
aunt. "and superior 10 his position There's
his calling cut Of which TO be sure he can
get living so as to be Independent Of his
wife, which must always be the first con-
sideration with every man Of spirit. And
then you must have plenty Of money for
both and for as many as may come should
ever be find himself ont OF employment
But what do you know of each other?
How can you tell that you will be able to
live happily together? What! In a fort
night? Rldiculousl Why, have lived one
and twenty years with your uncle and we
don't even yet understand each other. You
have by no means a sweet temper But
what time do you give the poor fellow to