The record-union., 1893-05-20

SAPlSSSiOu Ol my ldce. In my young
days it was not considered etiquette to
propose until one had gained the consent
OF the young lady's parents. l shall do
sure"
Il don't think you will experience the
least difficulty in gaining Mrs. Huck-
wells consent to your wooing," l re-
marked dryly.
No, l apprehend not" said Binks,
himself in the glass. II apprehend not.
Mrs. Huckweu is a sensible woman, and
knows that | am a man of some posi-
tion.r
And means," Iadded-maliciously as
thought.
And MEANS" acquiesced Binks pla-
cIdly. Il tiatter myself that Gertrude
Huckwell could do worse than take me
for a husband"
took my hat and stick and went after
that 1t is quite true that there is no fool
like an old fool. How beautifully and
uqconsciously Binks illustrates that
adage!
CHAPTER II.
watched Binks walking up the street
next day with great interest. [ saw that
he was bound for the Huckwell house,
not only by the manner in which he was
dressed, but also by the way he was
NdAhllEs 11C Bl dLlCCu uGIlCdIEIy GlOllR
the road on the tips of his patent-leather
shoes like Agag, the king of renowned
memory, and poked his head rather for
ward, after the fashion of an inquiring
camel.
He wore a tight frock coat, severely
outtoned in at the waist in order to give
elegance to his figure, lemon-cOlored kid
gloves, high, shiny hat and huge but
ton-hOle OF mOss-rose buds. These lat
ter, which, in fact, formed quite nose
gay, he had every intention Of presenting
To his lady-love as soon as he was ac-
cepted, having a dim idea that he had
read somewhere or other that the flower
In question meant 81 love thee to de-
spair."
My eyes could only follow Binks as far
as the end of the street, where he turned
a corner in trem ulous fashion and dis
appeared, so that for the following part
OF this narrative l am indebted to Binks
himself on his return from his visit. For
the sake of my readers l will transcribe
what had occurred as though had been
an eyewitness. Indeed, Binks' vivid
description almost brought the scene be-
fore my mind.
After he turned the corner, where my
eyes last beheld him, he walked steadily
onwards In the direction of Shaw Lodge,
the Huckwells abode. He noticed with
pleasure how nicely the house was kept,
and how gay the window boxes looked,
full of the deep blue of the lObelia against
background of tlaring scarlet geranium.
He wondered if Gertrude's fair fingers
were responsible for the charming effect ;
and with all the Inconsistency of a man
in love, concluded that they were. He
rang the bell loudly, probably owing TO
extreme nervousness, and waited for adj
mittance. The sound of Gertrude's voice
singing in the drawing-room 1loated into
his and ba GTnjla1 fnint1yr
be sweet to have this voice always ready
to warble to him. He had closed his eyes
as he dreamed this fair dream, and when
he opened them again he found the door
ajar, and the servant waiting for him in
some astonishment 4to ask the usual
formula. Somewhat flurried, he stepped
in, saying:
SIS Mrs. HuckwelI at homer"
And the answer being in the affirmative,
added, as he took off his hat:
II should like to see her alone-er, on
business"
The servant, who knew him well, after
taking stock of the tall hat, moss-rose
buds, and yellow kid gloves, decided that
she could guess what that business was,
and retired with smile on her rosy face.
Binks walked up and down the room in
perfect frenzy of impatience. In the
face of danger-as he observed to me
afterward-he could be bold enough, but
when he had to deal with a woman he
became nervous and flustered. From
which 1t will be seen that Binks did not
show to the best advantage that afternoon
and that he was not In possession of that
evenly balanced mind upon which he
prides himself. Mrs. Huckwell, contrary
TO her usual custom, kept him waiting
some time, and the agonized suitor was
really in a pitiable condition when she at
last made her appearance.
He had heard a good deal of hurried
tramping about overhead, and concluded.
nationally enough, that Mrs. Huckwell
was improving her toilet for the sake of
the business interview on which Mr.
Binks had come.
This view of affairs was confirmed by
her entrance in a magnificently flowing
tea-gown, which had evidently been
hastily donned, from the fact that she had
hooked it wrong from top to bottom, a
mistake which Binks' eyes took in in a
dull and deadened sort of way. In tell
ing me the story afterward, he could de-
scribe every detail of her costume-down
to the shell necklace round her throat,
and the rings on her fingers. To him she
had never seemed so vulgar and over
dressed. The fixed color in her cheeks,
the superabundance OF jewelry, the clink-
ing, impossible chatelaine that she wore
at her waist-all combined to irritate him
to an almost unbearable degree He told
me afterward that the thought of having
her for mother-in law almost made him
give up the idea of taking Gertrude for a
wife. 1t seemed curious that this thought
should have flashed across him lust then.
but it did.
Dear Mr.. Binks," said the lady, seat
ing herself beside him on the sofa when
the first greetings had been interchanged
and her beieweled fingers had pressed
for a moment Binks' tight kid glove,
"how delightful of you to come and see
us at this hour, before any horrid visitors
are likely to interrupt US! So very
friendlyv
Binks grasped his stick rather tightly
and gazed down into the depths Of his
hat. Being on an uncOnventioral,fo footing
with the family he usually left these ar
ticles in the hall, but this afternoon he
felt as if he must have support of some
kind, and the stick seemed to help him
somehow. 1t was at this juncture that he
began to breathe ather hard in little
snorts and gasps, as was his wont when
excited, and Mrs. Huckwell hoped anx-
iously that he had not hurried HIM
self"
mot at all-not at all" said Binks, re-
covering himself a little. "Er-what
charming window boxes you have, Mrs
Huckwelln'
Mrs. Huckwell glanced out at the To-
pointed air, and replied that they were
certainly effective, but that they were a
great deal of trouble.
81 shouldn't be surprised, now," said
Binks, with a cumbrous attempt at iocu-
larity, ''if some of my fair young friends
took the trouble off your hands-AIiss
Gertrude, for instance?''
MY darling Gertrude is devoted to
flowers" answered Mrs. Huckwell, "but
she does not love them as passionately as
her mother. To these poor fingers, Mr..
Binks," and she playfuIly wiggled them
before his face, ''is due the honor of anv
amateur gardening done in this house ),