Griggs courier., 1893-10-06
double" with Miss pevens chose tb.A

double" with Miss Devens. chose that
occasion to tell her something that had
been keeping him awake o. nights, and
suggested the advisability of their row.
ing double through life, just this way
(which mode of putting the proposition
has been used by iove-lorn young men
who propose in boats, from time i'm.
memorial, each thinking it entirely
original)-to which suggestion Miss
Devens was fain to confess that she
was more than inclined to be favorable.
although she expressed some strong
doubts as to what her father might
think ON the subject
For almost eighteen hours they were
very. very happy. They lay awake that
night, of course. thinking of each
other, and both were up betimes next
morning, each to catch an early glimpse
of the other. But in the afternoon a
terrible thing occurred to mar their
new-found happiness John Blunt, who
went, in his manly, straightforward
way, to interview Papa Devens on the
subject nearest his heart, was rebuffed,
rebuked, scorned and soundly beratea
for his presumption, and the face that
he brought out from that interview was
very long one, indeed. Harriet cried
little on his shoulder as they stood,
for few minutes, in quiet corner of
the hall, then tried to look cheerful
and encourage him. But it was not
J much use, and presently John Blunt,
smarting with the knowledge that in
future he might see Harriet but sell
som, excepting sub rosa, left the house
and walked down to the lake to think.
He stopped at the Devens boathouse
fer racquet he had left there that
NJ orning, and sat down in the shade to
have his think out.
1t was not very pleasant think, as
any young man who has been similarly
situated can testify. John Blunt was
partly dazed, partly in rage, ana it was
some time before he could bring him
self To view the matter in a manner in
ahywiss calm. His heart was very bitter
as he gazed moodily out over the pretty
! lake, dotted with white sails, and he
| took no note of time or surroundings.
| He might have sat where he was until
dark had not something occurred to
bring him back to a realization of
things.
There was sudden burst of childish
laughter from the other side of the boat
house, patter of bab- feet, and little
threc-year-old Benny, the only son of
the house of Dcvens, its idol and pride
and greatest Joy, ran by where Blunt
sat and out on to the pier, where, on
the end at a loose plank which pro-
jected Slightly over the water, he stood
clapping hic hands aid aIxhing, u7-
| mindful of the cries of his distracte 4
nurse, who was running wildly dowa
the path from the house.
An idea burst into John Blunt's brain.
He was an honest and honorable young
man, but there are some ends. the at
| tainment of which justifies even ques-
| tionable means. To think was to act.
Quick as flash he leaned over, grasped
the end of the plank on which Benny
stood and gave it wrench sidewise,
precipitating the unfortunate child into
a dozen feet of water Then, with a
hoarse cry, he sprang forward, threw
of his coat as he rushed and leaped in
after poor little Benny.
| 1t was all over in a few seconds. md
in two minutes John Blunt, carrying
the dripping, half-conscious form Of
the pride of the house of Devens and
followed by the hysterical nurse. strobe
up the wallS down which rushed to
meet him papa, mamma and Harriet
Devens. Itdid not detract from his sat.
isfaction that they had all seen little
Benny's fall and the timely rescue, nor
that Papa Devens shook his hand
warmly and said: "God bless you, my
boy!" and that. Mamma Devens kissed
him tearfully, and Harriet did likewise,
calling him: Dear, darling, bravo
Jack" before them all. Then he mod.
estly disappeared and was not seen by
any of them again until Papa Devehs,
after serious interview with Harriet
and her mother, which left them both
smiling happily, called upon him at
the hotel that evening.
Some one at the lake telegraphed q
thrilling account of Benny's accident
and rescue to the papers, and ''Dubs''
and the other boys felt a certain pride
in the fact that Blunt was a Continent
man. They were still feeling proud OF
him three days later, and were discuss
ing him, when the society editor came
in, all excitement, with:
'What do you suppose has happened
now?"
''Give it up!" was the prompt reply.
''Did some one pay you five dollars you
| never expected to get," added one.
''Pshaw! No. Look here" said the
society man, extracting from mass of
papers a letter from local correspond
ent at Forest lake. Listen"
'The engagement of Mr.. John Blunt,
the well-lnown journalist, and Miss
Devens, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Ra.ph Devens, is announced. The we'd
ding, it is understood, is set for late
October
An ejaculation of surprise and salts
faction went round the city room, and
Dubs' face beamed as he remarked. EN-.
phatically: