The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1893-04-21

Then ! put my arm about her waist, and
said;
my dear Tiny, | don't tblnk any man
could be cold to you. even ai.r being An
glicized so thoroughly as | haee BEEN"
"0h, that English way Is not bad" she
said quietly, patting my hand and return
ing my kiss with interest. "lt's gentle
manly, and you are well dressed. Pm
quite proud Of you, and we'll live together
all our lives. and never never part again
Will weP"
i sat dumfounded This was going on
rapidly Evidently this. American Miss
Smith had taken advantage Of leap year,
and was making an offer Of her heart and
hand.
"There you are silent again." said she
"Oh, Johnl believe you have fallen in
love with somebodyshat you are engaged
to some English girl. Tell me at once il it
is 30, that may not build my poor little
air castles only to have them knocked
over"
81 have never deeamed Of engaging my
self, F." said l. 81 haven't been in love, and
! don't think myself in circumstances to
marry"
81 begin to breathe again." said Miss
Smith. "As to circumstances, can make
q dollar 90 as far as five I'll show you
how to live on next to nothing, and live
we'll Kiss me again, Jack; am so happyi
When shall we go housekeeping"
Her view Of the matter evidently was
that she had proposed and been accepted
However, | kissed her. She was SO evi-
IDENTIFY respectable that could but believe
these proceedings customary in America
felt that my friends should have informed
me how far these Yankee girls could CO.
| 1t must be that no one thought it wrong in
this part Of the world; for knew that
Miss Smith was respectable, apd her father
a man Of good position Moreover, she had
an innocent air, with all her boldness, and
could have fallen in love with her on the
spot but for her curious conduct This,
however, revolted me. She sat there, after
this astounding behavior, without tremor
In her voice or blush upon her face. and
again remarked;
'I'm 80 happy, Jaekp
OH what were these American girls
made of,
| Wecame to pause at last before house
which was not quite up to my idea OF the
wealthy Mr.. Smiths residence. but was
very respectable and Miss Smith ushered
me into parlor which seemed to me to be
full Of girls In the back one tea table
was spread
"Pve asked everybody to meet you" she
said. IAN the dear girls who were in the
last class at boarding school with me"
Then, having caused me to deposit my
hat upon the rnck, and having somehow
disposed of my travelling bag, she took me
by the arm and whirled me about, intro
ducing me to Kate and Ann, Tilly and
Nelly, Jane and Eliza, with last names
which did not catch, or forgot on the in
stant. and each one made some remark to
the effect that dear Tiny had spoken SO
much Of me--that she thought Of no one
else-that they supposed she was happy
now, etc.
My bewilderment grew greater but was
determined to see the affair out. 1t was to
me as curious as any strange ceremonies
among the Cannibal islanders would have
been.
This was apparently betrothal party
However, they could not marry me against
my will in any land. When itcame to that
should assert myself.
AT last we were all summoned to the
table.
"Your place is ut the foot, Johnny" said
Miss Smith; aud stood behind my chair,
waiting for the ladies to be seated, when a
servant whispered something in Miss
Smiths ear, ut which she turned pale,
looked ut me for u moment with an unut-
terable expression in hereyes and fed from
the room.
The girls looked after her; one followed
her, came back and whispered to the others,
who, one after the other, left the room,
1t occurred to me that the clergyman had
arrived and that the matrimonial cere-
monies were about to be celebrated, and
decided to get nearer the door 1t might
be that my only hope lay in flight, As
entered the front paror saw that the hall
was deserted, On an upper floor voices
were lifted, and some one seemed to be in
Mysteries, Shortly a masculine voice said
fercely, "I'll settle himp and a youth in q
travelling costume came rushing down
stairs three steps at time.
He entered the room in which stood
and advanced toward me,
"What is the meaning Of all this" sale
he.
EXACTLY what should like to know,
sir" said |.
~ am John Smith" said he,
$50 am L." answered
II arrived from England in the --,
said he.
80 did l." replied.
II am Miss Smiths brother" said he.
The truth began to dawn upon me,
II am not" said |, and then as gravel!
as possible related the facts that ] hav,
already told you, at the same time produc
ing from my pocket letters which gay
witness to my veracitya
"rhis is "a dreadful thing for Tiny" sait
the young man. I'VE have been separated
since our childhood She is very excitabl
and is terribly mortified She believe