The record-union., 1893-05-20


now. would they?"
No one," l FASTENED to assure him,
with obvious irony. But again he seemed
pleased.
No one, as you say. l have a great
opinion of your judgment, Joseph. 1t is
sound on many points. and frequently
comedies with mine. Joseph, young as
yoQ are, L am about to confide in you"
he stopped for a moment to draw
deep breath.
1t a terrible STEP" he said meditat-
lvely, 'and to tell you the truth, there
are times when, charming as I know her
10 De, rather shrink from the thought of
having to spend my life at her side. But
there, a man never knows what scrapes
an oyer-punctilious sense of duty will
drag him into. You see, l am the last of
my family, Joseph"
lie sank his voice to mournful
Whisper as he said this, and l understood
from II that the only motive he had for
pIunglng into matrimOny was in order to
raise up fresh generation of Binkses,
wherewith to decorate this forlOrn earth.
"Oh, yes, Binks," L replied, in hasty
answer to his somewhat hurt glance, Il
quite see 1t is. OF course you ought to
marry"
Y es, yes. it will have to be DONE" said
Blnks, with weary sigh; people have
gone through it before, [ suppose. A
man has duties, you know"
l burst in to interrupt string of little
moral aphorisms which l foresaw were
coming, and Of which I know Binks ITO
be particularly fond.
on, 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 al
ways in too great hurry. That propen-
slty of hurrying is fatal to man in your
profession, Joseph"
l looked round for my hat and stick in
such a decided manner that Binks saw
that l was not to be trified with. The
fatuous smile stole over his face again.
"Y ou know Mrs. HuckwelI ?' he said,
in a whisper.
started back in amazement. l am not
often moved to express myself in vulgar
manner, but l could not refrain from
giving low whistle of astonishment.
Mrs. Huckwell!
of more than 10 years-Binks' 40 years,
too!-wlth high, unnatural fixed
color IN her cheeks, and an evident taste
for millinery and jewelry. She ''gushedn
a good deal, and was the happy possessor
OF nve very handsome unmarried
daughters. Fancy Binks, the sober,
stolid old bachelor Binks, stepfather to
y
lay back in my chair, and feebly
passed my hand across my forehead.
Binks tapped little nearer, and I spoke
hastily:
Pm sure congratulate you heartily,
Binks-so sensible, and all that. Only [
am afraid you will find five girls rather
handful to"
never finished that sentence. Binks
came so near that 1 pushed my chair
quickly back. There was look in his
beady eyes which l did not like. They
glowed like Goals of fire.
why, you confounded foolp' he ex-
claimed wrathfuny, shaking an angry
nst In my face. Mrs. Huckwell, in
deedl What should I want to marry an
old hag like that for-with her painted
cheeks and ridiculous bonnets? You
never wait for me TO finish a sentence,
Joseph. This habit of undue precipi-
fancy 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. Huckwell, thank
you. have fixed upon Gertrude, and
feel sure that she will do honor to my
choice"
I gave q shrill, unnatural laugh as
Binks thus brought out the name of the
woman whom he had candidly confessed
he rather shrank from as a lifelong COM
panion. | know one man at least, small
In stature though great in soul, who would
have given all that he possessed for the
chance of spending his lie with Gertrude
Huckwell, and have no doubt that there
were many others who shared his feel
ings. Now, although all the Misses
Huckwell were eminently 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.
l thought of her light, 1.-the figure, her
charming face, her beautiful eyes, and her
bright bronze hair-and then l looked at
Binks, tall, and thin, and stopping, with
crow s-feet round his eyes, and 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 amiable than [ think? l 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, l could understand that
Gertrude Huckwell must be more angel
than woman to endure them.
Are you-have you proposed ?" de-
manded, in the hasty manner which
Binks had SO often openly deprecated.
l asked this question with a sinking
heart, for, however angelic a woman may
be, riches made distinct impression on
her sometimes if she has been brought
up amid concealed poverty. Now Binks
was rich man and Gertrude was poor.
81 cannot say l have exactly pro-
posed" said Binks, Initiating his chest
once more, but l have paid her marked
attentions. l think there can have been
no mistake about the object of my visits,
and she has received them with every ap-
pearance of pleasure. l ventured to make
her a small present of bracelet yester-
day" added Biuks, with a simper, quite
an inexpensive little thing''-what mean
beggar the fellow isi-diamonds would
not be good enough for Gertrude-"and
she let me clasp 1t on her pretty arm and
seemed quite delighted"
Binks is such disgusting mass of van
ity and pomposity and egregious egotism
that he makes me feel quite sick some
times.
"Oh. then it is practically settled" 1
said, with an airy attempt at jocularity,
land you will be calling upon me to draw
up the marriage settlement"
'M-yes." said Binks thoughtfulIy,
rasping his chin with one lean hand.
"M-yes, dare say there will be settle
ments. / shall propose to Gertrude in
due form tomorrow" he added, drawing
himself up with an air of dignity, land /
am happy to say that / feel quite sure of
receiving a favorable reply. She has
given me every encouragement in her
pretty, modest way"
l could have seized Binks round his
wiry neck and bung him out of his own
window with the greatest pleasure. Only
the fear of a passing policeman restrained
me from putting my desire into execu-
ton.
49,. Gn@'G Koo Coof