Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-10-12

into the room where ! was followed by
Mntlldn, who, 10 judge from tho anxious
expression OF her countenarco, had evil
IDENTIFY teen informed Of my arrival and
was expecting u scene.
Tho irritable old gentleman wns just
about Ia lay violent hands upon the soln
to soc " his glasscs were underneath when
! was saved from discovery by Matilda
crying out, "Why you dear old stupid,
there orc your spectacle all tho while
right in the middle Of the table" There
they were sure enough, and old SmiGns,
having Rugged his pretty daughter, start
ed of onco more.
was Just ON Hotpoint Of emerging from
my hiding pluco and discovering myself 10
the object Of my affections when there
came another knook--not so boisterous ms
the first, hut more sharp aud decided. My
head, which | hnd thrust forward from
underneath the sofa, went back quicker
than It came. In another minute who
should beHnnounocd but Mr.. Henry Pret.
lyman.
Here was fine state Of affairs. Surely
he, too, had not come to mike declnrn-
ton. He bad, though, and he set about
it In that cool, unembnrrGsscd mHnnor pc
culinr to himself. | had wild, dark
thoughts Of rushing from my lair and au-
initiating my hated riVHl on the SPOT.
Then / remembered he WIS boad taller
than wns and might possibly not get the
worst of an encounter, aud as pictured
myself measuring my length on the noor
in presence OF Matilda determined TO de-
sist for the present. must keep still and
wait for the bitter end.
1 had to crouch under that wretched sofa,
rubbing my injured shin, willie that
wretch was popping tho question. He
was accepted, and was Just tonderly insin-
unting his arm round the slender whist of
Matilda when thore came knock tho very
duplicate OF tho ilrst. There was no mis-
taking It. IL was Smiillns' AS the re-
Verherntion OF that mighty Knock passed
away savage Joy thrilled my heart My
rival was caught.
Smiiilns hand was on the handle OF tho
door. l held my breath aud waited Tor the
onslaught. Would Smillins Rick Pretty
man down stairs or throw him bodily
through the window were tho questions
that engrossed my nina at this moment
I Siniiins ala neither. 10 my disgust,
amaEcment and despair Smiilins rushed
forward anu grasreu ms hand with emu
siye expressions of delight
well my boy no SAID, rs II nll
! rlghU VI course lliuh has salu 80. You
haven't lost much time, you Young rascal
| you, inter getting my consent. 'Iilda
looked delighted (henrtless minxl, but
somewhat puzzled, upon which Pretty
man explained how he had intercepted her
| stern parent in one OF his walks and got
his consent to marry his daughter.
/ All my thoughts were now concentrated
on enccting an escape from my dreadful
I position. Aftcr some conversation tine pro-
cious trio repaired to the garden to inspect
the horticultural arrangements of old
Smiflins.
Now was my opportunity. L emerged
from under tho sofa, stole softly down
stairs and was Just going to make rush
past the dining room, through the hall
ana so out Into the street when nearly
fell over old Smiiiins, who was arranging
seine plants on tho hall table. Fortunate
ly ho was so engrossed he had not hunrd
or seen me, but whit dilemmnl could
neither go backward nor forward.
After moments reflection stole gen
tly into tho dining room tthe door OF which
was open), trusting that Smi1lns would
pass ON. Ho aid pass on, hut he came back
again. There was no sofa to crawl under,
no cupboard TO hide In. The window was
fast.
There was but one resource left, and a'
Smiths came In at thu door l popped NJ
the chimney. Smiilins at once began bel