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Show A LOVE PROPOSAL. I had spent the evening at my club. The heated nir hid sickened and irritated me, and as 1 made my way home through the rain, I felt more than ever dissatisfied with the world and myself. At home I found on my table an invitation to dinner the next day, which I resolved to accept, ac-cept, for I had long wished for the host's intimate acquaintance. . The dinner was given by General , Upton, and I led his beautifuldaughter to the table. It was after my return home that I found myself thinking continually of Mias Upton; her waves of sunny brown hair; her white forehead between be-tween ita rippling bandj; her Boft, blue, thrilling eyes; her chraka of fresh, p'-trly tint; her small, pouting mouth .nd dimpled chin. I met my charmer at a ball, and returned more madly in love than ever. After that I saw her frequently, at last almost daily; una was vain enough to (eel certain sho perceived my affections without being displeased at the discovery. Why dwell on the history, which is that of many hearts? One- day. when Iwas ridinout, I caw the general's carriage, and him on the front set. Urging my horse to a gallop, I came alongside, and bowed to Miss Upton, whose face was lighted up with pleasure, a bright color Buft'using her cheeks. But as she bent forward, I Baw by her Bide on the back seat a very handsome young man. A chill wind swept over the blossoms of my heart. It was in no amiable humor that I went to the ball that night. The ladies were elegantly dressed, and many looked bewitchingly beautiful. I had eyes but for one. She was standing alone by a porcelain vase, from the midst of which a tiny fountain foun-tain of eau de cologne threw up its Bparkling drops. She seemed buried in reverie, and the long, bright lashes lay on her cheeks. Sue biushed as I bade her good evening. I asked her for the next cotillion; she answered that she was already engaged. en-gaged. Again I felt a sharp pain through my heart, but it was only for a moment. I solicited her hand for the succeeding dance, and she promised it. At supper I had a seafi opposite her. She was eugaged in an animated conversation with a gentleman, who, I was glad to see, was not the young man I had seen driving out with her. Ab Bhe glanced timidly at me, I felt more than ever certain I could read in those magnetic looks a meaning that thrilled mo with delight. We returned to the ball room, and when I had conducted to a seat the lady under my charge, I went in pursuit of my beloved. To my dismay, I saw her conversing with her companion com-panion of the morning drive. A flood of passionate anger swept over me, but she gave me a glance that in stantly quieted the raging elements. The ball waB oTer. The sweet girl I loved was just leaving the room, accompanied by the gentleman I had seen driving with her- Ab I approached to take my leave, I could not avoid hearing the last words of their conversation. "I may Bpeak to your father, then, to-morrow?" asked the young man, in an unmistakable tone of heartfelt rapture. 1 win prepare mm, was cue reply. re-ply. "He is already disposed in your favor, and will, I am snre, give his consent." "You are an angel," exclaimed the young man. "The happiness of my whole life " "Wait till everything is arranged," said the fair girl, with a smile, and then tripped on to join her father. I stood aghast and petrified. Were her love-glances at me, then, merely coquetry, or had I deceived myself? No, no; there was no mistake. Her looks had expressed love, if ever such was painted in maiden's eyes. And yet in a fury I dashed out of the room. I met General Upton in the ante-room; I could have strangled him for his daughter's sake. A commonplaoe remark from him as to some foolish freak of mine made me Btill more enraged, and I retorted in violent excitement. "I do not choose, General Upton, to hear from you any insolent remarks on my conduct. I consider your conduct, sir, unbecoming a gentleman." "Sir," replied the old soldier, "if your aeiioerate design is to insult me, it were better to have the conversation con-versation conducted through the medium of a friend." "As you please; I shall expect him," I answered, with a stiff bow, and hurried away, leaving the old man more grieved and astonished than angry. Shortly after Colonel Bell, my detested de-tested rival, stood before me, and requested re-quested to speak with me in another room. I followed him. He stated that he came on the part of General Upton, who thought my insulting language to him the result of some misunderstanding, and wished to be assured that it was so. My fury nearly choked me at the sight of the man who had defrauded me of happiness. I refused to retract or to explain my words, and when informed that a duel must inevitably result, I acquiesced, and as the time and place appointed the next morning morn-ing at nine, at Wormwood, Scrubbs. I bade Colonel Bell select and bring what weapons he might please. Ho i went out, and I then asked one ol my friends to walk homeward with me. I told him of the impending duel, and requested his services las my second, which he promised. He was amazed to hear who wa3 my opponent, and that the courtly general had ventured so unseemly a jest. After a pause, he said: "Poor Colonel Bell! In case of mischance to tho general, what is he "What do you mean?"' I asked, trembling violently. " You know," my friend replied, "that Colonel Bell is in love with General Upton's neice and ward, Miss Campbell, who h?B been spending spend-ing the winter with her aunt, Lady Mountjoy, in Belgrave square. It was said the general sent her there lo keep her out of Bell's way; for ho was averse to the match, thinking the colonel wanted the girl's money. They eay he persuaded Miss Upton to be hiB advocate: she can do what she will with her father, and he has now the best prospect ofsuccess." I felt as if a thunderbolt had fallen at my feet. To blank amazement succeeded rage at myself, and my jealous folly and blindness. If I could, only throw myself at the feet of the general, his daughter, and Colonel Bell and beg their forgiveness! forgive-ness! But I had provoked and accepted ac-cepted a challenge; and what twould now b thought of such submission? They would believe me a coward. No, no! I insulted the general and he, at least, must have satisfaction. In the morning I dressed myself with unwonted care. Once more the blood coursed in a free and lively tide through my veins, and I wnt forth cheerfully. We alighted from the carriaee upon up-on the ground. General Upton, who was already there, saluted us with a haughty bow. Colonel Bell came toward us, and said he hoped we would bo satisfied with his choice of pistols. I noticed in his manner, as well as that of hiB principal, a lofty coldness not usual even in such encounters. It was plain they re- I garded me as a senseless ruffian, determined de-termined to force a quarrel on an old officer. I dare not then disclose the truth, and simply acquiesced in all that was done. Waiving my own privilege, I insisted on the general having the first shot. The general raised his weapon, took aim, and fired. I felt a sharp pain and folt a hot gushing in my right arm above the elbow. Colonel Bell began to count tor my Bhot. I mnl inn wl him tn Btjiri (inH aHvnnr.wl toward General Upton. "I have something important to say to you, sir," I said. Ho replied, coldly, "I know not what you can have to Bay to me in other language than of the kind in which I have just spoken to you." "But I have," I repeated, "something "some-thing of infinite importance to myself to communicate. I wish to ask a very great favorofyou." .The bystanden looked amaxed. "General Upton," I cried impetuously, impet-uously, " I love your daughter. I I implore your consent to address her." The old officer's surprise was bo great that bis pistol" dropped from his hand. As soon as he recovered power to Bpeak, he said: "Do you wish sir, to add a fresh insult to those we are hero to settle, or" (his look finished the sentence) " are you mad?" I begged permission to explain my unaccountable behavior. I told him how deeply I had loved his daughter eion had increased till it absorbed my whole being ; how I had overheard at the ball words that caused me to look on Colonel Bell as my successful rival; how. maddened by despair, I had rushed into a quarrel with him, and how, too late, I had discovered my mistake. "You will appreciate, sir," I concluded, con-cluded, "the situation in which I found myself. I had behaved like a fool and ruffian, but I could not confess con-fess it and ask your pardon without incurring the suspicion of cowardice. You would not have given your daughter to a coward. Now, general, gen-eral, you have had satisfaction for the affront so wantonly offered you. I acknowledge my folly, andjthrow myself my-self on your generosity." Turning to Colonel Bell I repeated my apology to him. The cloud ot resentment gradually cleared away from the general's noble countenance. At last he remarked, with a good natured smile, that Bince the world began it had been necessary to pardon something to the impetuosity impetu-osity of lovers. Yet he censured the folly that had prevented me from dealing frankly with him, instead of standing to receive his fire. He added that if I succeeded in winning his daughter's consent I should meet with, no opposition from him. Tr-Qiilrl nnr. AYtand mv rii-ht hanrl tn thank mv generous adversary, for my sleeve was full of clotted blood. Luckily, Colonel Bell had brought a doctor, who drew ofT my coat and examined my arm. He bound up tho wound, which was slight, and made a sling for my arm. The general gene-ral then invited me to go home with him to breakfast. We drove to his home. Agnes Upton was very much surprised sur-prised to see me, as Bhe had been at her father's early excursion. When she saw me pale and trembling, with my arm in a sling, the lovely girl grew pale herself, and then the blood rushed back into her transparent cheeks. Her father told her I had met with a slight accident, adding that we would all breakfast with him. Then he went out with the other gentlemen to Bhow them some improvements im-provements in his garden. I was left alone with my charmer, who came close to me, and asked me to tell her the truth. "I have fought a duel with yom father," I replied, "and have been -jr.nnflorl in t.lirt arm " The fair girl grew pale as a lily. Her large violet eyes weie fixed Btrangely upom me. At length she asked, in a quivering voice, what I and her father had fought about. "I had insulted him," was my answer, It seemed to increase her amazement. amaze-ment. With some impatience, she Dade me speak intelligibly. Then I made her sit down, drew a chair near her, and told her every-I every-I thing. As I described my jealous ; fears, and madness, her changing color showed her emotion; and when I repeated my petition to her father I for permission to declare my love , I saw two pearly tears slide down her cheeks, while her eyes were fixed on the ground. When I expressed the wild worship that filled my heart, and implored her not to de&pise it, she gave me such a glance from her suddenly-lifted eyes that I sank at once to her feet. Tho angels that rejoice in true lovo witnessed the plight of our troth. "You will hurt your arm," Bhe said, with blushing embarrassment, and she removed it from around her waist. At the same instant tho gentlemen came in from the garden. "Well, you seem to have arranged matters satisfactorily," observed the general. "I suppose, Agnes, I must ask you to forgive me for having shot ' your intended on the day of your bo-trothel." Agnes was too bashful to answer. Colonel Bell spoke to her, "DearlUiBS Upton, your father has made me happy this morning, and I shall be your cousin. I trust that our weddings wed-dings may take place on the same day. Let me thank you for having fulfilled the promise you made mo last evening." , Agnes gave her haad In congratulation. congratu-lation. His lady love, who had been sent for, joined us at breakfast, and I saw that she would give no denial to her guardian's consent. It was a happy termination to our misunderstandings, misunder-standings, Our weddings were celebrated at the Game time. I have never been in the least jealous of my wife. |