UNPLEASANT REMINISCIENCE OF A PICNIC.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 26, 16 January 1878, Page 3

UNPLEASANT REMINISCIENCE OF A PICNIC.

We reached the- selected place, and at last I contrived tha^ Winnie and I should be alone m one- ©£ the glades, where, m impassioned 1 , tones I s»ok& of my love, begging for a reply. "Really.-,. Fred,' cried Winnie at last, drawing away her hand, "I don ! t think you ought to ask for an answer now. I Shave always liked ym^ «But I ask for your love," I. said gloomily. : "Why, we are both very young yet, Fred, and— Come, wemust get back to our friends*" " You reject 'be. then ?" "I'm afraid you are hungry, young man," said a voice that cairie upon ; me like a thunderclap, "or you would not talk m that Byronic strain." « I did not come to listen to you, but if you young people ' s choose to talk stuff m public places you i must take the consequences." I gazod at the burly figure and straw hat bipf ore me*- feeling; endless humiliations. "Papa!" exclaimed Winnie, blushing. v Not cross,. my dear. You've behaved very sensibly. -Now young man, you, mean marriage; I suppose ?" "Of , course, sir," '' What is^ur income?" "Well, sir, only a hundred a year, Imt— — " "Yes:. improW ~and that sort of thing., You are- a deik to the late firm bf/G-feedi'e and Spray ?" "To the firm, sir, and m. their confidence." * Late firm. In the Gazette thi s morn - ing. Failed. Your income is nothing. Dinner's ready. Come,, if you are not afraid of soiling yourself." it was -all over then. This is why Iso easily got. a holiday. . I was desperate as the stern old fellow, marched us off to the dinner spread beneath a great oak, and Winnie did not even glance st me. I tore off my delicate gloves with a half-savage smile, hung my haifc on a tree, and, kneeling down on tho^ffirass, I set to carving chickens for- fclie"j>uests.—"Cas- : sell's Family Magazine."