EQUAL TO THE OCCASION.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 29, 21 October 1893, Page 5

EQUAL TO THE OCCASION.

He was a mild young fellow, and, ■as his sweetheart imagined, without much force of character, as he kept putting oft' the “ ask papa ” day indefinitely. So the young woman .prompted him to be sure he was right and go ahead. ‘ You see papa has a great deal of "bluff and bluster, but when you come right down to it he is perfectly safe. Only you must show him you have plenty of courage—real grit, that’s ■what he likes.’ ‘ All right ; suppose you ask him to step in now. I may as well get my hand in if that is the way it works. ‘ But, dearest, he is awful big and •strong, you know.’ ‘ Oh, if it comes to personal violence I will defend myself with the furniture. Trot him in.’ ‘ And you won’t let him put you off ?’ ‘ Not a bit.’ ‘ Then 1M tell him you want to see him.’ There were two chances of escape for the young man, one by way of the door, the other by the window ; hut he did not avail himself of either. When the father strode into the room with his best knock-down-and-drag- ■ out air, the youth rose indifferently to meet him. ‘ Well, well, what’s all this about P I understand you want to see me. Well, look at me now, and be quick -about it,’ growled the pater. H’m. Can’t say as you’re much to look at, Mr . I merely washed to mention to you that Miss Clara has engaged hex-self to me with my consent, and I propose to fill my part of the contract to the letter.’ ‘ Idiot! Idiot ! My daughter— ’ ‘ Take care, old man. Call me as •many names as you please, but refer to my future wife with proper respect.’ ‘ Get out of this house you ’ ‘ Certainly. As soon as my wife -—that is to be —can conveniently pack up her belongings, Ave will go.’ ‘ Why, you impudent ’ ‘ Oh, keep cool, keep cool! I could hold you out of the window wdtli one hand and call for the police Avith the ■other. I Avas champion hitter and slogger at college. .Look at the muscle,’ and he clenched a No. 7 Land into a formidable fist.’ ‘ I never was so ’ • Nor I. Call it quits. I want your daughter, and I don’t care a -continental for your money or your blessing. We can begin the world

without either, just as other young fools have done. This is business, sir, business.’ ‘ The father felt his own head to see if he was going to have an apoplectic fit, then answered grimly : ‘ All right; I like your style. I should have said yes, anyway, if you had given me time, but you took me by surprise. X may say I was never so surprised in my life.’ ‘ Nor I,’ assented the lover, as he sunk almost fainting into a chair, ‘ but I’m a business man, and don’t you forget it. I don’t stand any foolishness either in love or Avar,’ and he wiped the cold jserspiration off his forehead with a nervous hand. He had Avon the day and the girl, too.