i thought i ought to like a man on dis you infernal rascal didn t i tell you that the next time you took my clothes without asking my permission i was going to shoot you the major faced his chair around with a jerk but george washington had in the recovered himself yes i remembers he said complacently but didn t have no to solemn when i a man in de code ab n s� la yes sir it did i had this especially in mind declared the major � i gave you fair notice and damn me if i don t do it too before i m done with yon � i d sell you to morrow morning if it would not be a cheat on the man who was fool enough to buy you my best coat and waistcoat � he looked affectionately at the george washington evidently knew the way to soothe him � who ever de beat of he said in a tone of mild complaint partly to the young men and partly to bis old master in the and velvet over the piano you reckon i ain got no better manners n to you coat and coat and did you no favor � i hear miss bout it de time you ever put em on s de reason i em having found an excuse he was as as a river � i say to myself i ain let my young things no mo strange ladies an man in de too � an i so about it i say george n n you got to things and em yo george wa t n last self to keep him f om it s what you got to do i say and s de reason i em he looked the picture of self sacrifice but the major burst forth on him why you lying rascal that s three different reasons you have given in one breath for taking them at which george washington shook his head with s� just look at them cried the major � my favorite waistcoat i there is not a crack or a in them � they look as nice as they did the day they were bought this was too much for george washington s the favor of de what has em on he said bowing at which the major finding his ire giving way to amusement drove him from the room swearing that if he did not shoot him that evening he would set him free to morrow morning vi as the afternoon had worn away and whilst the two in the affair were arranging their matters the major had been taking every precaution to carry out the plan i i s for the meeting the effect of the approaching upon the old gentleman was somewhat remarkable he was in unusually high spirits his rosy countenance wore an expression of humorous content and from time to time as he about a smile flitted across his face or a chuckle sounded from the depths of his satin stock he fell in with miss and related to her a series of anecdotes respecting and generally so lurid in their character that she groaned over the of a region where such was practised but when he solemnly informed her that he felt satisfied from the signs of the time that some one would be shot in the neighborhood before twenty four hours were over the old lady determined to return home next day it was not difficult to secure secrecy as the major had given directions that no one should be admitted to the garden for at least an hour before sunset he had been giving directions to george which that would have found some difficulty in even had he remained sober but which in his existing condition was aa impossible as for him to change tlie i washington s last in his hair the major had solemnly assured him that if he got drunk he would shoot him on the spot and george washington had as solemnly consented that he would gladly die if he should be found in this condition immediately succeeding which however under the weight of the momentous matters submitted to him he had after his habit sought aid and comfort of his old friends the major s and he was shortly in that condition when he felt that the entire universe depended upon him he his shoes at least twenty times and marched back and forth in the yard with such importance that the servants instinctively shrunk away from his august presence one of the children in their ran against him george washington simply said out my way and without pausing in his gait or to look at him him completely over a maid ventured to him to know why he was so finely dressed george washington overwhelmed heir with a look of such infinite contempt and such withering scorn that all the other servants forthwith fell upon her for in george s last wash n ton s business at last the major entered the garden and bade george washington follow him and george washington having paid his twentieth visit to the and had a final interview with the liquor and having polished up his old anew left the office by the door carrying under hia arm a mahogany box about two feet long and one foot wide partially covered with a large linen cloth his hat was cocked on the of liis head with an air supposed to be impressive he wore the major s coat and velvet waistcoat which he had won so a victory in the morning and he a lai e handkerchief the of which he had transferred still more recently the major s orders to george washington were to convey the box to the garden in a secret manner but george washington was far too much impressed with the importance of the part he 