Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1865-12-06
FIVE times, and had promenaded with me

upon the piazza. sa 81 afc- '5ze5g I'D
But | could not hear such language
as Major Farewell had addressed to me
aud, in spite Of my friends remonstrance
retorted upon him. My b.ood was
heated With whisky, aud Jared no more for
the commanding officer al that time than
l would have cared for , drummer-boy.
BY, SIR" l replied, With an
oath which I need not repeat here, "you
would hav. q fine time kicking me out !?
Perhaps. you had better try itnow"eu
The Major sprang at me ant caught me
by the collar. thought at lie time that
he meaut to strike but was Subsequent
lily convinced that he did not. However,
struck him upon the cheek via the fat
OF my hard. e3F .aara ra
With Kissing oath ne drew pistol
|, from his pocket; but, before he c,uld use
it, the Adjutant caught his arm, and three
or four of my friends hurried ms from
the room, and led Inc to my quartsrs,
On the following morning | awoke with
anything but pleasant feeling; and,
when I remembered what had transpired
during the previous night, l felt wrelched
enough. | cursed the wine cup and, the
whiskey bottle from the bottom of my
heart, and inwardly resolved that would
touch the stuff no more. Still was for
ced 20 take stiff toddy to steady my
nerves; and, after had dressed myself,
sat down to cup of coffee was thus
engaged when our adjutant, Mr.. Bower,
entered my quarters. bade him good
morning, and asked if he would not take
some breakfast with me. ,-
Not now" said he, shaking his head
II have called upon business All, Cap
tain this is bad affair DO you remem-
Der that you struck the Major last night ~
Yes; | remember it very weii-re.
member it too we'll" 5A-- AHi
"He expects you will make an apology, "
pursued the Adjutan:. alr' Il t.
"Aud if | do not ~
Then you must fight him. rmaE
|. ."You we're present, Bower, durirs the
entire scence 2" 1r. .; .-.t.. aiFl-l
Yes"
'.Then [ wish you to tell me the truth
for am free To coufes. that my brain was
on bit Of whir last night First, did
[, in my toast to Mrs Farewell. give hiui
the least occasion for Ill feeling :"
Il could see none, Captain; but you
remember that he had been drinking"
Exactly; and in that We were even.
And now, did he not, in the presence Of
the whole company, threaten to kick me
from his quarters ~ ~ 7strr
"Yes' es- t..- .tf
"And.. did he not lay his hands upon
ne before [ struck him ?"
Il cannot be positive but think he
did.
"Then," said I, drinking the last of
my coffee, II shall make no apology"
You will remember, Captain" sug-
gested Bower, shat the Major is a dead
shot, and that in the handling of the
sword he has no superior" ~
cared nothing at all about that. |
knew the temper Of our officers, and |
knew that L should be held in iigh. es-
teen if | allowed the Major to back me
down. '.r 5.r.eFaF- s-Glii -
Once more Bower asked me if would
apo!ogise. v.qar -.
/ told him emphatically-
= ,fs.Now ID s7r..rg s-s-- y.g
"Then," he added. II have Instructions
to deliver this note" .
= He handed ne an unsealed missive,
which l found to be challenge; and by
it | was informed that Adjutant Bower
was empowered to make all necessary ar
rangemeuts. q.
.-e After dinner l sat down alone to ar
range my affairs. l wrote several letters
which l sealed and inclosed in single
envelope, to be sent off by my Clerk, in
case 1 should fall, My property l gave
into Walkers charge, with instructions
how to dispose of it. When matters had
been thus arranged, i: was we'll toward
evening; and, taking light cane in my
hand, l walked out fer breath of fresh
air.
Not far from the camp was Morgan's
Falls-a wild, romantic spot, where tn e
water of the river scrambled over q huge
bed Of broken rocks and toward this spot
[ bent my steps. just above the falls
was bridge of logs, from which could
be obtained one of the graudest scenes
hat ever. blessed the eye of an artist
As | reached the summit of an eminence
,ear the falls, l saw woman and child
standing upon the bridge. / lost sight
# them for time but, as l was emerg-
ug from the thicket, sharp, piercing
,ry of agony broke upon my ear. i
praug to the bridge, aud there l saw the
woman alone. n Ie,,
She was wringisg her hands, Aand
hrieking like aecrazy cresture. L was
lot may seconds in cornprehending the
ruth. Below the bridge, floating On the
roubied waters, l saw the child, Its
preading garments buoying it up; and !
ou,d hear the tiny voice calling
s'Mamma! Mamma - liI.
There vas not moment to lose The
hid was going nearer to the falls-near-
r and nearer to its death 1t vas fear
nj risk me for the chances were that 1