Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1867-11-20


the anticipatory agonies Of being pur-
sued, captured, brought forth, and
possibly married before he could get
/ breath to demonstrate. But she fin.
ally took up her pail and vanished
Dear me, that was very narrow
escape" thought our hero, emerging
| from his sanctuary. I" Some day she II
be too much for me. Perhaps I'd bet
| ter change my boarding place. 7 es
that Will be the oniy safety.
suppose | couldn't very we'll have her
sworn over to keep the peace, and
really, there's no saying what de.
termined woman of fifty might not do
l Will look out for a new place to-mor-
row"
d" Dear me Major, you have no ap-
petite" said Miss Patience, sweetly,
at the dinner-table.
No, ma am" said the Major
4" Try to eat a httle-just to please
me, Major"
No, thank you, ma'am."
. Don't you know, Major, people
will say YOU are an love, If YOU dom t
eat more? p smiled the antiquated spin
ster.
This was more than our hero could
endure. He rose up and left Miss
PettIgrew triumphant victor of the
wordy field.
o won't 90 back to that house, if
can help it, thought Major Teller,
brushing the cold dew away from his
forehead with crimson silk pocket
handkerchief. "Her intentions are
serious; l know they are"
And the Major, in his innermost
mind, reviewed the catechism and
hymns lie had learned as a child, try
ing to think if there was not some in
vocation particularly suited to an ell
derlv gentleman in great peril and
| perplexity But he could not remem-
Der anything appropriate to his par
/ ticular case.
" Its twenty years since l have
/ been on the inside of a church,
/ thought the pcnitent, old offender
| wish / had gone little more regu-
larly. ! wonder if it is too late In
life to reform"
For the Major-poor old gentleman
had vague idea that "religion
would be sort Of safeguard against
the wiles of his fair enemy. Deliver,
ance from Miss Patience Pettigrew
must be obtained on some terms or
| other
As Major Teller was frantically re-
volving these things in his mind, he
came to sudden and involuntary
stand There was crowd gath
/ cred IN the street-a fallen omnibus
horse, or an arrested pickpocket, or
some other nucleus, round which gath
er the rapidly increasing swarm Of me
tropolitan loafers. Now. Of ALI things,
Major Teller most dreaded crowd,
/ and he looked round nervously for some
means of escape.
/ An oldfashioncd church, with open
doors, and some sort Of service going
on inside, caught the Majors eve
/ He made an instantaneous dart for its
/ huge Gothic portals, shielded by inner
/ doors Of green baize.
! d" Its a good chance to think up
something solemn and appropriate,
and that sort Of thing, until the crowd
gets by" he thought, settling himseli
in the corner of one Of the sottly-cush-
/ ioned pcws to listen to the mild, dron.
/ ing voice Of the old clergyman.
The church was very warm, and the
light, softened by purple and golded
/ crimson glass, was dim, and the cler
gyman's voice rather monotouous and
/ Major Teller was unconsciouslv be
coming rather drowsey, when plump,
old lady came in, and the sexton beck.
/ oned him from his seat.
But the sermon was over, and peo-
/ pie were streaming down the aisle
! and the Major felt that he didn't care
/ to prolong the thing, and that he had
done a very laudable act IN coming tc
/ church, and =
Even while these ideas were pass.
/ ing distinctly through his brain, he
was borne toward the altar in an up.
ward eddy of the crowd. and felt a
gaunt arm thrust through his.
Protect me, Major, oh save me !
whispered Miss Patience Prttigrcw
I'm 50 feared in a crowd, always :
The Major strove to withdraw his
arm. but Miss Pettigrew would not
let him They were standing direct
lv in front Of the altar. rm-in-arm =
The minister, old and near-sighted
and little deaf, advanced, probably
concluding that hIs services were re
qulred.
Major Teller's blood ran cold he
tried to protest, bat his tongue SCENE
paralyzed Miss Pettigrew had cap
tured him as lamb for the slaughter
and where was the use of further
struggle \ few words-an APPALLING
lv brief ceremonv-and Major TelleI
was married to Miss Patience.
Take the market basket. my dear
said the gaunt bride. land stay-vou'
better carry the umbrella, too Wei
90 right home. Old folks. like vor
and me- don't care for wedding tours
do We 2''
The Major looked piteously at hi,
better half and made no answer
j She, however. waited for none, bat
drew him along with quiet determin
alton that argued i'll for the future.
Give me the key to the room. NIX
dear" said Mrs Pettigrew Teller
4" I'd better keep 1t IN future