The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1868-01-25


ster.
This was more than our hero could
endare he rose upland left Miss Petit.
grew victor Of the wordy field.
4 won't 90 back to that house if |
can help it, thought the Major, brush
ing the cold dew from his torehead with
a crimson silk pocket handkerchief.
Her intentions are serious, know they
are
And the Major, in his innermost soul
reviewed the cateohism and hymns he
had learned as a child; trying 10 think
if there, were not some invocations par
ticularly suited to an elderly gentle man
in great peril and perpcXity. But he
could not remember anything appropri-
ate to his particular case.
ITS twenty years since I have been
inside Of church, thought the peni-
tent old sinher. 4 wish | had gone a
little more regularly. woudor if it is
too late in life too reform :!
For the Major, poor, old gentleman,
had vague idea That religion would
be a soft Of safeguard against tho wilcs
of his fair enemy. Deiverancc from
Miss Pettigrew must be obtained on
some terms or other
As Major Teller was frautically re
yolying these things in his mind, be
came to a sudden aad involuntary stand
still. There was crowd gathered in
tbs strcet--a fallen omnibus horse, or
an arrested pickpocket, or some other
nucleus, round which gath ers the ra-
pidly increasing swarm Of metropolitan
loalers. Now, Of all things Major Tel.
Ter most dreaded was crowd, Sand he
locked round noryousiy for some means
oi Escape.
An old fashioned church, with open
ed doors and souc sort Of service going
on inside, caught the Majors eyye. lie
made an instantaneous dart for its huge,
gothic portals, shielded by the inner
doors OF green baize,
Its u good chance to think up some.
thing solemn and appropriate, and that
sort of thing, until the crowd gets by"
he Thought, settling himself in the COR
ner Of one Of the softly cushioned pewS
to listen to the mild, droning voice Of
the old clergyman.
The church was very warm, and the
light sottened by golden and purple
crimson glass, WIS dim, and the clergy
mans voice rather lhonotonoua, and
Major Teller was unconciously becoming
rather drowsy, when plump OLD lady
came in, and the soxton beckonod him
from his seat.
But the sermon was over, and the
people streaming down the aisle, and
the Major felt that he didn't care to
proloug the thing aud that he had done
very laudlblc act in coming to church,
and
Even while these ideas we're passing
indistincty through MS brain, he was
borne towards the altar in an upward
eddy Of the crowd, anG felt gaunt arm
thrust through his. ...
Protect me, MajorI oh save me =
whispered Miss Patience Pe;tigrew
Pm so feared in a crowd, always"
The Major strove to withdraw his
arm, but NJ ISIS Pettigrew would not let
him. They were standing directly in
front OF the altar arm.in arm. The min
ister old aud near sighted, and littie
deaf, advanccd-probably concluding
that his services were required
Major Teller's blood ran cold he
tried to protest, but his tongue seemed
paralyzed. Miss Fettgrew had captured
him as a lamb for the slaughter, aud
where was the use Of further struggle
A few words-an appalling bgief cere-
mony-and N ajor Teller was married
to Miss Patience Pettigrew.
Take my.market basket, my DEAR
said the gannt bride, 'and stay, you
had better carry the umbrella, too! Wen
go right home. Old folks like you and
me don't care for wedding tours, do we p
The Major lookedpitiously at his bet
ter half and made no answer She,
however, waited for none, but drew him
along with quiet determination that
argued i'll for the future.
Give me the key to the room, my
Gear, said Mrs. Patience Teller, "a
better keep it in the future.
We'll slick up things little, said
Mrs, Teller, bundlinc the Majors be-
lowed papers together, and pitching
his box Of cigars out Of the window
but Miss Patience
what"
My dear wife, I mean
Ah, yes. What wsre you about to
remark 2
My cilars-I-'
ooh well, don't like smoke-and
never did y
But what are you doing with my
slippers 2
Irving 'em on-they fit me so nicely.