The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-03-28


|, not be allowed to ignore it She would
lGivelthi one grand exhibition Of her
skill and mastery over the sterner sex,
and then surrender to the Captain, coy
cred with glory and romance. ggg;eyrt
/ leBut how q. demanded the Minor
Star, all aglow with the prospect OF a
pilot. 70 -@a' = -'l-7-
Easily, my love. You are not 80
expert as your best friend. Come and
sit down. "gL -. ~ - = 'o'''' % H-'
7 She did; and Between the lovely in.
genious two there was fomented q plot
the explosion of which shook society to
its foundations, and laid the marrying
pluck Of many hardy man in ashes.
In pursuance of it, the Major was
again installed in the position of first
waiting-maid, and was regularly sue
ceeded on the following day by the Cap
tain, and, as a natural consequence, the
two resolved that unyielding hate must
] ever live between them. o u.s
Now, the Captain had two ways OF
looking at the affair-first, with the cal
culating eye of a man Of business; and
second, with the eve of a society-man,
tormented and angry at the insolence
and airs of the sublime Major, who,
when his star was in the ascendant, was
an uncomfortable ass.
Matters grew black. Eyes, whispers
and music did it. The face of the fair
Maiden slipped out OF the minds Of the
two men as a first consideration, and
antagonism and rivalry creptin. 1t got
| to the pitch of high words, angry looks
and polite slurs, and courteous insults,
and the Maiden, with her single Minor
Star increased to half dozen minor
stars, looked on with high delight for
the catastrophe ..
1t came, precipitated by pair of
horses. Neither the Captain nor the
Major had his own, and they were
obliged to hire. The best at their dis.
posal were those Of stable keeper.
The Captain engaged them for the
afternoon, but the Major took them
in early morning, and drove off with the
fair Maiden, and kept her and the horses
until the beasts were too tired for furth-
er use. The Captain grew irate. The
Major laughed. Then the Captain grew
satirical (his strong point, and then
laughed, and the Major became furious
in his turn.
Beauty was in raptures. Such high
sense Of honor! Such courage! What
a splendid Captain What an adorable
Major ....s ..
The Major received a delicate note
that evening, which threw him into a
fever of anger and excitement.
"My dear Major y: Pray be
careful. Captain lis terribly en-
ragged. You may receive challenge
if he is not merciful. Yours in anxiety.
Blank" ...'
"Mercifulw Numbered the Major;
"merciful! By heavens" And be sat
down and dispatched challenge within
an hour.
The Captain, spoking in his chamber,
also received a note from the same mes
senger, and read it coolly. He then
seized the boy by the collar, shut the
door and took down cane, and by the
further persuasion of money, the fact
was developed that he came from the
Maiden. s
Hum |" said the Captain, and fell
into deep reverie.
He accepted the challenge Of the
Major, and named swords, and stepped
over personally to have an interview, in
consequence of which they named rather
singular place Of meeting. e..
1--WE shall be alone, 81" said the Cap
tain. you may provide the surgeon,
and we will go at fol P. NJ. tomor-
row"
The Major acceded, and straightway
began to brush up his rapier exercise,
with the help of two brave dragons.
The Captain had some little arrange
ments to perfect, which he did quietly.
He persuaded an intimate friend to in
vite the Maiden and two of her particu-
lar friends, whom he had noticed as being
active in making the breach between
the Major and himself, to picnic on
the following day, on the grounds Of an
old estate some miles out of town. He
told his friend the reason, gave his strict
directions, and then went to the house
himself and pitched open long, dark
ened, unused and unocupied dining
room, with long shattered windows, as
the place for his meeting with the Major
on the morrow.
He locked and bclted all the doors,
nailed up all the windows, and left but
one mode of egress and ingress to the
apartment.
He then returned, hirted desperately
with the Maiden, Frustrated himself
more deeply than ever before. Then he
retired to smoke and to laugh, while
the Maiden and her companions grew
little more anxious at the serious stories
floating about, and while the Major
lunged and parried the livelong night
before the mirror.
The next day the gallant four started
on their picnic.
And at three by the clock, three more
went secretly ont by back way and
reached the house. =. -.
The faithful friend whispered to the
Captain that all was arranged, and the
men went straight to the dining-room.
They passed in and the Captain locked
the door behind them, softly. 1t was
somewhat dark, and the captain threw
open the shutters. The three ladies
were present in corner They all won
dered and demanded explanations. Said
the Captain, promptly
1.-THE Major and myself have been in
duced to quarrel by person now pres
ent. | wish this person to see the effects
of her planning. No one can leave. |
have the only key in my pocket Draw,
Major