New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-05
THE MAJORS MISTAKE.
CHAPTER 1.

AANoA1A>.
THE MAJORS MISTAKE.
CHAPTER l.
dash it, I'll save her life !" said the ma
ior, suddenly.
The major had just laid snow-white
lather on that tract of chin which was still
sacred from the incursio9s of his luxuriant
beard. As he gave vent TO this remarkable
resolution he inadvertently wounded HIM
self with his razor, 80 as to compel resort
to a towel and cold sponging. which put an
end to his reflections for time
Major MajOribanks was an active, Clearly
built man, rather below the average height.
He had an eye like a hawks, beautiful hair
and whiskers, and no other striking feature.
His hands and feet were small and finely
formed, and front tooth, which nature
had taken from him, had been exquisitely
supplied by the hand of art.
The great feature of the Majors character
was determination; when he said a thing
he meant it. In the Crimea if Major Major
blanks had said that post should be car
ried its fall was looked upon as certain
Zerlina, the Majors vicious little mare,
knew it was useless to try and refuse if once
her master put her head straight for an
obstacle. Like the late Mr.. Assheton Smith,
he would quietly ride for fall" if the
leap were impracticabe without one, and
no one knew how to fall deity better than
the Major.
But q life spent, as it were, in succession
of pitched battles does not pass without
leaving marks of wear and tear, and the
Major, after his third bottle of hair dye,
began to take very serious views of life.
Short and decisive were his nominations,
and with characteristic pr0mp+ness he de-
termined on marriage as his next achieve
ment. For this purpose he selected a
young lady of remarkable wealth and con-
siderable personal attractions, and devoted
himself to the sacrifice like second Iphi-
genia-barring the sex.
Perhap sit was the very difficulty of the
achievement that impelled the dauntless
major to the attack. Diana Hartford had
already refused two barOnets, a banker,
and four minor deities, before the majors
appearance in the field, and still continued
to ride across country with as much en-.
thusiam as if her whole life was to be devoted
to that occupation. People began to say
that she would never marry: THE right
man had mot spoken" was the general
opinion; and the major, as he gnawed his
moustaches, resolved with an inward oath
that he would prove himself that man, or
perish in the attempt
Not that the major was wholly devoid of
that impractical machine called heart
Down in a little villa near country village,
lived lady of twenty, who could have told
strange tales Of the majors sentimentality.
oh, major, major! were not all your flocks
and herds sufficient, that you must needs
make this innocent eve lamb captive to
your bow and spear!
But let us do the major justice In this
matter he was not altogether free agent.
From the moment he met Patty Roseneath
he had felt himself fascinated by her in
spite of all his attempts to persuade him
self of the contrary. That quiet, almost
timid, little provincial beauty, with a gen.
eral unsOphisticatedness of tone and man
ner, should have any power to enchant the
major of a thousand fights seemed to him
too ridiculous an idea to be entertained for
q moment. 1t did not occur to him that it
was perhaps this very difference from the
women that he had been accustomed to hirt
with constituted her charm.
Reviewing that morning in the solitude
Of his chamber, the major looked back on
this love passage with thankful sense of
Escape. II was devilish near making fool
If myself that time,' said the major to him
,elf, as he tied his cravat.
But though the major congratulated him.
'elf on being so safely off with the old love,
10 was far from feeling so comfortable with |
'egard to his prospects with the new. He |
q
main body without throwing out skirmish- |
rs and Outposts, or make step in an at |
are de cGur without feeling his way 1t |
vas this quality, backed by the Majors |
eal talents aud prowess, that made him so
nvincible. Women never suspected him of |
Wishing to engage their affections until they
ound it was too late. And when once the
,ates were opened no one knew how to re-
ain position in the conquered city better
han the Major.
But Miss Harford's heart seemed to be
ieger. The major, who never committed
lie error of 0verrating his advantages, con.
essed to himself that he had done all he
new. Had he not ridden as no man, not
occasionally accustomed to risk his neck,
yer rode before Had he not got up pri-
ate theatricals 1.-THE major in used Up"
7as really worth seeing), and even written
sparkling comedlatta, agreed by every
ne but the Major himself to be equal, if ,
OF superior, to Robertson Had he not
ing those tenor songs of his that would
ave charmed the savageness out of a bear!
al he not thrown around all his achieve -,
ents halo of respectful sentiment, as who !
lOuld say, 81 care not for them except as
ey are pleasing to you :" The Major could ,
Id no fault with himself or with his exer- /
ons. He had attacked the fortress with c
the paraphernalia of sapping and min s
g, zlgzags and parallels, and still the flag t
liberty foated mockingly above the I'M t
bastiOns. There was but one
pea forlOrn hope, he confessed to him a
If-and it was with serious though de-
spirit that the major resolved on | O
attack by storm. He pronounced this il
solution in the memorable words which d
mmence this story. dash it," said the r
,jor. I'm save her life' f
The major had made up his mind. i,
Perhaps, had the major known who it f
Is that had arrived as a guest to Miss | Y
IrtfOrd on the previous evening. it might 81
We disturbed his calculations But there D
40 reason why we should not listen to the | n
of Diana and her guest as they | f,
by the bedroom fire in their elegant dis
bile. ir
Hiss Hartford was a girl of considerable
ividuality of character. Without affect | +,
any of the airs of 'blue" or an eccen- P
;. she generally thought for herself on 81
ny subjects, and would state her opiu- OF
8 pretty strongly on occasion. This A
!sed her to be regarded with suspicion ii
dislike by most of her own sex and the ty
aker of ours. She was unusually, prudes no
4 improperly, we'll read in the drama of re
last century, and actually preferred the B
DOL of Sheridan to the school of Schnei- W
What have been doing lately!" says
, IN answer to a question from her COM eff
on. What am always doing! have 81
ICED the usual proportion of dances, ca
nd and square; have read the last new
eel, and tried the milk and water effusion K
? call a ballad; and have ridden over til
usual number Of pl0wed fields. What T,
. would you have Of a woman in INV in
itiOni" Of
What q queer girl Won ara hi ~ aava fhe | .