The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-12-08
Married in Spite OF Himselr---A True
Story.


DR.. S. having passed very credita-
bic examination before the army medi-
cal board was commissioned an assist
ant surgeon in the United States Army
in 1S-, and ordered to report for duty
to the commanding officer at Fort Me
Kavett, Texas. There were no rail
roads in the Western country at that
time, and the usual way of getting to
Texas was by the Mississippi River to
New Orleans and then, crossing the
Gulf, to stage it up through the State.
DR.. S. was very DESTROYS of examining
the Western country mineralogically,
so applied for and received permission
from the War Department to 90 by way
of Arkansas and the Indian Territory to
his post.
On his arrival at St Louis he shipped
the greater part of his baggage by way
of the river, and, taking only what he
could carry on horseback, started on
his journey. While in st. Louis at the
Planters he had formed the acquaint-
ance of a gentleman, who, learning
where he was going, gave him Il letter
of introduction to his brother, who was
a farmer living on his route in Arkan-
sas. 1t is not necessary for us to follow
him on his road or tell what discoveries
he made for the benefit of science; sutfi-
cient it is that one day toward dusk he
reached the house of the gentleman to
whom he had the letter, and, dismount-
ING, knocked at the door, and pre-
sented his letter to the Judge (even in
those days everyone was Judge in
Arkansas), who would not have needed
it to have accorded him an open-handed
welcome, for travellers We're God
send, and news was as much sought
after then as now. After a short visit,
he proposed to 90 on to the next town,
about four miles off, where he intended
to put up for the night But the Judge
would not listen to his leaving, and was
that he would have been rude not to
have done so. The Judge, after direct
ing one of the servants to tend to his
horse, invited him into the dining
room, where he was introduced to the
wife and daughter of his host and sub
stantial Western supper, to which he
did ample justice. After supper they
adjourned to the parlor, and he enter
tanned his new-made friends with news
from the outside world. The Judge
brewed some stiff whisky punch, which
our friend, socially inclined, imbibed
quite freely. The old couple retired
and left their daughter to entertain him,
and whether it was the punch or what
at all events he made hot love to her,
and finally asked her to go to Texas
with him, to which she consented. She,
being very unsophisticated ndinnocent,
took everything he said in downright
earnest, and with her it was case of
''love at first sight" But am antici-
pating. During the night our friend,
the doctor, woke up and remembered
what he had said, and it worried him:
but he said to himself: Never mind,
will make it all right in the morning. |
must have made a fool of myself; what
must that girl think of me?" and rolled
over and went to sleep again. Morning
came, and upon his going down to the
parlor he found the young lady alone, |
for which he blessed his stars, and was
Just about to make an apology when |
she said:
Il told mamma, and she said it was |
all right. Papa is going to town this
morning, and you ride in with him and
talk it over; but he won't object, L
know"
"But, my dear miss, was very fool
ish, and
"No, you were all right"
"Well, will go to my post and re-
turn for you, for | must 90 at once"
UNo | can UO with Won. mana will |
fix that; it would be such an expense
for you to come back all the way here"
but | have no way of taking you"
81 have thought of that; that does
not make any difference; father will |
give us team