The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-03-19
THE WRONG MAN DIED.


unpleasant place for young and pretty
ladies who are fond Of attention. The
preponderance of the sterner sex over
the tairer one at such points is so great
that a lady possessing the least attrac-
ton is almost certain to be surrounded
by admirers at all hours of the day and
night. The following story, although
wearing a slightly exaggerated air to in
credul0us minds, is solemnlv vouched
for by the author of Coup" as having
been related to her by an intimate friend,
Mrs, whose word is not to be doubt
ed:
She told me that at the time they
sailed for India there were two Sergeants
of the name Of Din the regiment, one
of whom (not her husbandl died on
the passage out, and when the troops
were landed at Madras the information
of his death was sent to headquarters.
Their destination was Bandalore, and
they marched by slow stages. When
within few miles Of the place, as they
were halting for the first time. a detach-
ment of one of the other regiments in
Bangalore marched out with their band
to play them into the cantonment-a com
pliment usually paid to troops in India.
Mrs. D., who was very pretty woman,
was seated at breakfast with her husband
on this occasion, when a fine, handsome
sergeant, armed with Il large boquet of
flowers and some fruit, popped his head
into the tent, and having introduced him
self, made his little offering to Mrs. D.
and sat down with them. He had not
sat there many minutes, however, when
another non-commissionedo officer, bigger
and better looking than the first, and
carrying basket of fresh butter and eggs,
also entered and having, notwithstand
ing the frowns of his comrade, presented
his gifts to Mrs. D.-and seen them most
graciously accepted, took a seat likewise.
Mrs. D. and her husband hardly knew
what to make of their new friends, they
appeared so very eager to make them
selves agreeable, but they both agreed in
thinking them the most hospitable and
sociable strangers they had ever come
across, andthat if every one in India was as
kind and anxious to ingratiate himself, the
place must be paradise. In the course
of conversation, however, Sergeant D.
happened to speak of his wife.
''' Oh! you're a married man, then ?
observed one of the strangers, apparent
ly relieved by the news.
g Of course am, replied the hus-
band why, there she is
g That your wife exclaimed the
first man, with intense surprise.
"' Why, we heard you had died COM
ing over, was the rapid exclamation.
We thought you were the other
D. And then their rage melted
away in laughter.
E" There are four others coming to
meet you with presents
''' You'll have enough butter to last
you for week
"' You'll be able to smother yourself
with flowers, Mrs. D, if you like
60 But why-how-what is the rea-
son of it p exclaimed husband and wife,
still mystifed.
g Then it all came out the reports
that Sergeant D. had very pretty
wife, and that Sergeant D. had died
on the voyage out, had become jumbled
up together in the non-commissioned
officers quarters at Bangalore; the re-
suit of which was that Mrs. D. had
some half-dozen aspirants to the honor
of her hand before she knew what their
intentions were or was in a position to
accept any of them. The two suitors
above mentioned having got over their
disappointment, entered heartily into
the joke of deceiving their rivals, and
the whole party sat out quietly the Wis
itations of some four or five other men,
all of whom appeared laden with some
offering or other for the supposed widow
a n L l. L L
at last the grand explanation was given,
it all passed off very amicably.
{" I'm very sorry, for your sakes,
that amt dead" said Sergeant D,
loosely, but as Pm live, and | can't
help it, suppose we make the best of
bad job, and all have good breakfast
together p"