The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-03-11
A Very Short Courtship.

~ credtable examination before the
Army Medical Board, was commission
ed an assistant surgeon in the United
States army In 49,, and ordered to re-
port for duty to the commanding officer
at Fort M'Kavett, Texas.
There were no railroads In the west
ern 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.
DIR. Graham was very desirous of ex-
amining the western country miner
alogically, SO applied and received per-
mission from the War Department to
go 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 cavry on horseback, started on his
journey.
While In st. Louis, ut the Planters
Hotel, he formed the acquaintance of n
gentleman who, learning where he was
going, gave him letter of introduction
TO his brother, who was farmer living
on his route to Arkansas.
Ii Is not necessary for us to follow
him on his road, or tell what discover
les he made in the interest of science:
sufficient tits that one day, toward dusk,
HE reached the house of the gentleman
to whom he had the letter, and dis
mounting, knocked at the door and pre-
sented his letter to the Judge (even In
those days every one was Judge In
Arkansas), who would not have needed
it to have accorded him an handed
welcome for travellers were God.send
and news was rs much sought after then
as now.
After short visit, he proposed to go
on to the next town, about four miles
Off, where he intended to put up for the
night The judge would not listen to
his leaving, and was so cordial in his
desire for him to stay that he would
have been rude not to have done SO.
The judge, after directing one of the
servants to attend to his horse, invited
him into the dining-room, where he was
introduced to the wife and daughter of
his host, and also to substantial west
ern supper, TO which he did ample ius-
Atice
After supper they adjourned to the
parlor, and he entertained his new
made friends with the latest news from
outside world. The judge brewed some
stiff whisky punch, which Graham, So
elined 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
lie made hot love to her, and finally
asked her to be his wife and go to Texas
with him, to which she consented She
being very unsophisticated and innocent,
took everything he said in downright
earnest, and with her it was case of
'love at fl irst sight"
But am anticipating. During the
night our friend, the doctor, woke up,
and remembered what he had said, and
1t worried him but he said to himself,
after emptying his water pitcher;
" Never mind, I'll make it all right in
the morning. must have made fool
of myself. She's lovely, but what must
she not 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 lucky stars, and was just about to
make an apology, when she said
" told mamma, and she said il was
all right" at the same time giving him
kiss which nearly took his breath
away. Papa is going to town this
morning, dear, and you ride in with
him and talk it over but he won't OBJ
ject, know"
But, my dear miss, L was very
foolish, and"
+" No, indeed you were all right"
~' Well, / will go to my post, and re-
Eurn for you, for must go on at
oAce-N
No; can go with you"
g You won't have time"
" Oh, yes, will, Papa will fix that.
1t would be such an expense for you to
come back all the way here.'
"But have no way of taking you.n