Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-11-04
Miscellameums.
A DUEL OR A WEDDING.

! am an ardent admlrer OF female
beauty. | ought to have been an artist
or sculptor, but am neither | was
book-keepcr for Brown Il Co., wholesale
dealers in hides and tallow Henry
Bower, young man Of very lively dis
position, was employed in the same Office
We boarded aud roomed together
One night Henry and attended one
Of the lycuem lectures in W We
had hardly been in the hall five minutes
before my attention was fixed upon one
of the ladies upon the front seat She
was II little to the right of ne, but as
she was talking very earnestly to the
lady next to her, her face was turned
toward us; and susceptible as I am, |
could not but be impressed with tho
beauty of it,
A month passed without my seeing
anything of the beautiful stranger. But
about that time | received an invitation
to visit my friend Mrs. Segard in NJ.
She is a widow Of forty, and is the mother
of certain Miss Segard, familiarity called
Clara / knew that Mrs. Scgard, had
tried to bring about marriage between
Clara and myself, and believe was
not much opposed to the match, | might
have married her---I really think should
but for little affair which happened nj
| u
The morning | started for NJ,
Bowers accompanied me to the depot
While | was buying my ticket noticed
another gentleman come into the waiting
room. My first thought was that it was
my shadow that | saw before me. Flo
was about my height, had IL light com
plexion like mine, and eyes Of grislcy
gray, and one of them turned in, just
like mine He had on tall silk hat,
tipped on one side of his sandy locks,
and so did and furthermore, he car
ried in his hand small carpet bag
marked - Med" tied to the straps
SO did |.
| looked at him, and he returned the
compliment.
81 say, sir" said the stranger, look
ing down at the carpet bag that | held
and examining the tag, "arc you John
Mcclellan, or am y
my name is McDougal hope you
are an honest man, for you sec if you
should happen to rob bank, forge n
note, pick pocket, or cut somebody's
jugular, | might have to suffer- perhaps
swing for it. "
81 can give you reference as TO my
character" he answered
eyes, that's very good But, Mr..
McDougal, which way are you going? p
Down. have bought my ticket"
"Tben pm going up. | don't think
we'd best travel together There's the
train starting now. Goodbye, Mr.. Me-
Dougal, | wish you success, and for my
sake don't spoil your character"
TO get to NJ, which, by the way,
is IA rather out-of-the way place, small
one-hOrse town, with one tavern, two
churches and poor-housc had 10
leave the cars at p. and then take
private conveyance TO NJ, five
miles distant could have gone by
the stage, but that leaves u once a
day, at five o'clock in the morning.
SO when the cars stopped at u |
took my carpet bag in my hand, and got
out upon the platform.
There was quite large number Of
people at the station, but ! took no
notice Of any Of them except tall
brawny man, in brown oyercoat and
slouched hat, who started for mo as soon
as stepped off the cars.
! was about 10 move away, when the
slouchcd hat laid hand heavily on my
shoulder
You're villain /"
"SirT
81 repeat it--you'rc villain p
"A miserable scamp" said corpu.
lent gentleman, coming forward and
scowlng liercoly.
Now. felt that | was n match for the
latter, but as 10 the other one, | didn't
doubt but what he might work me up
into shoe strings in less than three
minutes
"Will you explain yourselves, gentle
menY | asked, trying 10 smile
Eyes, | will" answered the big one
putting great stress on the will "
Certainly" growled the corpulen
gentleman, with grim smile.
Come this way, you rascal!' SAT-
the tall one, drawing me along will
hin.
His companion followed us out bach