New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-09
THE MAJORS VALEDICTION
BY ID. CHRISTIE MURRAY.

II imposed mpon most people and sent them away
with the notion that the Major was an Adonls. re
had one OF the grandcst figures remember TO nave
seen Strength sat side by side with grace on MS
broad shoulders, and the carriage or ms nead was
in itself sort OF wonder OF mgn temper anu
yiyacity. Ills mustaches took splendid down
ward sweep: his hat raked little the tips oil tho
fingers Of his left hand entered his trousers
pocket; his right hand boie cane. which de,
scribed as il were of its own vOlton, circles and
segments of circles. He took his way smiling, ana
his bright gay eyes ana taultess teeth made his
face look as gray as sunshine. This when come
to look ut IT. reads like the description of hand
some man but like the Majors air. there is GER
ainimpOstion in it, though know not how to lay
Ballykillrowdy was mainly owned by Miss Vivian
Blake q young lady of charming exterior, who
rode to hounds under the escort OF an ugly male
part of BaliykillrOwdy as was not owned py the
beautiful Miss Blake was owned by her ugly male
second cousin and the popular impression was that
Miss Blake and the cousin would make q match OF
it, Against this popular belief the Major chafed, as
Socrates might have ried mp against decreplt syl-
logism. 1t may he said of the Major that he mad an
air of prosperity, which was greatly more deceptive
than his air of physical beauty. Had his creditors
met in conclave. they might possibly have decided
amongst them problem of some interest now ana
the Major livef lie owned neither lands nor mes
suages. Like his look of beauty and his air OF
prosperity his very title Was sleaainS 10 an re
where in anything; but man with such inquire
ought to have been Maior,--if the rank had been
created especially that he might ornament IT, the
thing had seemed most fitting and admirable
and, in short the title was popular tribute, nm
sought by him, conferred upon him by nature, so it
Sy the public Of BallykiIlrowdy, and Endorsed by
the members of the Ulster in lcIdly Belfast.
NOvelists and other social moralists nave oiten
been cynical. at small cost, with respect 10 the
affection entertained by an unacred gentleman for
a el-acIed lady. But, as Boccaccio and Mr: len
nyson will tell you, real attachment Is not aIo
cether impossible under such conditions. The
Major was madly in lOve-not with Miss Bake's
landed possessions, but with Miss Blake Time had
made his first inrOads on the poor gentiemans close
clustering hair. He was but two-and. thirty; but
some men age early, and have never heard that
partial or even a complete badness gives safety
against the assaults of the grand passion me ugly
second cousin his own poverty, the rapidly IN
creasing width of his central parting and Vlvans
beauty and Vivian's kindness, combined together
to fret the Majors heart Yet the lGls elasticity ~
tho depths of his dependency, though II as con-
stantly suffered him to fall again. Spiritually, ho
resembled an infant seated in that American in.
ycntion, the baby-jumper' and he went up and
down on the most insignificant provocati0n. -.
In perfect seriousness but with an Irish sense OF
to his mistresss eyebrow. Permit that the Muse OF
History conserve q verse. The title of tins story
should. perhaps, have been, one OF me MAJORS H.
Talcdictions' or The Majors Last Valedcton' for
during the years of his passion he was always
bidding farewell in terms more or less affecting TO
the adorable VIVIAN. And as for me- wrote the
Major, after wishing Vivian all happiness even
with the ugly second cousin
"And as for me. there's FIJI and Tahiti
And lotS VI other places III 10 Gle IN.
And when I'm dead your smallest sigh OF pity .
Will reach and thrill me even whore I'm lying
Il was an honest passion. The poor fell was
fairly hooked. All manner of ambitions began to
bestir themselves; for there was more in him. or
at least he thought so, than the helpless power to
dream of good luck over bottle OF thu club Pom
% or a osd OF rrsps the sns title S eone9
upon him was not without its influence upon his
dreams. A.
wars again said the Major; but haven't a harp
or the funds to buy and there's no willow tree
handy; and no wars convenient tho LORD 10 good
Whether Phil Durgan. the ugly second cousin
had or had not in his own person exhausted the
family stock Of physical unhappiness | cannot
tell but know for q fact that his sister was as
pretty as Vivian herself. If knew, of anything
prsttier. 1 would compare her TO it, but do not j.;
it. Whose is the hand which shall BY tho aid Of
movable types describe a pretty girlY Mine has
no cunning. Ii ! say that each Of these young
done my best. Like Rosalind and Celia, they
learned played, ate together, and wheresoeer
they went, like Juno's swans, still they went
coupled and inscparabe. II followed thatlt Phil
Durgan had known as much as was known to his
sister Julia, he wonld have known more OF
Nivians lkings than he knew In that case ease, t me
incffabc satisfaction which commonly llumincd his
foggy features might have dimmcd little. Yet,
why should triumph oyer ugly Phil Your story
teller is rarely contented unless he ogs ms rascais
Dickens for example, glOatcd over the bullets dealt
by his popular TO his unpopular people: WIN
what gusto he 6ogs Squeers how rejOcingly no
throws Wegg into the scavenger's cart with what
exultation nc tells the story OF PecksnIifs thrash
ing 1t is i'll my power to administer TO MT. Phlip
Durgan such horsewhipping as never vet mortal
man received; but as am strong, Will be mercl-
full Phil as the late Lord Lytton said OF some
body was uglier than he had right to be- There
is certain Irish type OF face which trenches peril
Ously on the aspect of the gorilla and PM, VINO
was naturally gifted in this direction improved bis
chances by the disposition Of his hair and MINISTER'S
lie had all the graees OF d s am ann. a
might have hung his hat on, and believed that he
spoke with the purcst of all possible English
accents.
.Oi was niver taken for an Oirishman but wonce
in me loife Phil had been known TO say an that
was be Polish Jew OF met i'll Hungary an after
we'd been talkin' form hour or tew," Mr., Durgan"
says he. ven he an Oirshman," sAn' what makes
We think that y says Oi: "Your speech" says he.
An Oh lated at the man.
1t was before the days of the disestablishment
and disendowment of the Irish Church, and the
Bishop of Ballykill was prosperous and happy
prelate. The Bishopess was fruitful v1ne and the
CULVER OF the Bishop was somewhat tightly packed.
His lordship's youngest son, Jack, was terror to
the hearts of his parents. His lordship was an
Englishman, and Jack to his horror; had acquired
ways in mischief of one kind or other, and his
mothers anxious heart daily foreboded that he
would be brought home upon a shutter Yet there
was no harm in young Jack. and lie had AS staunch
pluck as bulldogs. And, be it known. he knew
and loved the Major.
, And now. the dramafis persono being introduced
let the tale go smoothly on.
The good Bishop was rarely without guests; for
il his own hOsptable instincts sumbered for day
chums or companions 10 dwell within his gates.
Kate and Mary were raptnrously in love with
Vivian and julia and were continually paying and
receiy wing visits TO aud from them. Miss Blake and
Miss DuIgan were beneath the Bishops roof. and
Mr Phil Durgsn, who was intimate with the
I,ishor's second son. had no difficulty i'll securing
quarters there. The Major knowing his rivals
chances. and recognizing the hOpelessness Of his
own passion was torn by vain desires He walked
and rode about Ballykill, encountering the Bishop
often but avoiding the ladies persistently, that
ANYBODY who was tool might have thought that
he meetings with the Bishop were the special OBJ
ject of his Journeys. Master Jack, who was acute
and discerning knew better. Meeting the Major
one day he took the bull by tue horns.
.uay, me boy, said Jack, 'whoy don't We come