Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-18
Gales and Skeittts.
THE MAJoR's MISTAKE.


Daon H. II dAVe ner lie salu tne
Major, suddenly.
The Major had just laid covering Of
snow-white lather on that tract of chin
which was still sacred from the incursions
of bis luxuriant beard. As he gave vent
to this remarkable resolution. he inadver-
tently wounded himself with his razor, so
as TO compel resort TO towel and cold
sponging. which put an end to bis re-
Elections for time.
Major Marjoribanks was an active, clean
ly-built man. rather below the average
height. He had an eye like hawks,
beautiful hair and whiskers, and no other
striking feature. His hands and feet were
small and finely formed, and front tooth
which nature had taken from him, had
been exquisltely supplied by the hand of
art.
The great feature of the Majors char
acter was determination when he said a
thing lie meant it. In the Crimea, If
Major Marjoribanks had said that a post
should be carried, its fall was looked up
on as certain. Zerlina, the Majors
vicious little mare, knew it was useless to
try and refuse if once her master put her
head straight for an obstacle. Like the
late Mr.. Assheton Smith. he would quietly
ride for fall" if the leap were i'm
practicable without one and no one knew
how to fall deity better than the Major.
But life spent, as it were, in success
sion Of pitched battles. does not pass with
out leaving marks Of wear and tear, and
the Major after his third bottle of hair-dye
began to take very serious views of life
Short and decisive were his nominations.
and with characteristic promptness he
determined on marriage as mis- next
Achievements. For this purpose he select
ed young lady Of remarkable wealth and
considerable personal attractions, and
devoted himself to the sacrifice like a
second Iphigenia- barring the sex.
Perhaps il was the very difficulty of the
achievement that impelled the dauntess
Major to the attack. Diana Hartford had
already refused two baronets, banker.
and four minor deities. before the Majors
appearance in the field, and still continued
to ride across country with as much en-
thusiasm as il her whole life was to be
devoted TO that occupation. People be-
gan to say that she would never marry
1.-The right man had not spoken. was the
general opinion and the Major, as he
gnawed his moustaches, resolved with an
inward oath that he would prove himself
that man, or perish in the attempt
Not that the Maj was wholly devoid
Of that impractical machine called a heart,
Down in little villa near a country VII
lage, lived a little lady of twenty, who
could have told strange tales of the Majors
sentimentality. Oh, Major, Major! were
not all your flocks and herds sufficient,
that you must needs make this innocent
eve lamb a captive to your bow and
spear?
But let us do the Major justice. In this
matter he was not altogether free agent
From the moment he met Patty Roseneath
he had felt himself fascinated by her in
spite OF all his attempts to persuade him
self Of the contrary. That quiet, almost
timid little provincial beauty. with a gen.
eral unsophisticatedness of tone and man.
ner, should have any power to enchant
the Major of thousand fights seemed to
him too ridiculous an idea to be enter
tanned for moment. 1t did not occur to
him that it was perhaps this very differ
ence from the women he had been accus-
toned to flirt with that constituted her
charm.
Reviewing the matter that morning in
VIC SoituuC VI HIS CtldillDtT, the
looked back on this love-passage with a
thankful sense of escape. II was devil
ish near making fool of myself that
time" said the Major to himself, as he
tied his cravat.
But though the Major congratulated
himself on being so safely off with the old
love. he was far from feeling so comfort
able with regard to his prospects with the
new. Miss Harford's heart seemed to be
even to this experienced be-
sieger. The Major. who never committed
the error Of overrating his advantages,
to himself that he had done all
he knew. He had attacked the fortress
with all the paraphernalia of sapping and
mining, zigzags and parallels. and still
the flag of liberty floated mockingly above
the unconquered bastions. There was but
one hope-a forlorn hope. he confessed to
it was with serious though
spirit that the Major resolved
on an attack by storm. He pronounced
this resolution in the memorable words
which commence this story. dash it -
said the Major, "I'll save her life.''
Perhaps, had the Major known who it
was that had arrived as a guest to Miss
Hartford on the previous evening, it might
have disturbed his calculations. But there
is no reason why we should not listen to
the conversation Of Diana and her guest rs
they sit by the bedroom fire in their ele-
CANT dishabille.
Miss Hartford was a girl of considerable
individuality Of character. Without affect
ing any Of the airs of "blue" or an &C.
centric. she generally thought for herself
on many subjects, and would state her
opinions pretty strongly on occasion.
This caused her to be regarded with sus-
picion and dislike by most of her own sex,
and the weaker of ours. She was unusu-
ally, prudes said improperly. well read in
the drama of the last century, and actually
preferred the school of Sheridan TO the
school of SCHNEIDER.
''What have l been doing lately p said
she, in answer to question from her COM
panion. "What am l always doingP
have danced the usual proportion of
dances, round and square; l have read
the last new novel, and tried the last milk
and-water effusion they call ballad; and
have ridden over the usual number of
ploughed fields. What more would you
have of q woman in my position ?'
"What queer girl YOU are. Dr." says
the other lady wlstfully. Il always said
you would never find any man to suit you
exactly"
THAT'S Just what I'm wanting. my