Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-02-02
CHAPTER XVI.

Edg.-Before you fight the battle, ope this
letter Lear.
Major Hayward found Munro at
tended only by his daughters.
Alice safe on his knee, parting the
gray on the forehead of the old man
with her delicate fingers. Cora was
seated nigh them, calm and amused
looker-on regarding the wayward
movements of her more youthful SIS
ter, with that species of maternal
fondness which characterized her love
for Alice. Of this scene, Duncan
stood many moments an unobserved
and delighted spectator. But the
quick and dancing eyes of Alice soon
caught a glimpse of his figure reflected
from glass, and she sprang blushing
from her fathers knee, exclaiming
aloud
''Major Hayward
"What of the lad ?" demanded her
father; Il have sent him to crack a
little with the Frenchman. Ha! sir,
you are young and you are nimble {!
Away with you, ye baggage; as if
! there were not troubles enough for
a soldier without having his camp
filled with such prattling hussies as
yourself =!
Alice laughingly followed her sister.
who instantly led the way from an
apartment where she perceived their
presence was no longer desirable Nun
10, instead of demanding the result of
| young mans mission, paced the room
, for few moments.
They are pair of excellent girls,
Hayward. and such as any one may
boast Of"
''You are not now to learn my opin-
ion of your daughters, Colonel Nun
ro'
"True, lad, true" interrupted the
impatient old man; ''you were about
opening your mind more fully on
that matter the day you got in but
did not think it becoming in an old
soldier to be talking of nuptial bless
ings and wedding jokes when the en-
emies Of his king were likely to be un-
hidden guests at the feast! But | was
wrong, Duncan, boy, l was wrong
there; and | am now ready to hear
what you have to say"
Notwithstanding the pleasure your
assurance gives me, dear sir, have, just
now, message from Montcalm-"
''Let Montcalm and all his host go
to the devil, sir" exclaimed the hasty
veteran. ''He is not vet master of
William Henry. nor shall he ever be,
provided Webb proves himself the
man he should. No, sir! thank
heaven, we are not yet in such strait
that it can be said Munro is too much
pressed to discharge the little domestic
duties of his own family. Your mother
was the only child of my bosom friend,
Duncan; and I'll just give you hear
ing, though all the knights of St. Louis
were in a body at the sally-port, with
the French saint at their head, craving
to speak Il word under favor. A
pretty degree of knighthood, sir, is
that which can be bought with sugar
hogsheads! and then your two-penny
marquisates The thistle is the order
for dignity and antiquity the verit-
able memo me impune Mcessit of chivaly
4e had ancestors in that degree, Dun
can, and they were an ornament to the
mobiles of Scotland"
Hayward, who perceived that his su-
perlor took Il malicious pleasure in ex-
hlbltmg his contempt for the message
of the French general, was fain to hui
NOR a spleen that he knew would be
short-lived; he therefore replied with
as much Indifference as he could as
sumo on such subject
My request, as you know, sir, went
SO far as to presume to the honor of be-
ing your son."
"Ay, boy, you found words to make
yourself very plainly comprehended.
But, let me ask ye, sir, have We been
as intelligible to the girl ~
"On my honor, no." exclaimed Dun
can ''there would have been an abuse
of a confded trust, had | taken ad-
vantage of my situation for such d
purpose"
"Your notions are those of a pentle-