Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1885-12-17
Mechan0suwn Frederick County, Maryland Thursday Dec H. 1885,

|
Chance finally came in play to his
aid. Miss Nell, as one of a trio Of
girls who had devised a surprise party
for a recently married friend, wrote to
the Major about the project and begged
that he would call and give her some
assistance among their mutual gentle
man friends. AS the Major read her
note brilliant thought occurred to
him. While talking business Miss Nell
certainly would not cndeavor to tease
him; his bashfulness never troubling
him while talking with ladies on any
sub bject requiring common sense, opin-
ion and executive ability; he should
therefore be able to feel at ease with
Miss Nell, and while in that unusual
condition he would make con6dant of
her and ask her advice and assistance.
he would try to talk to her as if she
were a man; it might be a rash expert
ment, but he felt equal to almost any
degree of raahncss when he thought Of
how many times before he had resolved
and failed.
So the Major went to the Wallerson
home on the evening appointed by mis-
chievous Miss Nell, with a stouter
heart than he had felt, outside of bust
ness hours, since the war ended. He
arranged with the young mdy to bring
all his male friends into the surprise
party, and she, rather confused by her
! new view of the Majors character, was
most ettus,ve in thanks, and being only
% years Of age and being no Older than
her years signifel, was completely as
founded by the Majors cooluess. She
could not help betraying her curiosity;
she looked at the Major inquiriugly,
she dropped into reveries, and she said
to her mother, who came to the door of
the parlor moment for some affair
strictly of Il family nature, that Mr..
Clinton was entirely different from
what she imagined hun to be.
But the ma jor did now know this,
and after the business If the evening
ended he began to feel the old familiar
cold sweat thut had been his torment
in the swamps of the Chickahominy ff-
teen years before. Conversation had
dropped to dead level of the national
academy, the last new novel, and
Browns volume of poems, ali Of which
we're very b.d. Miss Nell looked in
terested, pretty and sentimental until
the Mayor half wished she would be
her natural self, for he had at last
reused himself to the combAtive state,
and he wanted to talk with her in the
most serious manner about her sister.
At last he made desperate effort and
said :
Miss Wallerson, called this evening
only on business, but l have for long
time wanted to say something to you
about a matter
Excuse me for just an instant, Maj
or interrupted Miss Nell, the gas is
hlssing dreadfully. Won'tyou be good
enough to see which burner it IS; I'm
Just too short to reach any of them, I'm
sorry to say
The Major hastened to the rescue
He heard u Kissing noise as of the es-
cape Of too much gas; he could not be
sure which of the six burners was at
fault, so he turned down one after an
other until the noise stopped and the
parlor was almost dark.
You are very kind, murmured Nell
as the Major resumed his seat near
her the blowing Of gas is dreadfully
annoying to the ear By the way you
were saying that
The Major resisted a temptation to
say, oh, nothing of any consequence,
and said;
4 have long been the most revercnt
adorer Of certain young lady who
oh, Major, exclaimed Nell, the
idea Of you being in love. Did yon--
Excuse me, Miss Wallerson, said the
Major, hastily, but no one is comre-
tent to pass an opinion on my condi-
tion of mind but myself. | fully know
my own feelings, and merely wish an
opportunity to explain them in such a
manner as NAV be most respectful
I beg your pardon, Major, said Miss
Nell, entirely on her guard. Please
continue, and believe no one here can
doubt your sincerity The Majors
heart gave mighty bound; evidently
this m,schievous girl suspected some
thing and was willing to suppress her
self.
IT have lono bcen worshipDino a lady