Savannah morning news., 1886-01-23

daughter. With this daughter Burdette
fen la love, and great was his RAPTURE
when ne learned IN time tnat mis- auec-
tion was reciprocated by the young lady.
But the sturdy squire guarded his
daughter with an austore and jealous
eve. and vast was his rage when he be-
neld the young reporter swinging on the
front gate at least three evenings per
week. The squire saw no good IN the
boy, and at last he declared in good
round terms that the boy must keep
away from that particular house on the
bluH, else percnance the coroner might
be called to sit on the mangled remains
of promising journalist that had been
cut oil in the flower OF his youth. This
pr0uuuciamento. which would seem TO
have been emphasized by the important
fact that the chOlerlc squire kept gun
swung upon mis- cottage wall, and well
filed with formidable slugs-this pro-
uunCamentO, we say, inspired IN the
bosoms Of the daughter and her lover the
most grievOus emotion. and twas not long
ere they mutually declared that a heroic
step must be taken toward abating the
poignant anguish which the 'squire's
harsh declaration imposed. Therefore
the two met one afternoon, and proceed
inc unOstentatiously TO another justice OF
the peace, were married in less time
than you could say pater noster. This,
however, they recognized as only the be-
ginning Of the struggle by which the
GOrdian knot was to be united or cut,
but Burdette's ingenuity and valor were
equal to the rest OF the task. He stepped
into the post office and said to one OF his
friends there employed: Charlie, !
want to 80 hunting this afternoon; Will
you lend me your gunP
"Certainly," replied his friend, ana he
handed out as fine a double-barrelied
breach-lOader as ever you clapped eyes
on.
''ls il loaded; :" inquired Burdette.
"Nes," said the friend.
''What kind Of shot%' asked Burdette.
"puck shot replied the friend.
Wen | guess that'll do" said Bur
dettn. "Pll stop in as J 80 down The
street and get some more ammunition of
OF be same kind"
$50, with the gun on his shoulder and
a nile on his face, Burdette rejoined his
b ride in the street outside. Arm in arm
the TWO tGiled UP the bluf toward the
testy old 'squlre's residence. Burdette
stopping every now and then TO see
whether his battery was N working order.
It was we'll nigh dusk when the truant
couple marched into the BRIDES home.
The tCstv squire sat in his favOrlte rock
ing char grmly reading an evening
paper. EOn can perhaps imagine his
amazement when upon looking up lie
beheld Burdette boldly intude into his
presence with the object Of his affection
on one arm and a double-barrelled gun on
one shoulder.
But, with all his testiness, it was to the
'squire's credit that he possessed fair
share OF that always admirable and ire-
quentlY serviceable quality called dis
erection. This quality asserted itself at
this critical moment. Instead Of eXDlod-
ing the volcanic hres which mad been
pent up in his paternal bosom, he calmly
laid down his evening paper, scrutinlzeG
the twain before him, aud in an unrutfied
tone remarked: ''WellP
All will agree that this was the
shrewdest thing the testy squire could
have done under the circumstances, for 1t
is universally admitted by authorities on
rhetorical tactics that the simple word
well" when uttered with the proper in
lection and at the proper moment,
serves as an inVincIble and Incompetent
sible skirmish line. But the happy bride
groom was on this occasion fully equal
to he task Of meeting the testy 'squire's
rhe sOTical skirmish lino-all Of which
goes 10 prove that shotgun IN the hand
is worth 10000 ''wells' in rhetoric.
"Carrie and l have been getting mar
ried," said Burdette, looking the squire
straight in the eyes, land now | want to
know what you're going to do about lt|
If tde 'squire's calmness but moment
be fore had been admirable, it was now
phenomenal. The announcement of his
daughter marriage did not seem to even
ruhle his temper. lie put his paper
aside quietly and glanced out of the win
dow musingly, and he put his tongue in
his check and appeared to be absorbed in
thought.
you'd better 20 down and help your
mothe get supper, Carrie" said the
squire at last, land as for you, Robert,
sit down and make yourself at home-I
want to get better acquainted with you if
you're my sOn-in-lRw."
SO much for the cOurtship and marriage
Of our most popular humOrist. Or the
happy welded life that succeeded we all
have heard. lhe girl became devoted
wife, and it is not hard for those who
have felt the enpObling influence OF
woman's love to believe Mr.. Burdette
when be says that the little woman whom
he called wife-whose spiritual beauty
we all sdmired--with whose physical
sufierings we all sympathized, and whose
death We all deplOred-we believe MIR.
Burdette when he says that she WAS in
deed the best and sweetest inspiration IN
MS life and of his work.