The Washington critic., 1889-01-15
'LIJE HALFoRD's CouRTlNG DAYS.
A Terrible Experience While Calling on
His Much. IL Ieloyed.

A Terrible Experience While Calling on
His Much HeIoyed.
The sudden prominence Of Elijah
Halford, the PRESIDENT elects private
secretary, recalls story of his youthful
| days. 1t occurred when he first started
out into society. Even private secre,
taries of Presidents sometimes have dis
agreeable adventures at this early but
interesting period of their lives. II is of
no little moment to get fellows courage
up to the point of calling upon girl for
the first time 1t takes brave heart
when everything. goes smoothly, and
when there are breakers ahead in the
way of opposition by the parents It
takes the grit of soldier to be successful.
IL there is anything inclined to ruftle
the tender sensibilities of . young man
1t is to haye thoughtless parent insinu.
ate that he is too young TO call upon his
daughter and that she Is too young to
receive his attentions.
II was thus that they sought TO crush
the youthful IIalford. He wasn't
crushed, however, AT every attempt he
bobbed up bigger than before.
About this time the family went to
the neighboring town of Bloomington to
spend week. The young lady remained
at home. During their absence Major
j. B. Mulky, an old friend of the family
| from that place, was called to Indianap
oils on business, and the parents of the
girl told him TO be sure and go around
and spend the evening with their dapgh
! ter. She would be SO lonely" they
said. They were mistaken. however.
She was not lonely. Neither was Hal
ford. A jolIier couple could not have
been found when the bell rang at about
$50 that evening, but the cold chills
chased up and down his spine when she
said; "Oh, what if that should be pa and
mai They wouldn't stop in the parlor
long If u was, so offer few moments
consultation Halford was securely hidden
behind little high-backed diyan which
stood across the corner Of the room.
The door was opened, but il wasn't
pa and ma. 1t was Muiky. He ambled
in and esconccd himself upon the cosy
divan and informed the young lady that
he had come to fulfill his promise to her
parents to help her pass away the long
evening. The thermometer was in the
nineties, and the Major often referred to
the fact as he mopped his manly brow.
II it was hot for Malky, what was the
state of the temperature for Halford
He was hotter than he was at the Gres-
ham men In the Chicago Convention.
| Dir. Halford was a devout Methodist,
| but was not accustomed 10 remain upon
his knees for hours continuously.
Hence 1t was fortunate that Mulky occu-
! pied the diyan, for the prisoner could oc.
casionally rise and get breath of air and
| the benefit Of fan with which the
thoughtful young lady had provided her
caller.
After one glimpse OF Halford's face
she opened all the doors and windows
and gave Mulky larger fan than eyer.
| He waved IL INCREASINGLY and was probs-
| bly, thus instrumental In preserving Hal
ford's life, for which service he will
doubtless expect an appointment, To
resume-the Major carried on the princi-
pal part of the conversation unaided.
He talked over the political situation and
of his own aspirations in that direction.
He then took up the subject of chess--at
which game he is an eXpert--and told
her of his various victories, entering into
the details and intricacies of this spfightly
and fascinating game.
Meanwhile, in order to keep his blood
circulating and obtain air, Halford moved
carefully and noiselessly about like a
Gagged lion and arose and fell like q
Roman Empire in his efforts.
| At $50 the visitor arose and said that
he regretted he could not remain longer,
The young lady joined him in regret, but
the one who regretted most of all was
Halford. He regretted that he could not
get from behind that divan then and
there and wipe up the earth with him.
The Major bowed himself out and Hal
ford was released and revived. After
ward, when he informed some intimate
friends of the incident, and observed
that those were the longest two hours he
had ever passed upon this terrestrial
globe, they believed him.-INew York
World