The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-02-17
THE CoLoNEL's DAUGHTER.
Her wit Devised the Clever Strategem
That Won Her Hand.

! Her wit Devised the Clever strategem
( That Won Her Hand.
| A bold Kentucky colonel was tho
father of lovely daughter, who loved a
nice young man, in all respects unobiec.
tionable. All the girls and the matrons
III the country sympathized with the low.
ers, and the gossips pronounced it the
happiest affair in the line of marrying
that had been heard of for long time,
But the colonel was an obstinate man,
with very red countenance, fierce gray
eyes, and nose somewhat mottled in
blue and purple from the long habit Of
| generous potations of Bourbon.
The more he heard of the courtship the
more he swore that he would have no
such puppy for son-iu law. and the young
man got into such a state that he was
afraid to see his betrothed except surrep.
titiously ,and both were afraid to open the
subject to the colonel.
+ Happily, when the path of true lovers
! does not run smooth, owing to the oppo.
sition of cruel parent, the misery of
the situation heightens the delight, and
so the wretched, happy couple went on
day by day as tens of thousands have
done before.
The stolen interview and the surrepti.
tlous note, the agony and fear and the
constant suspense made the hours glow
with remorse. But, anon, the colonel
learned through one of the gossips that
lie was likely to be a father in law with
out his consent. He stalked up and down
the hall muttering and growing some-
thug to the effect that this was the first
time in his life that he had ever been op-
posed, and by Jupiter and all the other
gods. it would be the last! Then he sent
for his friend, the ~pajor, and the two
worthless discussed whether the presump-
tuous rascal should be horewhipped, shot
on sight, or politely slaughtered accord
ing to the code.
The last method was determined on,
and challenge delivered to the enemy.
with an explanation of the condescension
that accorded the chivalrous terms, las
lady honor was concerned, sir"
But woman's quick wit, always
sharped under the inspiration of love and
romance, suggested rising act of trag-
sdy. Twixt smiles and tears the
maiden implored her lover to obey her
wishes, saying: "You know, dear, how
obstinate papa is; the only way l can
get anything is to pretend not to want it,,
Nnd it was just so with mamma, when
she lived. Now, do you understand"
In the meantime the colonel and the
major prepared to make worms meat of
the poor lover.
The proposed fatal morning dawned;
the gentlemen were promptly on the
ground and the ceremonies were about
to proceed as usual, when the lovers
friend approached the bloodthirsty col
onel with great formality, and said:
Colonel, my friend has done you a great
wrong which he proposes to repair with
out the loss of life, which would only
make the matter worse for the young
lady. 1t is true that he has declined to
marry her and"
HAS declined to" but the mon
strosity of the thing choked the Colonel
out of utterance.
"Yes; and he desires to offer an apol-
Ogy, and"
"Apologyl" shouted the Colonel.
Hang his apology! Refuse to marry a
Kentucky gentleman's daughter! By all
the Internal gods, we'll see about that!
Major. get me a preacher, sir, and
church, and all that sort of thing, mighty
quick. Therell be a wedding, sir. or a
funeral in less than half an hour. Not a
word. gentlemen. don't like a puppy
for son-in-law, but my honor shall be
vindicated."
OF course the Colonel had his way, but
If he ever finds out the hoax he will
burst blood vessel or fall dead of apo
plexy Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.