Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1895-01-11

paralyzed, Miss Pettigrew bad captuyed
him as lamb for tho slaughter, and
where was the use of further struggle?
A few words-m appallingly briol
ceremony-and Major Teller was mar
ried to Miss Patience!
"Take the market basket, my dear,
said the gaunt bride, land stay-you'd d
better carry the umbrella too. Well
go right home. Old folks like you and
me don't care for wedding tours, do WEI
The major looked piteously at his
better half and made no answer She,
however, waited for none, but drew him
along with quiet determination that
argued i'll for the future.
"Give mo the key to the room, my
DEAR" said Mrs. Pettigrew Teller. "pd
better keep it in future.
The major handed over the key with
out a word of remonstrance, and his eld-
erly wife opened the door.
"We'll slick up things little" said
Mrs. Teller, bundling the majors be-
loved papers together and pitching his
box Of cigars out of the window.
"But, Miss PATIENCE
"WhatP'
"My dear wife, l meant"
"Ah, yes. What were you about to
remark"
"My cigars-I"-
"Oh, we'll, don't like smoke-never
did! wish you'd take all these coats
and things out of the wardrobe. l want
it for dresses.
"But where shall keep them, Miss
Pa
What did you say?"
Mrs. Teller, l would remark''-
"Oh, under the bed or somewhere!
You must have plenty of money. By the
way, suppose you give mo the money to
keep now, my dear I'll manage it a
great deal more economically than you
will be likely to-.
Butt
"Give mo the money, say"
Major Teller meekly put his hand
into his pocket and submissively hand
ed over the purse.
The major crept silently away, think
ing how, the last time he crossed that
threshold, he was free man, and now:
"I'm married." unused Major Teller.
II couldn't help it. 1t wasn't my fault,
but here l am, no money, no cigars, no
freedom-worse than any galley slave.
Sixty years old next month and mar
ried to Patience PettigrewW
Ho walked disconsolately down the
street, both hands in his empty pockets
and his hat tipped recklessly down over
his eyes,
Ee stopped at the street corner, un-
certain which way to CO. But as he
gazed the bright, steely glimmer of the
river caught his eye.
"All right" muttered Sempronius
moodi]y. "I'll go and drown myself.
It's short way out Of a long lane of
difficulty. Anything but going back to
Patience Pettigrew.
"Want boat, sir?" demanded stur-
dy man.
Eyes" said the major; II want Cha
ron's boat to row me over the Styx. -
Don't know him, sir, said the puz-
zled boatman, ''but mines sound and
light and"-
Tho major waited to hear no more,
but gave blind downward jump.
Down, down with that peculiar SEN
sation of falling SO familiar to us all
Wn-dOwn-until-
"Beg pardon, sir, but the church is
goin to be shut up, and everybody's
gone. Hope you've had good nap,
sir:'
The sexton spoke satirically, but in
his tones Major Teller recognized hope
and freedom. He started wildly to his
feet.
Major Teller satisfied the sexton with
a donation whose liberality astonished
even that parsonage and went at once
to q hotel to engage rooms.
"I'll send for my things" he thought
II won't go back to that house. I'm
not married, and / don't mean to be
marriodp'
Discretion is the better part Of valor
and Miss Patience Pettigrew remains
Miss Patience Pettigrew still. But Ma
jor Teller goes to church very regularly
now !---Exchange.