Deming headlight., 1897-05-14
THE MAJOR ESCAPED.

HHNIlNi"AI lNHt IIt" WI" mNIuI AtiiEf
10 was anppor. thin lltilo man.
something uudcr foot IN boleht. with
giory bluok Wig closely trimmed
side whiakoin aud costume 20 dalnlily
neat that ho reminded you Of aiming
black cat
Il was high noon on sparkling
windy March day whom Major Teller
ramo homo 20 tho antique down town
boarding house whoro no hal negotiated
for She last 30 yours and wcnt 70 hla
room to brush his wig for tho midday
noal Opening tho door. ho stumb .ol
over au obstacle IN ibo way,
oh, ! beg Jour pardon, I'm rure, "
said tbs major. turning very red nnd
recovering Lia footing with difficulty
10 was Miss Pationro pc.sigguw. ou
her hands and kncoa Vleaniug on the
oilolosh at the doori
Now. tho major was afraid OF Miss
PaiIonov-afraid Of her "a the plump
lamb fears the gaunt wolf or tho unoi
Tending robin tho diro serpent
Miss Patience was tall and lean and
anllow, but she cuFled her hidr, and
wore an artificial roso over her lcft EAR.
and rnng lltflo whistllng tunes 10 ne
llo spindle logged piano. and firmly DO.
lleved thnt n ehe only wait0d o littla
longer she eaould got married to some.
body.
IT'S of no consequence major. " said
Miss paticfcc. recovering hor pleco uf
Honp, which Ind ekirmishod cnt 10 tho
middle Of tho carpet
THANK you.
II do WONDER mnior. " said Miss Pa
tiencc, witt prcmonitory giggic. ''wlis
you never R1t married "
Tho maj r retired prooipitaieiy b
hind the COIL ecuetlo and made no ~.
ply.
You'd 30 somuoh mora comfnrtnb',
you know" added Miss f'ntionoa
''Donr me, that wis q very narrow o..
cape, thought our hero, emerging from
his sanctnary. "some day she'll be too
much for mo. I'll look fot now place
tomorrow.
Dear me. major. you have no nppn.
tito" aaid Miss Patience swcetly az
the dinner ta3lc.
'No. ma'am," said the major.
Don't you know, major, people will
say you nro In love Il you don't eal
inorci"
! II won't 60 back 70 that houao II
can help s." thought Major Teller
bruahing tho cold dow away fron. bic
forehead with crimson handkerchl.L
"Hcr intentions arc serious; know
they ara.
And tho major IN his innormost mind
reviewed tho cntcchspi ana hymns hs
had learned as = child. trying to think
II there wna not aomo invncntion partic.
1imly suited to nn elderly gentleman IN
great peril pud pcrplcxily.
''It'B 30 yoars snco Two boen In q
inside Of church,, Thought tho pe~i-
tent old offender. ~ wiah had gone a
littln more rcgulnriy. wonder u it's
too lnio IN lifo 10 reform.
For tho i'ajor. poor old gentleman,
hhd vague idea thit religion" won
DO a sort a. safeguard against tho wilcs
Of hia fair bnemy
AS kajor Teller was franticaliy re,
volving thcsc things IN his mind no
camo 20 aaudden aud involuntary atan,l.
still There was a crowd gathered W
tho atreet--.a fallen omnibus horse. or uu
arrested rickpockeL or somo othur nu
clous
Now, Of all thiugs. Mhjor Teller most
dreaded crowd, and ho looked uround
noryously for some means Of cacnpc
An old fashioned church, with op0n
doors and rome sort OF scrvlca goi.
on inslde, caught tho mrjor'a eye. r.
made al instantaneous dart for lie hupl
gothic portals, Ghielded BY irner doors
OF green baig0
The church wan worry warm, and tho
light, softcrcd BY purple aud golden
and crimson glass. was din, and the cler.
Fyman's voice rather monotonuus. and
Major Teller was unconsciously bocom
lug rather drowsy. when plump old
Indy came IN, and she sexton beckoned
him from hia scat
But the sermon was over, ard people
were streaming down tic able, and ths
iiiniof fclt tat no did not cara 20 pro.
long tho thing. and that BIO hnd done n
very laudablo rot in coming &c church.
and
Evcn while these ldons were passing
indintinctly through his brain he was
borno toward the altar IN an upward
eddy Of tho crowd and felt gaunt arm
thrust through hls.
Protect me. maiori' whiEpercd Miss
Patience pettigrew nm. 40 feared Va
Z crowd nlwrss -
Tho major atroyo 10 withdraw hlR
arm, but Miss pottlarcw would not 10
MIN. Thoy were standing directly In
srnni Of tho altar arm IN arm. Tho min
lister, old and nearsiPhied AMI little
deaf. advanced pronably concluding
That his services were required.
Major Toller's bluod ran cold. He
riod a protest. but his tongue sfomed
parAlyxcd. Misa Potiigrow had captured
him as lamb Tor tho elnughlor, and
whoro was tho uno Of further struRglof
A few wcrds--nn nppallingly brief
ooromony--and Major Teller was nilT'
ried TO Misa Pniienco
Take tho market basket. my dear,
said tho Ruunt bfide. land eiay-y0u'h
bott0r cnrry tho umbrella too. Well
80 right home Old folks liko you ard
mo don tearo for wcdding tour, do Wsf
The major looked pitoously at bis
batter hnlf aud made no answer khe,
however, waited fUS fiche, bat drow him
along with q quiet determination that
argued ~ for tho future
"0ivo mo the kcy 20 tho room, my
dear said MIRA petiiRTow Teller IRA
btster keep II IN future "
Tho major haidcd over tho key with
out q word Of ronnnutrnnce, nad his olc.
trly wifo oroned tho door,
"Wo'll slick up things little, " said
Mrs.. Teller, bnndllng tho majors be.
loved papers together and pitching hig