Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-03-04
w HOLE NUMBER, 1,42S.

to tell the whole thing and throw him
self on to the mercy of the court.
"Waal, that made music 1t opened
our eyes. We come nigh getting into a
fight as to our claims as to which was
the biggest fool. After a long argument
that come mighty nigh blows it was
unanimously agreed that Cy and me
was the champions
THAT being settled, which hope you
won't dispute, we had another long
talk as to what was the right thing to
do. Finally we agreed that we'd come
out here III body and offer our apoler-
gies, and here we are.
And DUNCAN again bowed low, Cy
Walters initiating him to some extent.
"Have you it i'll your heart, Mr. Ken
more, to let up cn u.s."
"You wero rather impulsive last
night and made things somewhat un-
pleasant, but you have done the honor
able thing, and l cordially accept your
apology"
DUNCAN turned so as to face the
crowd and, raising his hand said in
commanding voice:
"Gents, prOceedn'
And then came the startling discov-
cry that the only two men in the party
who carried firearms We're he and Wal
ters. The others We're provided with
bass drum and brass Instruments, for,
strange as it may seem, Aldine and its
immediate neighborhood had after long
labor evolved brass band whose
efforts were probably one of the reasons
why no stranger had settled III that
part of the country for several years.
The musicians were waiting for the
signal, and instantly the crash came.
The racket was deafening, and the
worst of it was that while several were
trying to play "Dixie" two others
We're splitting their cheeks with "Su-
vance River" and the cornetist, prob
ably in compliment to me, was going
might and main on yankee Doodle,
while the bass drum tried to keep time
with all. AS soon as DUNCAN could
make his shouts heard he stopped the
racket.
Gents, I'm 'stonished and grieved.
1t was agreed on the road that you was
to play them three tunes, but not at the
same time. Try ag'in but fix on the one
that you want, so that the sweet music
may beft the occasion. "
The mistake was quickly rectifed,
and the lively notes of ''Dixie" rang
out on the night air, followed in turn
by the two that have been mentioned.
Perhaps it was because of the happy
L,,H Il - g.,
that never before or since that night
have the melodies impressed me so IA
vorably.
Colonel Mansley promptly accepted
the situation. He compelled all to en-
ter his hOspitable mansion, where the
servants were summoned and kept busy
furnishing wine and lunch, and good
wishes were profuse all round. I was
toasted again and again until | began
to ask myself whether it was not worth
all had passed through for the sake
of learning what good fellows those
men We're. And yet there We're some
phases Of those "a hours from which 1
am sure should have shrunk.
l4dSl CurlSIllldS COlOuel MduSlcy Cdlne
north to spend the holidays, as is his
custom, with his daughter and me- Aft
er his departure my wife and Iwere sit
ting alone, when | said:
Esther, there has been question in
my mind that l have long wished to
ask you"
"And why, my dear husband, have
you waited to do sop
Perhaps because 1 feared the an
swer, and yet why should L? 1t is this.