The Democratic advocate., 1909-08-20
MAJOR GRAHAM
AID OTHERS.
A Conspiracy That Resulted In
Complete Success.
81 cLAY ARMArRoNo.

Pf'ess.I
Major George Graham. retired asmy
officer, had been widower for ten
years. His daughter Nellie was nine
teen years old.
The major realized that he was
growing old but when It came to the
daughter he continued to regard her
as child Even when she got into
long dresses he would not have been
a bit surprised to find her walking the
fence with a balancing pole or seated
on the limb Of a cherry tree. she had
been away at school; she had returned;
he knew that she went to parties, and
he saw young men about the house,
but he seemed 10 be in dream about
her age. In his thoughts she had not
passed the rag doll stage yet.
Major Graham was enjoying his
cigar ON the yeranda one evening and
listening 10 Nellie's chatter in an abb
strated way when that young woman
made sudden dive into the house and
q young man came up the path and
took the vacated chair. The major
squlnted at him and thought he recog-
nized him as young Hurlburt.
A young mans name may be much
or little to the father of the girl he Is
In love with. In this case It meant
little until an explanation had been
entered into. Then 1t meant a whole
lot Young Mr.. Hurlburt loved Miss
Nellie; Miss Nellie loved him. He was
Of good family and had some pros
poets; he knew she was an only child
and realized how hard It would be for
the father TO give her up. but he would
love. protect and cherish her always.
Tho major was so shocked that in his
excitement he threw away n cigar that
had been only half consumed. a thing
he had not done in battle with the
guns roaring around him.
Just what the man OF war said to the
young man Of peace need not be re.
corded here. The gist OF 1t was that
his daughter was still a child. young
Hurlburt was only a kid" and thar
he should put his foot down against
any nonsense. Yes. sir, 1t must be
stopped. Yes, sir. he would tell his
daughter so. Yes. sir. and-and-
so forth. And the young man took his
departure a human wreck. and Miss
Nellie, who, Of course, had heard ali
from an open window, sought out her
good aunt and buried her face In the
lap Of that individual and moaned out:
"oh, Aunt Mary. / shall die-I know
shall die. Father won't let VIII and
me get marriedw
Aunt Mary was not a matchmaker.
but she had rather favored the young
man. She gave what comfort and sym
pathy she could. and after seeing the
weeping "chlId" tucked into bed she
sought the father In an attempt TO
soften his heart.
The major was wanting some one TO
talk TO just then. and she got all that
was coming to her. She had been re-
miss, she had been careless, she had
neglected her duties as a chaperon, she
had almost brought calamity upon
the house OF Graham With her eyes
wide open she had allowed a mere
infant--yes, ma'am, an infant--to fall
in love and engage herself in marriage
to--to-well, to young man.
In vain Aunt Mary tried 90 exculpate
herself. No one had ever talked back
to Major Graham. u. S. A., and got
the best Of 1t, and she failed. He
could utter twenty words 10 her FIVE,
and the odds were too great, even for
a woman's tongue. She retired from
the contest to say to the fearful maiden
in waiting:
'Tf your father doesn't get over this
and talk sense I'll-I'll"--
you'll do something, Aunty?"
Il don't know what I'll do, but you
wait. Here you are, nineteen years
old, and he's talking as IL you were
not out Of bibs and high chairs"
There was hope that II Aunt Mary
went around with a serious look on
her face and had little TO say and that
II the daughter went about with tears
in her eyes and heaved heartbreaking
signs at intervals the major might
come down Off his high horse, but
after three days Of 1t he seemed more
determined than ever. Finally, at the
end Of week, the sister said:
George, If that girl elopes TO get
married You win have only yourself
TO blame"
$50 children have taken 10 clipping.
chr he replied IN cutting tones.
That night there was a meeting of
conspirators In Miss Nellie's room.
There were only two conspirators, but
they were enough. The major was
asleep and dreaming Of battle as they
planned. There were no more tears,
no more sighs. Next morning a little
note was sent to young Hurlburt
That night he disappeared or the face
of the earth.
That night also good Aunt Mary
was engaged for two hours carrying
bundles and other things up into the
attic, and when morning dawned again
another sudden shock was ready for
Major George Graham, retired. He
was eating his breakfast when his sis
ter entered the dining room to an.
nounce that Nellie's bed had not been
occupied during the night The ex.
cIamation made by the major when q
bullet killed his horse was repeated
on this occasion, and minute later
he was upstairs.
II predicted ftg' observed the sister
as she followed at his heels.
Look for note" he replied.
~ have looked. The poor child lefi
none. She felt herself driven from
home by cruel father, and how coulc
she writer
Young Hnrlburt had JustAbecome the
Junior member Of law firm In the