Year: 1879

army IN IS, and ordered to report for
| duty to the commanding officer at
Fort NJ Kavett, Texas. There was no
raj roads in the western country at the
time, and the usual way of getting to
Texas was by the Mississippi river to
New Orleans, and then crossing the Gulf
to stage it up through the state. DR..
Graham was very desirous OF examining
the western country internationally, so
applied and received permission from the
war department to go by the way of
Arkansas and the Indian Territory to
his post.


On his arrival at st. Louis he shipped
the greater part Of his baggage by way
Of the river, and taking only what he
could carry on his back, started on his
journey. While in St. Louis, at the
/ Planter's Hotel, he formed the cquainl-
ance of a gentleman who, learning where
he was going, gave MIN letter If intro,
duction to his brother, who was farmer
living on his route in Arkansas. 1t is
not necessary to follow him on his road.
or tell what discoveries he made in the
interest of science; sufficient is it that
one day, toward dusk, he reached the
horse of the gentleman to whom ne had
the letter, and dismountiDg, knocked at
the door and presented his letter to the
judge (even in those days every one was
a judge in Arkansas), who would not
I lav, ,,,oIcJ - - Lo-o Z. o.ooo.-joJ -. -
open h9nded welcome ; for travellers were
q godsend, and news was as much sought
after then as now. After short visit,
he proposed to go on to the next town,
about four miles of, where he intended to
put up Tor the night. The Judge would
not listen to his leaving, and was so cor
dial in his desire for him TO stay that he
would have been rude not TO have done so.
The judge after directing one of the ser
wants to attend to mis- horse, invited him
into the dining room, where he was
introduced to the wife and daughter of
his host, and also to a substantial
western supper, to which he did ample
justice.


After supper they adjourned to the
parlor and he entertained his new made
friends with the latest news from the
outside world. The Judge brewed some
stiF whisky punch which Graham,
socially inclined, imbibed quite freely.
\ The old couple retired, an1 LETT their
daughter to entertain him; and whether
/ it was the punch, or what, at all events
he made hot love to her, and finally
asked her to be his wife and go to Texas
/ with him, to which she consented. She
being very unsophisticated and innocent,
took everything he said in downright
earnest, and with her it was a case o.
love at first sieht."


But I am anticipating. During the
night our friend the doctor woke up, and
remembered what he said, and it worried
/ him; but he said TO himself, alter empty
ing his water pitcher, "Never mind, I'll
make it all right in the morning. l must
have made fool of myself. She's lovely,
/ but what must she not think of me l''
and rolled over and went to sleep again.
| Morning came, and upon his going down
to the parlor he found the young lady
alone, 'or which he blessed his lucky
stars, snd was just about to make an
/ apology, when she said


81 told mamma, and she said it was all
right" at the same time giving him a
kiss which nearly took his breath away.
Papa is going to town this morning,
+ dear, and you ride in wieh him and talk
it over; but he won't object, 1 know"


"But, my dear miss, 1 was very foolish,
and"


"No, indeed; you were all right"


"Well, will go to my post, and re-
turn for you, for must go at once"


''No; 1 can go with you"


''You won't have time"


"Oh yes, viii Papa will fix that.
1t would be such an expense for you to
come bsck all the way here"


''But I have no way of taking you"
'I have thought of that; that does
not make any difference. Father will
give us team"


With nearly tears in his eyes he went
in to breakfast, to which at that moment
they were both summoned; but alas
appetite he had none. 1t was not that
she was not pretty and nice; but he
thought what a con ounded fool she must
be not to see that he wanted to get out
OF it. But it was no use. When the
Judge started to town, DR.. Graham was
sitting beside him. The Judge saved
him the trouble Of broaching the subject
by sta ting it himself:


g l always, young man, give Nell hel
own way; 50 it's all right; you need not
say a word"


"But Pve got to go on to-day"


The old Judge turned his eyes toward
him. He had an Arkansas bowie il
esch, and one of those double-barrel shot
gun looks as ne said, q You amt a-tryine
to get out of it, are your


The doctor, taking il the situation
said promptly, all hope being gone, No
sir"


THAT'S right. / win fix everything
for you; give you that black team o.
mine. and light wagon TO carry youl
wife's things" (here the doctor shud-
dered) land thousand year as starter
You can be married tonight, and leave
early in the morning. That'll suit you
won't it ?"


yes sir" answered Graham iaintly
But on the Judge turning toward him
he said, eyes, sir, certainly"


"After you get fixed at your pest