Year: 1879

cal Board, was commissioned an assistant
surgeon in the United States army in 1S-,
and ordered to report for duty to the CON-
mandng officer at Fort M'Kavett, Texas
There were no railroads in the Western
country at that 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.
DIR. Graham was very desirous of examin-
ing the Western country mineralogically
so applied and received permission from
the War department to go by way of Ar
kansas 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 horseback, started on his Jour
ney. While in st. Lonis. at the Planters
Hotel, he formed the acquaintance of
gentleman, who, learning where he was
going, gave him letter of introduction to
his brother, who was farmer living on
his route in Arkansas. It is not necessary
for us to follow him on his road, or tell
what discoveries he made i'm the interest
of science; sufficient it is that one day,
toward dusk. he reached the house of the
gentleman to whom he had the letter,
and dsmountng. 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 have
needed it to have accorded him an open
handed welcome for travellers were
god send, and news was as much sought
after then rs now. After short visit he
proposed to 90 on to the next town, about
four miles off. where he intended to put
up for the night. The judge would not
listen to his leaving. and was so cordial
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 servant
to attend To his horse, invited him into the
dining-room. where he was introduced to
the wife and daughter of his host and also
to substantial Western supper, to which
he did ample justice.


After supper they adjournedto the parlor,
and he entertained his new made friends
with the latest news from the outside
world The Judge brewed some stiff
whskey punch, which Graham, socially
inclined, imbibed quite freely. The old
couple retired, and left 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 unsophis-
ticated and innocent, took everything he
said in downright earnest and with her it
was a case of ''love at first sight


But l am anticipating. During the
night our friend the doctor woke up, and
remembered what he had said, and it wor-
ried him !; but he said to himself, after
emptving his water pitcher ''never mind,
I'll make it all right in the morning
must have made fool of myself She's
lovely but what must she think of me -
and rolled over and went to sleep again
Morning came, and upon his going down
to the parlor he found the young lady
alone. for which he blessed his lucky
stars, and was Just about to make an apol-
Ogy, when she said:


II told mamma, and she said it was all
right, y at the same time giving him q kiss
which nearly took his breath away. PA
pa is going to town this morning, dear,
and YOU ride in with him and talk it over;
but he won't object. know"


But my dear Miss, | was very foolish.
and"


"No. indeed; you were all right


well | will go to my post, and return
for you, for must go at once"


"No; | can 90 with YOU


"You won't have time


''Oh yes, will. Papa will fix that 1t
would be such an extra expense for YOU
to come back all the way here"


but have no way of taking you'


Il have thought of that that does not
make any difference. Father will give us
IA 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 nice; but he thought what a con-
founded fool she must be not to see that he
wanted to get out of it. When the Judge
started for town, Dr. Graham was sitting
beside him. The Judge saved him the
trouble of broaching the subject by start
ing it himself:


II always, young man, give Nell her
own way, so it is all right; you need not
say word


But I've got to go on to-day"


The old Judge turned his eyes toward
him. He had an Arkansas bowie in each,
and one of those double barrel shotgun
looks as he said, ''you amt trying to
get out of it are you?'


The doctor, taking in the situation, said,
promptly, all hope being gone, mo Sir"


That's right, | will Ak everything for
YOU; give YOU that black team of mine
and a light wagon to carry your wife's
things" (here the doctor shuddered, } land
a thousand as a starter. You can be mar
ried tonight, and leave early in the morn
ing That'll suit, won'titp


"Yes, Sir" answered Graham, family.
But on the judge turning toward him, he
said, Yes, Sir, certainly"


After you get fixed at your post, l will
come down and pay you visit. | have
been thinking about selling out and NOV
ing to Texas for some time; it's getting
crowded here, and things are movin as
slow as lasses i'm Winter time.'


Things were arranged as the old judge
said. The marriage took place, and the
army received an addition to its ladies in
the person of the Arkansas judges daugh-
ter. and Graham has never regretted the
obduracy of his fatherin-law or the
unsophisticatedness of his wife.-Harper's