Poor Major Wright was feeling thoroughly out of sorts, for of late, Hiram Ciders, the town constable, seemed to be making considerable progress in his courtship of Miss Judith Mullen. But could the Major have read the wealthy spinster's ...See morePoor Major Wright was feeling thoroughly out of sorts, for of late, Hiram Ciders, the town constable, seemed to be making considerable progress in his courtship of Miss Judith Mullen. But could the Major have read the wealthy spinster's feelings aright, however, he would have found no cause for alarm, for so busy had the good lady been in looking after her niece, Flossie, that she had found little time for aught else. Not that "auntie" had any objection to Dick Morgan, as her niece's suitor, but she considered the girl too young to wed. Indeed, so closely did she keep watch on Flossie, that Dick, coached by the girl's governess, determined to put an end to their stolen meetings by boldly proposing for his sweetheart's hand. To Dick's consternation, "auntie," wishing to frighten away the young man altogether, pretended that she believed he was proposing to her, nor did she dismiss the boy until she had given him two very uncomfortable hours. Dick's turn for revenge came, however, when he met "auntie's" two admirers, and told each that the other had just proposed to the fair Judith. The result was a quarrel, ending in Major Wright challenging Hiram Ciders to a duel. Dick and James Hurley, who had been asked to act as seconds, had no intentions of having any bloodshed, and therefore carefully extracted the real cartridges from the combatants' revolvers and replaced them with blanks, then, sending a note to Miss Judith Mullen of her admirers' intentions, mentioning the time and place, they calmly awaited the appointed hour. Not so, Hiram Ciders, for Major Wright was far too good a shot to permit him to be calm. Nevertheless, owing to James Hurley's vigilance, the shivering constable was unable to slip away, as had been his intention, and was led pale and trembling, to the "field of honor." While the backs of the group were turned, he made a wild dash for liberty, so that when "auntie" arrived, she found only the hardy old Major. And so pleased was that lady at her hero's gallantry, that she promptly accepted him then and there, and Dick instantly seizing the favorable moment, was at last overjoyed to receive "auntie's" consent to his marriage with her niece. Written by
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