roved of the match from the beginning, didn't I, Clara? I said I
would never allow my daughter to marry beneath her."

"Papa!"

"Don't talk to me, Mary! Do you mean to deny that James Parsons is
infantry, or that his father was infantry before him? But he shall marry
you now. By George! he shall marry you if I have to lead him to the
altar by the scruff of his neck!"

Neglecting his cheese, the Colonel sprang to his feet and walked to and
fro, vehemently giving his opinion of James, his father, and all his
ancestors; of the regiments to which they had belonged, and all else
that was theirs. He traced their origin from a pork butcher's shop, and
prophesied their end, ignominiously, in hell. Every now and then he
assured Mary that she need have no fear; the rascal should marry her, or
die a violent death.

"But there's nothing more to be said now, papa. We've agreed quite
amicably to separate. All I want you to do is to treat him as if nothing
had happened."

"I'll horsewhip him," said Colonel Clibborn. "He's insulted you, and
I'll make him beg your pardon on his bended knees. Clara, where's my
horsewhip?"

"Papa, do be reasonable!"

"I am reasonable, Mary," roared the gallant soldier, becoming a rich
purple. "I know my duty, thank God! and I'm going to do it. When a man
insults my daughter, it's my duty, as a gentleman and an officer, to
give him a jolly good thrashing. When that twopenny sawbones of a doctor
was rude to you, I licked him within an inch of his life. I kicked him
till he begged for mercy; and if more men had the courage to take the
law into their own hands, there'd be fewer damned blackguards in the
world."

As a matter of fact, the Colonel had neither thrashed nor kicked the
doctor, but it pleased him to think he had. Moralists teach us that the
intention is praiseworthy, rather than the brutal act; consequently,
there could be no objection if the fearless cavalryman took credit for
things which he had thought of doing, but, from circumstances beyond his
control, had not actually done.

Mary felt no great alarm at her father's horrid threats, for she knew
him well, but still was doubtful about her mother.

"You will treat James as you did before, won't you, mamma?"

Mrs. Clibborn smiled, a portly seraph.

"My dear, I trust I am a gentlewoman."

"He shall never darken my doors again!" cried the Colonel. "I tell you,
Clara, keep him out of my way. If I meet him I won't be responsible for