George Washingtons Last Duel | Page 2

seen her. I know you have seen her," asserted
Margaret, laughing up at him. "You have her very picture."
The Major groaned, and vowed that he would never survive it, and that
Margaret would go down to history as the slayer of her uncle.
"I have selected my place in the graveyard," he said, with a mournful
shake of the head. "Put me close to the fence behind the raspberry
thicket, where I shall be secure. Tell her there are snakes there."
"But, uncle, she is as good as gold," declared Margaret; "she is always
doing good,--I believe she thinks it her mission to save the world."
The Major burst out, "That's part of this modern devilment of
substituting humanitarianism for Christianity. Next thing they'll be
wanting to abolish hell!"
The Major was so impressed with his peril that when Jeff, who had
galloped over "for a little while," entered, announced with great
ceremony by George Washington, he poured out all his apprehensions
into his sympathetic ear, and it was only when he began to rally Jeff on
the chance of his becoming a victim to Miss Endicott's charms, that
Margaret interfered so far as to say, that Rose had any number of lovers,
and one of them was "an awfully nice fellow, handsome and rich and
all that." She wished "some one" would invite him down to pay a visit
in the neighborhood, for she was "afraid Rose would find it dreadfully
dull in the country." The Major announced that he would himself make
love to her; but both Margaret and Jeff declared that Providence
manifestly intended him for Miss Jemima. He then suggested that Miss
Endicott's friend be invited to come with her, but Margaret did not
think that would do.
"What is the name of this Paragon?" inquired Jeff.
Margaret gave his name. "Mr. Lawrence--Pickering Lawrence."

"Why, I know him, 'Pick Lawrence.' We were college-mates,
class-mates. He used to be in love with somebody up at his home then;
but I never identified her with your friend. We were great cronies at the
University. He was going to be a lawyer; but I believe somebody died
and he came into a fortune." This history did not appear to surprise
Margaret as much as might have been expected, and she said nothing
more about him.
About a week later Jeff took occasion to ride over to tea, and
announced that his friend Mr. Lawrence had promised to run down and
spend a few weeks with him. Margaret looked so pleased and dwelt so
much on the alleged charms of the expected guest that Jeff, with a pang
of jealousy, suddenly asserted that he "didn't think so much of
Lawrence," that he was one of those fellows who always pretended to
be very much in love with somebody, and was "always changing his
clothes."
"That's what girls like," said Margaret, decisively; and this was all the
thanks Jeff received.

II.
There was immense excitement at the Towers next day when the
visitors were expected. The Major took twice his usual period to dress;
George Washington with a view to steadying his nerves braced them so
tight that he had great difficulty in maintaining his equipoise, and even
Margaret herself was in a flutter quite unusual to one so self-possessed
as she generally was. When, however, the carriage drove up to the door,
the Major, with Margaret a little in advance, met the visitors at the
steps in all the glory of new blue broadcloth and flowered velvet. Sir
Charles Grandison could not have been more elegant, nor Sir Roger
more gracious. Behind him yet grander stood George--George
Washington--his master's fac-simile in ebony down to the bandanna
handkerchief and the trick of waving the right hand in a flowing curve.
It was perhaps this spectacle which saved the Major, for Miss Jemima
was so overwhelmed by George Washington's portentous dignity that

she exhibited sufficient humility to place the Major immediately at his
ease, and from this time Miss Jemima was at a disadvantage, and the
Major felt that he was master of the situation.
The old lady had never been in the South before except for a few days
on the occasion when Margaret had met her and Rose Endicott at the
hotel in R----, and she had then seen just enough to excite her
inquisitiveness. Her natural curiosity was quite amazing. She was
desperately bent on acquiring information, and whatever she heard she
set down in a journal, so as soon as she became sufficiently acquainted
with the Major she began to ply him with questions. Her seat at table
was at the Major's right, and the questions which she put to him proved
so embarrassing, that the old gentleman declared to Margaret that if
that old woman knew as