The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-21
The Tale He Told The Marines.


clined, from-y But that would spoil
the story. And there is no law of nature,
| suppose, to restrain man who is SO de.
void Of gentlemanly feeling as he is.
But that would tell You what is coming.
1t is no good saying he was intoxicated,
because defy you to get drunk on sherry
and soda water; and to lay it to the heat
Of the season is absurd, for il was a re-.
markably cool evening for August. No!
JenkynG is man who has had some wild
experiences, and this was not the least
strange among them.
Still, mind, I will not guarantee the
truth Of this; though, by the way, you
don't often find man tell the same tale
twice in exactly the same way if il is not
true, and have heard him tell this twice
The first time was at dinner at Lord
Well, it does not matter where. 1t is
sometimes advisable not to mention pro.
per names. don't think mentioning this
would do any harm, thOugh-at dinner
at Lords cricket ground, and the second
time was on the occasion of which | am
speaking when i found him drinking
sherry and soda water and smoking che.
roots with three officers of Marines, one
Of whom with five gloves Oady's six and
a-half) and withered rose before him,
was telling how
After leading me on in this way, after
gaining my young affections in this treach-
erous manner, by JOve! sir, she throws
me over and marries Blubber.'
It's like the SEX said the second Ma.
rine.
Its the woman that sejuices all man.
kind, said the third Marine.
'ltremindS me Of what happened to my.
self said Jenkyns; you know the story
he continued, turning to me. so just
order yourself some sherry and soda wa.
ter; ah and while you are about it, order
some for me, too, and you can pay for
them both when they come; then | shan't
be put out. Paying for anything always
puts me out. Thank you III try one of
your cigars. Well, gentlemen, turning to
the Marines, Some time ago, was stay
ing with Sir-Gcorge- p P
House, P--shire. Great number Of
people there-all kinds of amusements
going on. Driving, riding, fishing, shoot
ing, everything in fact. Sir Georges
daughter, Fanny, was often my compan.
ion in these expeditions, and was con.
siderably struck with her. For she was
girl to whom the epithet stunning ap.
plies better than any other that am &C.
quainted with. She could ride like MIN.
rod, she could drive like Jehu, she could
row like Charon, she could dance like
Terpschore, she could run like Diana, she
walked like Juno, and she looked like
Venus. I've even seen her smoke
One good point in her character, at any
rate, said the third Marine.
Just like the SEX = said the second Ma.
rine.
'Ah! she was stunner,' continued Jen.
whistle, and laugh-you should have
heard her laugh. She was truly delight
ful companion. We rode together, drove
together, tished together, walked together,
danced together, sang together; called
her Fanny, and she called me Tom. All
this could have but one termination, you
know. fell in love with her, and deter
mined to take the first opportunity Of pro.
posing. So one day, vixen we were out
together fishing on the lake, | went down
on my knees amongst the gudgeons, seized
her hand, pressed it to my waistcoat, aud
in burning accents cntreated her TO be-.
come my wife.
''Don't be fool (! she said. Now drop
it, dol and put me fresh worm on
oh Fanny exclaimed, don't talk
about worms when marriage is in qucS.
ton. Only say
i tell you what it is, now she replied,
angrlly, you don't drop it III pitch you
out Of the boat
Gentlemen, said Jenkyns, with strong
emotion, 4 did not drop it; and give you
my word Of honor, with sudden shove
she sent the flying into the water; then
seizing the SOULS, with stroke or two she
put several yards between us, and burst
into bit of laughter that fortunately pre-
vented her frOFh going any further. ]
swan up and climbed into the boat. Jen-
kyns! said | to myself revenge, rcvenge!
disguised my feelings. laughed-hid-
eOus mockery Of mirth-I laughed-pull-
cd to the bank, went to the house, and
changed my clothes. When appeared
at the dinner table, perceived that every
one had been informed of my ducking-
universal laughter greeted me. During
dinner Fanny repeatedly whispered to her
neighbor. and glanced at me. Smothcrcd
laughter invariably followed. Jenkyns! /!
said |, Revenge! The opportunity soon
offered. There was to be balloon ascent
from the lawn, and Fanny had tormentcd
her father into letting her ascend with the
aerOnaut instantly took my plans
bribed the aeronaut to plead illness at the
moment when the machine should have
risen learned from him the management
Of the balloon, though understood that
pretty well before, aud calmly awaited the
result. The day came. The weather was
fine. The balloon was inflated. Fanny
was in the car. Everything was ready,
when the aeronaut suddenly fainted. lie
was carried into the great house, and Sir
, George accompanied him to see that he
!. was properly attended to. Fanny wos in
despair.
+ ''Am to lose my air expedition ? she
exclaimed, looking over the side Of the
car. Some one understands the manage.
ment Of this thing, surelyy Nobody =
Tom !! she called out to me, you under.
stand it, don't you?'
'Perlectlyr answered.
"COme along then, she cried, be quick,
= before papa comes back
The company in general endcavored ia
dissuade her from her project, but OI
, course in vain. After q decent show O
hesitation, climbed. There was scarcely
!, q breath Of wind, and we rose almost
straight up. a
! We rose above the house, and she
!, laughed and said:
''IIow jOlly!'
! I'VE were higher than the highest trees
and she smiled, and said it was very kind
of me to como with her. We were SC
r high that the people below looked mere
: specks, and she hoped that I thoroughly
!. understood the management Of the bal
loon.'
q Now was my time.
~ understand the going up part, an
:, swered. to come down is not so eaSV.