The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-02-18
Selected nlislellanp.
THE FOUR SIGHS.
BY JAMES HUTTON.

ALI four sighed at the same moment
not deep, long g-drawn sighs, but soft, airy
sighs Of relief, mere bubbles upon the sur
face, and certainly not indicative of in
tense sorrow, though perchance not un-
mingled with pain.
Four gentlemen, in the first bloom of
manhood, were lounging in easy attitudes,
slipping Clos Vougeot, and nibbling
devilled biscuits, in front OF a blazing fire.
For some ten minutes or so, not word
had been spoken. It was no lawful
pause" but one of those pleasant, purring
silences, which spring spontaneously from
the fumes of well-ordered and harmo-
nious dinner-such dinner as does equal
honor to the heart of the host, and the
head of his chef dc cuisine. Chewing the
cud of sweet, or sweetly bitter fancies,
these worthy gentlemen slipped and
mused, and unused and slipped; and
finally, as if by preconcerted signal,
came out of their temporary fit OF abb
straction. and-sighed. No one opened
his lips, or ventured to break the silence,
until the host after quite unnecessarily
pOking the fire-and from the tOp-gave
a short hysterical laugh; and, assuming
an air of nonchalance, betrayed by his
trembling voice, stammered out, abruptly !:
IL am going TO be married! Who will
be my best man -
Such question, at such time, and in
such place. could only be answered in
one way. The three guests bravely vol
unteered, TO a man, for the dismal duty ;
but 70 their infinite surprise, failed to ex
tract from their evidently nervous host
any information as to the name, social po-
sition, 'or any other belongings, of the fu
ture Mrs. Grenville Tremaine Jones. :" BE
content, my friends" said that excellent
gentleman, :" to wait till next Friday fort
night, and then you shall Judge for your
selves. This much only will | tell you.
She IS young. she is beautiful, exceedingly,
she is lovely, she's divine"
But why marry on a Fridayg" asked
one. " 1t is unlucky to marry on that day,
you know"
AS for luck-it is unluci.y to marry on
any day" was the fiippant reply Of
another guest. "Put il off till Saturday,
and then you'll have all Sunday to think
over what you've done, and so repent at
your leisure"
Well" said the third, Il always
looked upon you, Jones, as marrying
man wish you all joy; but don't cut
your bachelor friends, old boy; for really
your cook is an artist, and your Burgundy
is irrcproachable-for this side of the
Channel"
al have fixed upon Friday" their host
replied, rather drily-for he was piqued
by the levity of his friends" because 1t
has pleased me to be married on the ami
versary of my dear mothers wedding-day.
And now let us talk about something
else"
Upon this, bumpers were drained to the
health and happiness of the adventurous
pair, and, by degrees, the conversation
passed through the usual phases incidental
10 bachelors gathering. But It has not
yet been told how these four bachelors
came TO sigh sll at the same moment,
though for only one of them was the fatal
day irrevocably fixed.
Mr.. Grenville Tremaine Jones was the
occupant of a semi.detached villa, in that
portion Of Asia Minor which is immedi-
ately contiguous to 1.-THE Grove" He
was OF tall, slight, and rather elegant
nSure' with fair hair, blue eyes, narrow
lorenesd, ana receding chin, and in the
twenty-seventh year of his age. OF a
timid. gentle, and kindly disposition, he
can hardly be said to have had any will OF
character of his own. Neither had he any
particular pastimes or pursuits. Scru.
pulously correct in his outward man. be
was also free from vice, and as simple and
untutored as an English maiden, born and
brought up ia rural vicarage His
father diod when he was young and hi:
mother, fond, foolish woman, idolize1
her boy, and indulged his every whim and
fancy, provided it was "genteel" to dc
so. As a girl, she had been insipidly
pretty, with long iaxen ringlets, and hat
attracted very marked attention from th,
iunior officers of tue regiments quartere'
in her native town, to whom she handeC
ices, bath buns, and oyster-patties. acros
her fathers counter Two young subal
terms In particular, Cognet Grenville anC
Lieutenant Tremairs. he'd beer poirtedl,