The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-03-31

with which my hair was fixed upon my
| head and the Consequence was that it was
| difficult to avoid closing second time,
| when down he went again on his back
| (by miracle, | should say,( and dragged
me down atop of him. 1 should have got
up rs soon rs possible, but he seemed to
derive some infomprehensible satisfaction
from rubbing the back of his head to and
fro in the gravel, and holding Inc in tight
embrace. AS we lay, was conscious of
a rending of garments, and in moment
| there appeared on either side OF our pros
trate bodies leg, which l recognized as
Jones and / could dimly perceive that
Jones was astridc of us, and was keeping
off a yelling crowd by whirling round
and round his head something which l
could not distinguish.
The whole affair had lasted but few
| minutes; and now the authorities ap-
| peared upon the scenes and popular opin-
ion being against me. | was declared to
| have been in the wrong ,and was summarily
elected, after about twenty minutes enjoy
ment of Jones' "chcerful scene Dog
berry, with his usual sense of justice,
would not even let me look for my hat, so
took the liberty of putting on my adver-
sary's, which Immediately fell down upon
my shoulders, and gave me an opportunity
of gauging his size.
As soon rs we were outside the gates,
Jones showed his regard for me by pat
ting me OH the shoulder, and saying,
Bravo! old boy you did remarkably
well. II | were you, should wait until
he comes out, and then finish the busi-
ness"
Now | am by no means what pugilists
term Il "glutton | considered not only
that had done remarkably well, but also
that had been very lucky. l was Il de-
plcrable object to look at no doubt, with
my adversary's hat, which would not be
restrained from dropping right over my
head; with my face covered with blood
(rOm the bOnnct-wearer' scratch); with
my white tie undone, and crumpled up
like an i'll made spill; with my shirt front
bespattcred with red spots, and with one
OF the tails torn completely off my over
coat; but was personally uninjured, with
the exception of the scratch, and very
slight confusion of the left temple;
whereas, considering my adversary's size,
| ought to have been pounded TO a jelly.
therefore replied to Jones kind sug-
gestion, MY dear Jones, l am very much
indebted to you for to-nights work, for II
had been alone, / should have allowed
myself, in the most puslllanlmOus manner,
to be insulted to any extent short OF per
sonal violence l, therefore, cheertully
resign to yOu the conclusion Of the business
you are good enough to say | have thus
far conducted successfully; be my alter
ego. wait for my adversary, finish him oil,
and welcome. AS for me shall be of by
the first cab"
But that self-denying Jones declined to
"take my leavings' las he put it), and in
sisted upon seeing me safe to- my lodgings,
AS we rode along, | demanded of Jones
what had become of my bouquet, and
learned that it had been torn to smithcr-
eens;" and what he had whirled around
his head to keep the people oil, and learned
that it was tie rent-Otf cOat-tail, with
" something heavyish in it," | couldn't
tell Jones that the " something heavyish
was the prayer book Arabella had lent me
with her name IL it, too,) that very morn
ing, for Jones haG such queer ideas of
joke. He actually laughed when he told
me that the coat tail and its contents had
been torn from his hands, and, no doubt,
been carried off as trophy by some on
hooker
The drcsded next morning came, and L
presented myself at Arabella house.
When | followed the servant into the room
where Arabclla sat, she could not have
looked more dismayed if to the simple
words, " Mr.. Brown" the servant had
added, with the cholera mOrbus"
Whatever have you been dOing?" she
asked, for the scratch all across one cheek
and the confusion on the left temple told
a tale of adventure.
| felt inclined to say "Plcasc ma'am, it
was Jones' as if were a little boy be-
fore his schOOl-mistrcss; but resisted the
Inclination, and grinned feebly. L saw
her eyes directed towardm my empty hands,
in one Of which she no doubt expected to
see her bouquet triumphantiy held.
"Where are my flOwers?" she asked.
/ shook my head sorrowfully
You have left them home, suppose 2"
she said.
Again 1 shook my head sorrowfully.
"And where is my prayer-book ?" she
asked coldly.
"In ail-pocket of my ovsrcoat," 1
answered, desperately.
why didn't you bring it?"
"I couldn't"
"Why not? thought it was in your
coat-pockct.'
so l believe it is"
"Why didn't you look 2"
al haven't it."
"You haven't your cOat-pockct?"
"N0; | will tell you all about it and
pray, be as merciful as you can"
And without screening myself behind
Jones, | gave an honest, straightforward ac
count of my sad mishap. Arabella lis
tened without interruption, but grew more
and more like marble rs proceeded and
when L had finished, she rose from her
chair, whilst Indignation flashed from her
eyes, and said, contemptuously, $50, after
the language you used to me yesterday,
you dared to take my bouquet and my
prayer-book into such place as that; and
my name in the prayer book, too, Don't
speak I'll not hear a word and never
address me again as you did yesterday.
Good morning, Mr.. Brown" And she
swept from the room with distant cOurte-
sy. And she married the man who is pop
ularly known as Another.
SO the fatal bouquet cost one hat Ga
guinea), one Overcoat (four guineas), "a
scratch on the face, a confusion on the left
temple, a prayer-bOok with Arabela' s
name i'm, and Arabella. l call it cxpen-
sivc.-Chdmbers' ,J0uraaL.
A French Romance.
ONE of those little rOmances of which