Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-04-01


difficult to avoid closing a second time,
when down he went again on his. back
(by miracle, Ishould say and dragged
me down atop of him. I should have got
up as soon as possible, but he seemed to
derive some incomprehensible satisfaction
from rubbing the back of his head to and
fro in the gravel, and holding me in tight
embrace AS we lay, was conscious of
rending of garments, and in moment
there appeared on either side of our pros
trate bodies leg, which l recognized as
Jones and 1 could, dimly perceive that
Jones was astride of us, and was keeping
off a yelling crowd by whirling round
and round his head something which
could not distinguish. %
81 The whole affair had lasted'bu a few
minutes and now the authorities apsl
peared upon the scene 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' "cheerful 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-
ssly's, which Immediately fell down upon
my shoulders, and gave mean opportunity
Of gauging his size.
AS SOOu as we WeTG OdJSluC buC BdltSy
Jones showed his regard for me by pat
ting me on the shoulder, and saying,
/" Bravoi old boyi you did remarkably
well. If were you, should wait until
he comes out, and then finish the busi.
ness" Al. "a, ss us na & .S --,
Now am by no means what pugilists
term a "glutton;" considered not only
that had done remarkably well, but also
that l had been very lucky. | was u de-
plorable object to look at, no doubt, with
my adversarys hat, which would not be
restrained from dropping right over my
head; with my face covered with blood
from the bonnet wearer's scratoh); with
my white tie undone, and crumpled up
like an illmade spill; with my shirt-front
bespattered with red spots, and with one
of the tails torn completely off my over
coat; but was personally uniniured, 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 u jelly.
therefore replied to Jones. kind sug-
gestion, "My dear Jones, am very much
indebted to you for to.night's work, for if
had been alone, should have allowed
myself, in the most pusillanImous manner,
to be insulted to any extent short of per-
sonal violence. l, therefore, cheerfully
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 of,
and welcome. As for me l shall be off by
the first cab" 81 A'
But that selfdenying Jones declined TO
take my leavings" (as 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 smither
eens;" and what he had whirled around
his head to keep the people of, and learned
that it was tie rent-oH 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 in it, too,) that very morn
ing, for Jones had 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
locker
The dresded next morning came, and |
presented myself at Arabella's house.
When l followed the servantinto the room
where Arabella 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
tale of adventure. ,foF "
felt inclined TO say "Please ma'am, it
was jones'" as i'll were little boy be-
fore his school-mstrcss but | resisted the
inclination, and grinned feebly. l saw
her eyes directed toward my empty hands,
in one of which she no doubt expected to
see her bouquet triumphantly held.
"Where are my f1owers?" she asked.
l shook my head sorrowfully.
:'You have left them home, l suppose ?"
she said.
Again l shook my head sorrowfully.
And where is my prayer-book :" she
asked coldly.
{" In tail-pocket of my overcoat," I
answered, desperately.
"Why didn't you bring its" ,-... %.
az couldn't" aa
"Why not9 I Thought it was in your
$50 believe itis.n EE "a
s"Why didn't you look ?" 3t 81 s
az haven't it."
"You haven't your coat.pocket?"
ANOt WIN JOu ~ uhN
pray, be as merciful as you camp
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 as proceeded and
when 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 a place as that; and
my name in the prayer book, tool Don't
speak I'll not hear 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 ispop.
ularly known as Another.
So the fatal bouquet cost one hat "a
guinea), one overcoat (four guineas), a
scratch on the face, confusion on the left
temple, prayer-book with Arabolla's g
name in), and ,Arabella. I.call it eXpen-
sive.-C Chambers Journal. fii. .7t'
g.. .f.tI I..EL