Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-01-11
STORY OF AN INKSTAND,
WITH THE 1NKsTAND LEFT OUT.

WITH THE INKsTAND LEFT OUT.
That inkstand? Yes, it has a his
tory. may as we'll tell it to you now
as any other time, | suppose. You
ought to be called the Great American
History Extractor, or Romance Ex-
tractor for if there is a particle of ro
nance in anything or anybody in
place where you happen to be, you are
sure to scent it out"
"Of all days. this is the most glorious
one for romance-the rain falling with
thai steady. monotonous drip, drip,
drir, not soul in the house but our
selves and we SO snug in this splendid
old library.
Mag Hastings was indeed an indefati-
gable romance-hunter. She was always
looking for situations where the roman
tic predominated. She would have
succeeded as a dramatist, without
doubt. She was apparently as happy as
mortal could be on the morning in
question, nestled N the depths of my
scarlet lounge, perfectly certain that
she looked picturesque in her dark
green street suit, relieved by the dain-
tiest linen.
Come here, petr' said she; and
bunch of white wool, with blue ribbon
tied at one end of it. marking a spot
where in dog a neck would be, trotted
mysteriously toward her. What pro
polling power there could be in the
shaggy thing was a wonder | never
could get over, but somehow it man
aged to spring into Mays arms, and
then tie silence assured me that my
story expected.
The surroundings were favorable for
storytelling, it is true. The room
heavily wainscoted with dark wood: the
cases OF books of all times and of all
varieties the long windows richly
draped with scarlet brocade, lined with
exquisite lace; the thick soft carpet of
notified green; the Turkish lounges,
the quaint chairs, luxuriously uphol-
stored: the bronzes on the mantle and
in inches and corners-bronzes that
told old stories of mythology; the en-
cravings on the wall; the little gems in
oil selected for their wonderful coloring
an autumn scene, a burning ship, 8
group Of German peasants; the glowing
fire Of sea-coal, and the polished hearth
and fender-all appealed to the love o
the beautiful and the picturesque, while
the cold, unceasing rain, the bare
gaunt trees, the drippirg shrubbery
and the blanched grass drove tn
thoughts within for solace and amuse
ment.
The inkstand that Mag Hastings re
ferred to was pretty affair in Swis
carving. 1t represented two littl
peasants carrying water, the bucket
suspended from a pole resting in han
of each. Of course the water-pails wcr
the ink receptacles, and the pole wa
the pen rack. 1t was poetic and rea
istic at the same time, and as pretty
triHe for library table as one woul
wish to see.
The story is sad one, Mag said
50 II will give you the blues for the res
of the day"
$50 much the better" she answered
with troe dramatic love of the horr
BILE" so much the better. I'd like
be stirred up little. | fear I'm to
comfortable A little dash of imagin
tive sorrow is needed to relieve this pc
feet enjoyment. A little shade throw
out the good points of anything, ye
know. Isn't it so, pet?'' and 81
punched the little appendage dignitit
bV Inc. name OF tdli I'LL d SAdrp y e
came out Of the soft white mass in b
arms. There, told you SO, pet nc
you'll know what true repose isl
al should scold you, Mag" said l,
it were the least use in the world. B
YOU are incorrigible; so | will go Q
Time will give you shadow epoug
without doubt"
when l was in Venice" CO.
menced.
"In Venice p exclaimed Mag, sitti
bolt upright, and giving the little dun
ling of poodle a push that broue
out most spiteful yelp. " When We
you ever in Venice?"
Why, you know, Mag, that | v
abroad more than two years. In fact
had Just returned when you and
came acqiIainted,' / replied, wonderi
little at the unusual interest she {
peared to take in the commenceme
of my story.
'sOh, knew that she replied. " i
never heard you say anything abe
Venice;" again reclining and closi
her ewes, as much as to say, Go on.
am alta loss to conceive what made
so foolish as to disturb myself for
slight a. thing as the mention of a
eign, and defunct city,
s.Well, when was in Venice
lieve it was the second month OF
stay there-Charles came in one ds
Charles my husband) "from lo