Middletown transcript., 1874-11-07
TADDLES' BLUNDER.
BY ". P. Q.

BY W. P. G.
Mr.. Taddles, of Hartford, communi
, Gates only under pledge Of the most pro
, found secrssy. little affair in which b
, was the victim the other night. and
therefore, it would not be fair to di
vulge. A sense Of journalist honor
however. does not seem to prohibit th'
mention of the fact that Mr.. 7. is very
found Of cribbage, and that card play
ing is strictly tabooed on the Taddles
premises, and his worthy spouse is q
very strict church member Therefore
Mr. T. is compelled to seek more con-
genial scenes in which to indulge in his
favorite game The other day bis old
friend Tom B invited him to join
him that evening in pleasant little
card party, and Mr.. Taddles consented,
though with some misgivings as to how
he should account to his estimable lady
for his absence, or contrive to break
through her rule that be shall always
be safe at home not later than nine.
The result of his.eogitations was the
concoction Of story to be palmed off
on his vito that he was going to New
Haven that afternoon on professional
business which might detain him until
the midnight train. He joined Tom at
tea and afterward had a glorious even
ing at cribbage, starting for home so as
to arrive there about ten minutes after
the train from New Haven was due at
the Asylum street depot. The partner
Of his bosom sympathized with him as
be dilated on the tediousness of night
journey by rail. while the artful Tad
dies chuckled quietly as be reflected on
the success of his little trick.
A few days afterward Mr.. Taddles
came home to tea and found Mrs. T.
sitting in the rocking chair, with the
evening paper in her hand, and with
rather peculiar expression Of counte-
nance, which Taddles could not quite
understand, but which seemed to be in
dicative Of something in the wind. So
he sauntered over toward the window, |
plunged his hands away down into his
pockets and whistled softly to himself
as be wondered what the deuce was up,
anyway. Mrs. T. watched him for .
few moments, and finally broke the
silence with the inquiry:
"Did your New Haven business
prove satisfactory. my dear :" |
Mr.. T.: ..Yes, my love, better than
I expected"
Mrs. T. Gin tone of freezing polite
ness): Very intricate, presume. Mr..
T..
Mr.. T.: Well, yes, rather SO, my
owe. And BY the way, how fortunate
t is that you women are not required
o bother yourselves with business
lfairs. 1t would be such trouble to
them. [Mr. T. plunges bis
,ands still deeper into his pockets, and
esumes bis whistling and thinking.]
Mrs. 7. every freezingly. now):
Yes, l suppose SO. Ah. me! with a
igh) there are SO very. very many !
hings we cannot quite see through.
FOR instance. the evening paper says
hat on the night you went to New
haven the midnight train was an hour
ate, (sudden stop Of Mr.. T.'s whistle, } !
nd yet, my love, you got home only
en- minutes after the time it was rightly
ue at the depot. Must have walked
retty fast, Mr.. T. Hurrying your
elf that way will get yourself into
rouble one of these days, Mr.. T.:
The curtain is drawn on the heart
ending scene, as the gentleman tried
} clear himself, and only plunged !,
eeper and deeper every minute. Tad
les thinks now that the news IN the
apers is Of rather too miscellaneous a
haracter to be fully appreciated in the :
Imily circle, and vows that the next
me. be makes the same kind Of New
[aven trip. be will 60 around home by :
ay Of the depot, and wait for that in
rnal old train if be has to stay ont all :
ipht.