Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-03-14
Dicks Discovery.

DlCk>S DiSCONeTls
The Gay and Festives" was a
club OF jolly bachelors who met once
a week to swap jokes" as Mr.. Lin
coin used to say, varying the enter
tainment with a due proportion OF
liquid and solid comfort.
The gayest of the lot was Rodney
Merryjingle. He had fund Of ready
nonsense on which it was always
said to draw il the conversation
threatened to take a serious turn.
When the jokes were poor, they
were laughed at for their poverty
good, bad, or Indifferent, they were
laughed at anwhow. For whatever
Rod" said was sure to provoke a
laugh from the sheer force OF habit.
None, like him, could set the table in
a roar, and have the table puzzled, a
minute after, to tell what it had been
roaring at.
No wonder that gloom fell upon
the Festives at the news OF Merry
jingle's marriage. 1t came without
warning and the effect was stunning.
What on earth could have possessed
the rafting. rollicking Rod to take a
step so serious, was something none
of the fellows pretended to be able to
find out.
1t was long after his marriage be-
fore Rodney Meryjingle met any OF
his old friends. Mrs. Merryjingle, OF
whom he was the third venture, was
rich, and took him on q continental
wedding-tour, and it was not till some
time after his return that be and
Dick Pettywit one day encountered.
@There's look OF subdued happi.
ness in his eye," was Dicks report
when questioned at the club as to
show Rod was bearing up under it."
In time Mr.. Merryjingle began to
drop in of an evening for chat
with his former cronies, but he
meyer stayed later than nine, or ven-
tured beyond a single glass. The
look Of happiness in his eye, Dick in
sisted. kept growing more and more
@subdued."
mo, mol you can't leave us yet"
chimed in a chorus OF voices, as
Merryjingle rose to go one evening
at his accustomed hour. "Its ami
versary night, and Mrs. Merryjingle
must spare you to us this once
In vain poor Merryjingle demured
and resisted. Some hid his hat,
while others chaired him at the head
OF the table by main force. He saw
he was In for 1t.
Pettywitt who had essayed to sue
coed to Rods place paled In his ef-
fectual fires when, after few rounds
OF "the rosy" the latter began to be
himself again.
With song and toast and story
they kept it up till the first OF the
wee small hours" had come and
gone. Never had Rodney Merry
jingle so shone before. 1t was the
outburst OF two years Of pent-up
fun. He carried the table by storm.
There wasn't a dry eye present, for
tears are the effect of mirth as often
as Of sorrow.
1t was not till they began to sing:
ave won't 20 home till morning"
that a change came over Rods
beaming countenance. The sub
dued look suddenly resumed its
place. With a glance ut the clock,
she started like a guilty thing upon a
fearful summons"
"Boys-boys," he said, with an
anxious falter, Il can't stay minute
longer. Mrs. Merryjlngle will be
frightened out OF her wits"
Oil you must not think of going
yet" Dick replied. Its only half
past one."
Indeed I must persisted Rod,
looking pale and rueful.
I'LL tell you how we'll fix it," said
Dick, with a wink at the others. I'll
go and excuse you to Mrs. M.
ooh! quite impossible"
Not bit of it."
How will you manage it?"
@Pll tell her you've been taken
suddenly ill--not dangerously-but
just enough to keep you from
60 going home till morning"
said Dick, chanting out the last
words.
A dubious look OF relief fitted
over Rods features. 1t was plain he
would be glad of an excuse not to
go.
"We-well," he answered, hesita-
tingly, "break it TO her gently; don't
alarm her more than necessary.
Trust to me-" said Dick, snatch
ing up his hat and hurrying of.
A brief walk brought him to the
steps OF the Merryjingle mansion. A
double pull at the bell; in less time
than he expected, was answered by
the sound OF steps in the hallway,
the door opened. and Mr.. Pettywitt
crossed the threshold into the dark
ness. Suddenly. from behind the
door, energies tall figure in white.
Mr.. Pettywitt's head and shoulders
were belabored soundly with a
broom stick. Mr.. Pettywitt became
alarmed and shouted "murderl'
"Silence, you wretchl" Kissed the
tall figure through its teeth, at the
same time giving Pettywitt a shake
that left him no breath for further