The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-03-13
CHAPTER Y.

CHAFl LEN v.
AT the bottom OF steep hi /, about
a mile from Van Tassers, stood the
snug little house Of Brom Dunder-
berg, the ms Her. He had many good
ly sons and daughters, but the oldest
and the prettiest was buxom Patty.
Such a pair of eyes, such rosy cheeks
and such a plump, round figure, one
does not often see, and US merry
wlthal as she was comely. And Patty
it was, whom, in his nights medita-
tion, Ichabod had settled should be-
come Mrs. Van Tassel.
1t was Sunday night, and all the
family OF the Dunderbergs, little and
great, wsre seated around the supper
table, when the good dame. happen
ing TO raise her eyes to the window,
exclaimed
What upon earth is that yUndeI %
And well might she ask the ques-
ton. for just at that moment Ichabod
appeared upon the summit OF the hill,
mounted on a high, raw -boned ami
NAL, his cloak fluttering behind him,
and his long. lank frame lit up by the
beams OF the setting sun.
..Why. that's Ichabod Van Tassel,
mothel," qroih youngster.
That's him!' shouted another.
Where upon earth is be going, and
this Sunday pight?' said The miller.
But that matter was soon settled
by the person in question stopping
his horse before the milleI's own door.
and deliberately fastening him to "a
post.
"Sakes alive, Patty, what does he
want?" exclaimed the dame; but Pat
ty pursed her pretty mouth, and
tossed her little head. protesting she
did not care what he wanted-not
she.
And then such a giggling and whis-
perlng among the young ones, and so
many ely pinches as those plump
arms OF Patty had to endure, as Icha
bod entered and drew up "a chair to
the table. for all the world like one of
the family. At length the mischiev-
Gus rogues were sent to bed, and
Dame Dunderberg. giving the good
man q significant wink said:
Il reckon you may as well put out
that horsel" almost pushed him be-
fore her from the room; and Ichabod
and the blushing Patty were left to-
gether.
Now Ichabod was bashful, and ]
cannot deny II, but the fear OF the
ghost proved stronger than tho fear
OF pretty girl-so, after much blush.
ing and stammering, and many sage
remarks about the crops. and the
season. and the probable degrees oI
the weather next week, he at las,
managed to pop the question-"Wil
you marry me. Patty?" Good girl
she was none OF your tantaIizinl
damsels, VIII o take days and weeks te
consider for themselves, never once
taking into view the cruel suspense
they are infiicting upon their lovers
not she so she frankly said "Yes,
at once, and the kiss which sealed tn,
compact was given In such right goot
earnest, that it awoke old Chanticlee
in the hen house. who forthwith pro
claimed his satisfaction by a long
drawn cock a-doodle doo!"
Dated from that Sunday night. tn,
ghost, finding his solemn warning
had produced the desired results. an,
considering his duty faithfully done
like prudent and sensible ghost
who did not wish to trouble eithe
himself or others unnecessarily, suf
fered Ichabod to pursue the "evei
tenor OF his way" unmolested. Il
consequence of which the young ma
grew exceedingly iocose and merry
a mood so strange for one OF his cali
bre. az filed bis friends with wondeI
In particular when he witnessed tn
preparations going on for his wed
ding with Lena, it would seem h
could hardly restrain his mirti
There was evidently good jok
about to come of. And more tha
once when the unconscious Lena
who had evidently made up her min
to submit to the will Of her uncle
had innoceutIy alluded to their futur