The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-03-13

buoyed up by the thought that it would
all be over presently, and he would
have shis friend, the Duke of Turnip-
tops" to talk about for the rest of his
natural life. After luncheon we all re-
paired to the lawn-tennis ground.
"What capital lawn you have"
observed the Duke; {" and what a good
plan that is of dividing your ground"
He was referring of course to the iron
fencing.
cit was plan of my wife's," OBJ
served Mr.. Dornoway-Dicke; for as the
other lawn was vacant there was really
no need to intimate that it belonged to
somebody else.
A gilt youth of the county with one
of its gilt young ladies was selected for
one side, and His Grace and Miss Dor
noway-Dicke for the other. The rest
of the company stood round in atti-
tudes of respectful admiration. They
were just about to begin when the Duke
observed, Hullo, what the deuce is
thisPn
The exclamation was caused by the
appearance of Mrs. Titbat, splendidly
attired, and followed by all her maid
servants; some of them carried baskets
of linen, and others lines and clothes
props. In the course of few minutes
the whole of the Titbat family linen
was hanging on the line; some of the
articles were very pronounced in shape,
and became much more so when in
tiated by the breeze, which also Gas
they were purposely hung close to the
wire fencing) carried their graceful
folds Fight over the Dukes head.
2 The game was begun, but presently
an immense petticoat broke loose, and
after eddying doubtfully for a few mo-
ments settled upon the Duke himself,
who emerged from it with difficulty and
with frightful execration. He threw
down his racket and said something /
could not catch; indeed, fled into a
neighboring arbor and gave myself up
to such paroxysms of mirth as almost
threatened me with dissolution.
Twas conscious of great excitement
among the company without, and heard
what sounded like the hurried depart
ure of some of them, but l was posi-
lively incapable of ascertaining what
was going on. The vision of all Man
gelwurzelshire' noblest as they stood
around that fatal place, and pretended
to ignore the fact that the very firma-
ment was darkened above them by the
Titbat family linen; and then the
spectacle of that petticoat descending
upon his Grace's brow, and of himself
emerging from it, was always too much
for me. sat in the arbor and fairly
wept. Presently, after several severe
relapses, became conscious of COM
panion. Beside me sat little man,
bald as knob on the center of front
door, and swearing, and, as it were
thoughtfully, to himself. 1t was only
by his voice that l recognized Mr.
Dornoway-Dicke.
"My Dear Dicke," I murmured, for
l felt it necessary to say something,
"why are you here? why are you not
entertaining q did not venture to men,
ton the Duke) your guests?''
"He's gone" he said. 1t was plain
he was only thinking of one of them.
1t was all on account of that Internal
Mrs. Titbat. It's her own petticoat;
it's marked with an M and T."
1 nodded, and held out my hand as
though to entreat him to spare himself
the recital of the catastrophe. l felt
ready to expire. g But are all the rest
of the people goneP' 1 murmured.
What do l care! Yes. No. What
terrible dayv'
But, my dear Dicke." said, be-
ginning sincerely to pity him, it will
never do for you to stop here; you must
not desert your friends"
"N No, that's true" he answered,
rising feebly and moving toward the
house.
"But you have forgotten something"
Have l? WhatP ., yes, my wig"
1t lay on the floor of the arbor where
he had flung it in his frenzy. He
stopped and put it on mechanically and
hind before. This l ventured to RENE
dy, and he thanked me in feeling tones.
"Do you think he will ever come
againp" he whispered, eagerly. He
was very angry. He thought they were
our own clothes hanging out to dry. l
showed him the M. and the T. But he
would pay no attention. 1t is dread
full blow"
And it really hurt poor Dornoway-
Dicke exceedingly. He had not risen
the next morning when 1 came up to
town, and all the family were very
much depressed, as though there had
been death in the house. He has
been to the club once since, in a more
beautiful wig than ever, but of course it
can never deceive me. l asked, elbow
are all at homep''
" Rretty well, thank you," he said;
'that is, as well as can be expected.
He has never been near the place since !"
Of course l knew that by the personal
pronoun he meant d" the Duke. -
James Payss, IN the CorraRiW Magazine