The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-05-17

ten her everything. For the last mo-
ment ortwo she had been looking from
me 10 Culpepper, and from Culpepper
10 me, in manner which denoted, on
the matrimonial barometer, STORMY"
''Mr. Jones! Marmaduke this is
something am not to know, l suppose.
what is it all about?'
smile.
20, you know all about it, my dear
madam. l was only referring to your
husbands great catch-the big fish
that he hooked at Tenbury."
MIR. Jones! Tenbury and big fish.
Mr.. Jones hasn't hooked big fish or
any other fish,"
Culpepper felt that he had somehow
put his foot in it. 1t was obvious to
MN that for some reason or other Mrs.
=: had been kept in ignorance of the
oilg fish, and he did his best TO retrieve
his error.
'Didn't he, reallyp Then I must
have been mistaken. Some other
Jones, perhaps. It's not an uncommon
name"
mo, MIR. Culpepper! 1t isvery good
OF you to endeayor to screen him. 1t
is point of honor among you men, [
believe, to shield each other; but am
not to be so easily put off, | can tell
you. Mr.. Philpotts had the particulars
from MIR. Jones own lips, YOU said
consequently it is clear that Mr.. Jones
has caught fish, Though l shouldn't
have believed it of him), and that that
- has been concealed from ME"
User Cyllpepper looked extremely un-
comfortable. AS for myself well, Mr..
Kinglake has recorded that the late
Emperor Napoleon used to turn q pale
green when in the presence of the
enemy; Inever believed the story till
that evening, but do now.
''But, Maria" l said. sit is really
nothing to make fuss about | as
sure you 1 didn't-no, | mean did
catch d fish, but it was quite an acct
dent, and it shan't occur again"
''NO, Mr.. Jones, there is q mystery
here which / am determined to fathom.
You have caught fish-a large fish it
seems. Where is that fish? Why did
you not send it to your once happy
home?h
Mrs. Jones glared at me as if she
thought the fish was at that moment
concealed about my person. l believe
l was about to answer (forgetful of its
dimensions) that it wasn't worth bring
ing home, or that l had eaten it all
myself, when Culpepper came unex-
pectedly to the rescue.
sGT CON rn1inya ,-or1r mind on tI,o+
score, Mrs. Jones. Mr.. Jones sent it
to his collection at the Fisheries Exhi-
bition." Good gracious" l thought,
"what a liar the man is, though he
means it in kindness, no douDtn') Il
saw it there myself yesterday"
This was the ''lie with a circum-
stance" with a vengeance, and yet
there the man sat, as cool and collected
as if he were repeating the multiplica-
ton table. How enved his calm COM
posure! But the tiend went on to say:
''Make him take you to see it, Mrs.
Jones, if he hasn't already done so,
he continued; sit is really worth
seeing. You'll find it in the second or
third case on the left, just as you enter
the gallery"
''He shall take me to the Fisheries
Exhibition before he is twenty-four
hours older" replied Mrs. Jones. Il
will get to the bottom of this somehow
I Wish you good evening, gentlemen"
and she sailed out of the room.
"What on earth possessed you to
suggest that?" remarked ruefuily to
Culpepper as the door closed.
Every sorry if I've done any mis-
chief" he said; 81 really thought it
was the best thing l could say | am
extremely sorry | ever introduced the
subject; but of course l couldn't guess
that your wife didn't approve of your
angling excursions and that you had
made secret of this little matter She
is afraid your hobby might interfere
with business, | suppose"
Eyes, that's it," | said, only too glad
to jump at this straw in the way OF eX-
PLANTATION, and Culpepper shortly after
took his leave. With terror | antici-
pated the inevitable explanation with
Mrs. Jones; but it was postponed, for
| found she had taken up her quarters
in the spare room for the night. My
hair is not gray, with years or other
wise, ''nor grew it white in a single
night, as men have grown through sud-
den fears" But am quite surprised
that it didn't.
The next morning Mrs. Jones came
down to breakfast with her bonnet on.
"Where are you going, my dear??" L
ventured mildly to inquire.
81 am going with y0u. Mr.. Jones, to
the Fisheries Exhibition"
felt that was going to still further
shame and exposure, but there was no
help for it. What Mrs. Jones would say
or do when she found that there was no
fish of mine at the Exhibition L shud-
dered to think.
We reached South Kensington in SOL
emn silence. Like a condemned Grim
inal Just screwing up his courage for
the final attentions of the late Mr.. Mar
wood, | followed Mrs. Jones to the
'Museum" department. We entered
the gallery; l glanced, Involuntary, to
'sic spot where, according to Culpep-
per's account, my great catch ought to
have been. Great heavens! what did |
behold A handsome showcase, sur
mounted by the name of Marmaduke
ID. Jones, in large gold letters, and con-
tanning stuffed fish of various sizes and
descriptions, the center object being Il
monster pike. l felt that reason was
tottering on her throne. Had | really
caught all that fish and didn't know it!
nc / l. Il ,.fx Il l.,