The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-06-12

MIX. DoUDLECMTN's ESCAPE.
Mr. Doublechin WAS ono Of those 10
latnntcd old gentlemen who imagine
themselves lAdy-killcrs. lIo was stout
and elderly, With : bald head and 1
tAtuous smile. lie had . wife and .
grown-ap family Of unmarried dAugh-
tors, and In the domestic circle no was
\ model Of stAld and respectable
pNterfAmlliAs, Tho fact Was that no
was kept In excellent order n homo,
and was drcadfully henpcckcd and
bullied. But being 4 business man he
escaped from tho thrAldom Of domestic
discipline for several hours every day,
aud no awaited himself of his liberty 10
indulge In mild ilirtntlons whenever IN
opportunity occurred. II no mot 4
pretty girl In 3 railway train or about
tho streets, hc would tilt his hat over
his eye and look unuttcrably wicked.
but tho chief objects of his gallant Mt
eentions wcrc tho young ladies who
presided nj tho rciroshment bars of
city restaurants whore Mr.. Doublcchln
was accustomed 10 take his midday
meals. lilo might have been discovered
any dny between II and 2 o'clock
pcrehcd on \ thrcc-lcggcd stool. ogling
and flirting with some fair Hobo who
minlstcrod 10 his creature comforts.
10 bc surc. there was nothing very
singular In his conduct In this respect,
Tor great many elderly gentlemen.
who are iendly imagined by their
wives and daughters to be immersed In
business all day. find leisure for this
form Of amusement
There WAS ono young lady In pArticn.
lar whom Mr.. Doublcchin honorcd BY
his plA,onio admiration. She was tho
prcsidlng deity At = QUOT rcfrcshment
bar In u city thoroughtnrs which shall
DO nnmclcss. Suffice II 10 say that Mr..
Don blcehin found his way there very
often and spent good doal Of his timo
NJ tho foot III his cnslAyer. He called
hor by har Christian name, aud con.
vorscd with her on terms ri pleasant
familiarity. She was rather sprightly
Young lady, with tNstc for practical
okiny. but she had always boon tender
aud sympathetic In her dcmcNnor
toward Mr.. DouhlecLin. who imagined
hc had made quito : conquest.
Ono day no brought out Ut His pocket
= ring belonging to his wifc which no
was taking to tho jewellers for some
lrifing repairs. To do Mr.. Doublechin
Justice. no had never attempted TO pass
himself of as anglo mnn, but talked
freely of his wife and family NJ ovcry
restaurant he froquentcd. Miss Stubs
Tor instance WAS tho name VI this
particular charMer of every
thing that went on In Mr.. DoNblcchinHs
domestic circle, including tho price Of
his wifc's new set of fNlsc teeth, and
his hopes 81 getting one Of his dAugh-
tcrs married 10 tho curate. Tn this CO
casion no handed thu ring 10 Miss
Stubs for inspection. and explained
that Il was one Of tho presents hc had
given his vito during their courtship.
Miss Stubs went into ccstncics of ad-
mira,ion over Il, and ended By slirping
Il on her iinycr.
ut Ia quito lovclyw she exclaimed.
ut certainly looks very we'll on your
dear little hand, Emmy" said Mr..
.'Oa. indeed. VIVA, would you say.
now. II l couldn't got II on nv dear
little handf" remarked Misa Stubs,
archlv.
",voald yeu like ring to wear ms 4
little keepsake. EMMss" inquired Mr..
poublcchin, lowering his voice. and
looking ~ tender n possible
~ bird In tho hand, you know" ~.
turned the young lady, still admitting
tho ornament "HssideS, Ircally can't
got Il oT-honor bright. Try your.
sslfr'
1t certainly was ,i.h, lit aS Mr.,
Oouhleehin discovered when no nj.
tempted 10 remove H. hut tho truth
was, Ac did not try very hard, The
pleasure Of ho'diag Mss S,abhs' hand
between hls own. anu the bcsccching
glance she bestowed upon him, proved
too much for his strength Of mind.
After moMen.'s hesitation he gave
her hand \ parting squeeze of tho ten
dercst description, and abandoned the
ring 10 her. lilo felt \ twingc al ~
morse and uneasiaeSs, eu, Miss S,nhhS'
profusc thanks overeame his Scruples.
aud he censolel himself with thu ~
Election that hs could buy his wise a
better ring in place Il this ono For.
tunS,c,y for him his VIII wNs No, al
lictcd 10 sentiment, and when Mr.
Doahlcchin explained that he had part
cd with her old ring In part payment
ii new and more valuable Que. she
raised no objections and expressed no
regrets,
Shortly after this Miss Stubs sud.
denly lett her situation. and disappeared
troM the shrine where Mr.. DoAblcehin
nau occn aecaSsomcu ~ W,rSa,r us..
lilo bore her departure with cQaaniMs,v.
and speedily attached himself to some
! other lady II equal fAscsnations and at.
fractions Tho incldca, VI the ring
passed from his mind completely. until
no was unrlcNSNntly reminded al II
somc months after in The following
manner,
lie MAS seated in tho snug sitting
room In his villa at BALKAN ono eve-
ming after dinner with his wife and
daughters. when tho scrvan, announced
that 4 gentleman wished TO sec him. II
tho same ,smc handing him the visitors
card,
',lnspcc,er Potts, Of the city policc,'
exclaimed Mr.. lkablcchin with start,
As he rubbed his eyes.
~ police oiticc-s BLESS my soul.
VIVA, can he want l wonder. " ciacu.
lated Mrs. poahiechin. looking alarm
cd. while her daughters raised = chorus
Of inquiries.
Il can't imagine" observed Mr..
Douhlcchin In \ great nu>tcr. rs dread
full thoughts of his safe At the office
having been riilcd flashed across his
mind. .sShaw the gentleman in, Eliza, "
he added. pulling himself together.
Tho inspector made his appearance a
moment aftcrward, and turned GU, 10
be an oda-looking little man in private
clothes. lie sslntcd tho ladies with =
| bow. and turned 10 MIR. Douh.echin:
Sorry 10 trouble YOU, SIR" he said
in ousincss-likc tone. ..but l was in
strucicd TO call and ask il You know q
young woman named Emily Stubbs?"
do you. JoseHns" inquired his wife.
sharply. rs Mr.. Doublcchin gave = pal.
| pablc start. and turned the color Ut =