The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-12-19
PLUCK AND LUCK.
A Story Showing How the Former
Won.

"Confound itn' said Tom, putting resign
eddy at his cigar; from our very birth
Bingham and were always pitted against
each other, and he always won all the
points. was always good for everything
epidemic that was going, and always whin-
ing in the contagious stage of something or
other, and my Aunt Slap Derrick who has
got the diamonds, hated me. From four
tee9-t0 57gfts-ir a, soven, and Z. lear
besides! Now have brains q suppose a
fellow may dc justice to himself,) but no
tongue power; muscle, but low stature;
an ugly phiz, and no small-talk. A likely
portrait to win woman's favor whether
my Aunt Slap Derrcks or Mollie Miller's
And Bingham was always what you see
him. You and know that he is a coward,
and should not like to say what besides,
and yet catch myself believing in him.
And his inevitable luck would make q man
believe in fate, The very weather is in a con
splracy with him. The most scowling day
brightens for him, and the fairest morning
is sure to turn to drizzle with me- 1t was
always so! And l say let him take all the
cards and end it, i" tossing his cigar into the
CRATE as to light the sacrifice.
Dayton, Toms friend, listened. smiling,
He was tolerably well used to such conf
dences Besides, though Tom used the Ian
guage of defeat, there was spark of battle
i'm his eye. He was not the man to hang on
his aunt's lips for the Slap Derrick diamonds,
though he was ready enough to admit that
they were good things in their way. He
was the man to make a stand for girl like
MOllle Miller Just as in words he an
nounCed his defeat new resolve was kind
ling within him And Dayton, who loved
Tom, and had something of a woman's
instinct, was quick to seize the propitious
moment
"Why not try pluck against luckln he
asked, reading Toms look.
BY Jove, will!'' answered Tom.
At the time OF this conversation all the
principals of our story were together at the
Rotherhlthe House. Tom, his Aunt Slap
Derrick, his cousin Bingham, Dayton and
the Miller party, and the position of these
human pawns just then was such that Toms
81 will" needed TO be potent. 1t was fair
sailing enough for Bingham, who, it was
understood, would succeed to the Slap Der
rick diamonds. For him thorny aunts and
bTambly parents discreetly stepped aside
But Tom was another pair of sleeves,
thought Mrs Miller; while Mollie herself
thought nothing about it. 1t was her bust
ness to make pretty toilets and gentlemen
might secure her smiles if they could. And
for the rest she was not in love with Bing-
ham-yet-though to be very honest, she
expected to be; and why not with a man
who was well-mannered and well-lookng?
Nobody said to her: MY dear, you had
better marry the Slap Derrick, diamonds"
but Mollie knew the family mind on the
subject, and was not averse, only as yet she
felt quite a liberty to speculate, as she
sometimes did when she had nothing better
to do, on Tom Du Ceur's remarkable eyes,
and why one of his glances should make her
blush. No help here for poor Tom, you see,
who had not even conceit to back him, and
certainly none from his Aunt Slap Derrick
who could never forgive him his low stat
ure, his gypsy looks, and took delight
in snubbing him. Nothing but cool
'audacity-or call it pluck, if you like
with which to fight his Cousins
good looks, and good luck, and the Slap
Derrick diamonds, worth, as we all, know,
good looks and courage both together
With all these things in his favor Tom came
on in the most encouraging manner He
had always his Aunt Slap Derricks shawls,
or one of Mollie's maiden aunts on his arm.
And it was his business to look after the
picnic baskets, and the carriages, and the
gypsy fires, and so on, while Bingham kept
the ladies in small talk. Or if he went up
TO talk with MOllie, he met Mrs Miller half
way who said: so. Mr. Du Cnur could
you do me Il favor! have left my shawl
COR eye-glass or book, as the case might bel
in the summer-house, and am afraid of the
glass, or book is upstairs, in Mrs Miler's
Jhird bureau drawer, as she knows, and
Tom knows; but he goes for all that, with
that cool patience that is apt TO tell in the
long run, though, and he gets back in time
to see Mollie going Off on Bingham's arm.
Dayton, who knew Toms worth greater
he thought, than the Slap Derrick diamonds,
was bitter enough over these diamond
worshippers,' as he called them. But Tom
only smiled.
ii put my head down and take it, he
said land, if you notice, it is those people
who do that who win in the end am quite
AT ease aboutmy success, or should be. we're