The Unlikely Enforcer of a Party Game

A stalwart rustic bridegroom was known as a formidable operator in a 'free fight.' His bride was a beautiful young girl of sixteen years of age, and the twain were at a party, when a number of young folks were enjoying themselves in a good old-fashioned pawn-playing style. Every girl in the room was called out and kissed except Mrs. B., the beautiful young bride aforesaid, and although there was not a young fellow who was not dying to taste her lips, they were restrained by her husband, who stood regarding the party with a sullen dissatisfaction. They mistook the cause, however, for suddenly he expressed himself. Rolling up his sleeves he stepped into the middle of the room, and in a tone that secured marked attention, said: 'Gentlemen, I have noticed how things have been working for some time, and I ain't half satisfied. I don't want to raise a fuss, but—' 'What's the matter, John?' inquired half a dozen voices, 'what do you mean? Have we done anything to hurt your feelings?' 'Yes, you have; all of you have hurt my feelings, and I've just got this to say about it—Here is every girl in the room has been kissed over and over times each, and the woman who I consider as likely as any of them, has not had a single one to-night, and I just tell you now, if she don't get as many kisses the balance of the night as any gal in the room, the man that slights her has got me to fight—that's all. Now go ahead with your plays.' If Mrs. B. was slighted during the balance of the evening, we did not know it.