The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1852-04-20

| OF laughing up stairs. Margaret Maria, IA
Derby's attire, went to Mrs Slade's room,
who was little startled at first, but who
took things very coolly, until she found
that il was not man after all, when she
virtnously gave vent TO her Indignation.
The adventures next proceeded to the attic,
where the girls were sound asleep. .-Susan
having placed the lamp in the passage, hid
behind the door. while Margaret Alania en-.
tered, and awoko Jane Woods with yio-
lent shower OF Kisses. Jane uttered faint
screm, aud demanded IN whisper
"Who are you?"
"Ilush!' said Margaret Maria.
Jane hushed accordingly, until she saw
the strange figure proceed TO Nary Clay S
pillow, when she thought il her duty TO
scream. Mary screened. too, after she had
been several times kissed; and Sarah Jones
joined in the chorus, until her month was
stopped by hearty buss
"ls it yon, George" she whispered
AT that moment, the strange figure,
which had been seen by the light in the
passage ran out, and Susan, catching up
the lamp, ran in.
"Why what's the matier!" she cried, in
pretended astonshment.
There has been n man in the room.'
"He was kissing Sarah Jones"
"He didn't kiss me. lie was kissing
Mary Clark"
"Me! | guess Id have torn his eyes out
1t was Jane Woods he kissed"
~
Susan was very much astonished, Of
course, and the girls were all very indignant
and not one OF them would confess that she
had been kissed, until Susan pointed out
the marks of the coal mostacLe on all their
faces, and called in Margaret Maria Then
there was great deal of laughing; and Mar
garet Maria, having gallantly kissed them
all again, set out 10 go down stairs.
Bu!now it was Derby's turn to have
little fun, and Margaret Marias to be aston
ished. As Susan advanced :he lamp she
carried revealed frightful looking object
standing at the foot of the stairs. 1t was
apparentya a woman of gigantic structure;
her dress was so short that her bare feet aud
ances could be seen Distinctly and she wav-
ed her large. bonny hand at the terrified
girls majestically as ghost. Never were
two mischief-makers more frightened by an
apparition. Susan dashed herself against
the wall. Up went scream and down
| came the lamp.-r-The oil covered the stairs,
and Margaret Maria tainted and stepped in
it.. At that moment, the tail woman--being
Derby himself--cred---
"Robber, help, murder" at the top of his
voice; and Immediately stepped into his
room, locking the door behind him.
Before Margaret Maria recovered her
scattered senses, all the boarders were astir,
Susan ran into MRS. SHADES room: Margaret
would have followed her, but Susan in her
terror, shut her out Next, Margaret tried
her mothers door: and her mother hearing
the alarm, appeared at that moment, and
terrified by the coal mous:ache and smashed
hat, took her own daughter for the robber,
dropped her lamp and screamed fearfulIy,
Margaret, as much frightened as herself,
would have caught her in her arms, but
Mrs. Covey, who would hear 10 explanation
nor allow her tc approach, pushed her out
of the room with great trepidation. Then
Margaret Maria ran 20 Derby's room, which
! TO her CONSERVATION she found locked. At
that moment, Ned Perkins--the bollest
fellow in the house--rushed out of his room,
with lamp in one hand and sword-cane
in the other, ready drawn for combat. Ned
few at the supposed robber and would
have seized her iuan instant, ifshe had not
properly seen fit to faint at the sight Of his
naked sword and legs and falling down be-
fore Mr. Derby room. Her hat now came
of, her hair steamed down her neck, and
Ned recognized Margaret Maria.
Any body can imagine the scene of con
fusion which followed. The mprudent girl
found herself surrounded by dozen half
dressed figures, some laughing, some won
dering, some trembling with terror But
it was the severest cut for Margaret Maria
when the door ofDerby's room opened, and
the tall apparition appeared. As soon as
the screaming subsided the figure removed
its veil.
Don't be frightened Margaret Maria, it
said. ats nobody bu: your poor, dear,
absent Derby" That's ALL
Can You fancy her feelings! Mr.. Derby
could, as he entered his room again. and
locked the door, and went to bed, overjoyed
by what had occurred. lie slept soundly,
and awoke the next morning as completely
cured ofhis love for Margaret Maria as if he
had seen her transformed into a grizzly bear.
Boston Weekly Museum,
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