Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-06-18

We'll, declaring tnat as snoPnorussseS w.
never known to comb their hair, she should
despair of being credited if she overlooked
that point The greatest difficulty lay with the r
crook. Maggy was of the opinion that shep- .
herdess without a crook was but paltry affair h
and would by no means forego it. But as \
these formerly useful implements have gone \
entirely ont of fashion, such a thing was not to
to lie supplied for love or money. Indeed the /
girls felt very natural objection to going about
to the village stores or elsewhere inquiring for
shepherds crooks, having an intuitive feeling
that the demand would occasion ridicule or
amazement. So, after grave consultation, this
important deficit was supplied by means OF one
of nurse Patsey's broken pot-hooks covered
with paper, being tied to a strait stick; the
joining being concealed by knot OF ribbon.
And so our heroine thus accontred, sat I'M
der the shade of maple tree, plating gar
land of leaves, and aifectingto watch the flock
of sheep which fed as usual in the meadow.
AT the proper time, as though he had his cue,
enter tho hero, MIR. Clinton.
All sight of the shepherdess he started, look
ed puzzled, and then with smile, whether OF
amusement or pleasure is uncertain, approach
ed her and Immediately as well-trained shep- |
herd should, fell into conversation.
Maggy played her part of rustic innocence
and ignorance with much spirit, and greatly
to her own approval though perhaps Judge
of such performance might have thought the
part Slightly overdone. The hero, however,
| showed no signs of mistrust. He appeared to
have no misgivings that his shepherdess was
| other than a bona-flde one, and altogether,
| Maggy in high glee, reported her sscene hrst,
act trst,' to her friends as highly successful
and amusing performance.
Scene second was full as piquant. Clinton,
according to Maggy's account, proved himself
the most gnilble Of mortals, and he had offer
ed out of pure philanthropy, to teach the poor
ignorant shepherdess to read.
These reading lessons accordingly took place
and Maggy reported her teacher delighted anc
astonished ai her intelligence, which sometimes
), even went SO far as to anticipate word or let
ter not yet impaired from the tutors store o
knowledge.
For week or two this topic was the onl,
=, one talked of by the mischieyous trio, and i
= was wonderful how much merriment they ex
tracted from it. But gradually their interes
, tagged little, and Maggy grew more reserved
or at least less amusing this theme, so tina
the subject finally dropped. Probably as Mag
gy now never introduced it, they imagined thai
| she, like themselves, was tired of the frolic
and the meetings had ceasd to take place.
Not so, however. No day passed that did
not find Mr.. Clinton at the feet of his shep-
herdess. He was now giving her areading les
son, or rather reading with her, ESQ astonishing
had been her progress) now bringing her some
rare flower; or curiosity to examine-now wan
deling with her up and down beneath the
spreading naples.
A sad change meanwhile had come over the
merry shrpherdess. She was no longer the
blithe, careless girlwe knew her manner was
often observation-disclosures awkward always
dgnified and somewhatreserved; as though she
were striving to retain her own self-respect, or
; at least determined 10 demand respect from
others. At times a look of trouble, almost
distress quivered about her mouth, and of
| ten tears arose to the blue eyes till now unused
: to aught but smiles. Gone all her winning
rogueres-gone her merry coquetries--yet
there was something deep and tender left in
{ | their place that was more than worth them all
: The short summer weeks were already gone
: and tho parting day had arrived. Shepherd
) and shepherdess met as was their wont. Maggy
: was in unhoped lor good spirits. Perhaps, IL
II spite of every ether consideration, she was re
$ syed that her part was nearly played ont.-
II The even with some of he, old grace, presented
IS Mr.. Clinton with little bunch of forget-me
e nots, which she gathered by tho brook.
After an interview Of more than the usua
or length Mr.. Clinton rose and stood before Mag
st gy. With an altered look and voice he sale
tie as he made her low bow.
in 81 believe, Miss Lee, our performances
.e- over for the season. Possibly / have n
Ter played the role originally assigned me, b
asst what of that, il have heen able to improyi
ion one more to my taste"
sh- There was merry twinkle about hia ey
rest which would have taken the sting from tn
ors | sarcastic words. could Maggy havo ssen il
Iect But she did not. Her face burning W
ing, shame was hidden in her hands. She felt
use the agonies of discovered guilt.
ggy She struggled long with her conflicting Il
i6le ngs, but as last raising her head sho said,
rm. true dignity.
lme "There is at least one consolation for me
had this humiliating moment, Mr., Clinton. II
God that am the dupe, and not you. II ave b
much to blame, know" she continued,
her ginning to give way in her stateliness, g
lg-t.4 IT. Al
cling believe at least, that my thoughtlessness
she not heartlessneSs; or at any rate, tell me
Dhy, forgive mo-" 1t was all up with her dig
now, and she was robbing like a child.
nave Clinton, who had meant to show some N
con- terly goneralship on this occasion, when
ular tancied he had everything in his own har
dis was completely disconnected by this sim
?. has but unexpected manBuyre of the enemy IS
En- to Like most men, especially those who have
she no sisters, he supposed that crying was '
n of nigh as serious thing as dying, and in CT
lstic mon with all his sex, felt ali impatient del
MIN at all events to put an imme diate stop TO
milk without knowing how to do 50.
ro- fConiound it," he muttered to himself, AZ
stalked up and down oycing Maggy uneas
lag ''ths is a serious matter-and am fool {
ONE brute" Then to Maggy, spray, pray,
Lee-don't'-an ugly fix to DO in--(aside)
lie is hope have not hurt your feelings, Mag
ON Miss Lee-indeed did not mean any unk
rec neSs.3 No improvement ON Maggy's part,
saw pause, Mr.. Cllnton SAD lrspatienty.
81 would really like to know what you
rpy. crying for 7''
nee "Because," answered Maggy, rather illoI
ON. ally, sit has been like o weight of guilt on
soul that was deceiYng you, and l am
,hv glad it was not So" :
one "And did you really think you were impo'
less upon me, with that trUmpery little gipsey
,ost and that pot-hook tod to a stick 3'' asked
ood ton, smiling kindly at her. "WhyI knew
Md were sham the first moment saw you,
and was not long in luding out all about you
GLIDING your kind intentions toward me-"
, it Maggy looked up laughing through her t
nth ut the pot-hook Illusion, and answered JOY
.css ly:
ooh, then its all right you have had J
amusement, and have had mine. So we
row friends am happy
~ 'sIf we part, we certainly part friends"
ma Mr.. Clinton, seriously. "But, Maggy, '
and you to be to me the friend from whom u
lis never parts-a wife,"
I'm j think it hest at this point to avail my
see OF u tiMe-hhnored custom of prudent wri
ali, and leave the scene which followed ''to
s. Imagination Of the reader" OF course t
urs. were sweet things said, and sweeter tn
um- looked, and then came explanations and
tessions. Maggy made clean breast o
to from her first thoughtless engagement in
Is to frolic, till later, feeling herself tangled in
miy own web Of deceit, she had been forced
ing very shame, TO continue the part she had
me, gun. And Clinton made his counter col
o. sion. That he had at first, on discovering
gift. project, mer ely intended to take his reyeng
and IA bold girl 10y Irritation. How he had
tpe- dually become acquainted with said bold
his had weigh cd her character coolly and iu
tt.,Ilrt u ftllN