The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-10-31

The sunbeAmS gOt enten8seQ IN
The long waves Of her hair, ~ sys
Or she ne'er had grown TO be =7~-.l
So modest and % falr.
The early birds have taught her
~ The joyous matin song,
And some Of their soft innocence- 5IE e
she's been with them 80 long,
And for her now, II need be,
., -, I'd part with wealth and power; An.
never dreamed the wild wood
Contained 90 sweet = flower
A DAY IN PETTICOA1S.
r. srAnoDEsr MAN. 1as -.
ssI couldn't think of such thing" J.
s'But you must. My happiness depends
on it. Here, put on the thingumooos' ana
the what's-his-name." =
And INV friend, Bob Styles, held dup be-
fore my hesitant gaze "suit OF feminine up
His idea was that l should personate his
lady-love for one day, to prevent anybody
from suspecting the truth-namely, that she
had ;oined him in runaway marriage party
until it could be too late for interference; !;
that is, until the minister should have tied
the knot between them, that nothing but q
special grant Of Legislature could untie.
This scheme was not so actually absurd
as It appeared ut first sight. Maggie lee
was a tall, queenly woman, with an almost
masculine air, and at that time, had very
slight form-aimost effemnate, SO that, IN
fact, there was really but little difference on
that point. Then had light hair, tolerably
long, and fresh complexion. Part my
hair in the middle, and put bonnet on my
head and few persons would have suspected
but what was really one of the softer sex.
These accessories also gave me quite de-
cided res, mblance to Maggie Lee, especially
when, as in this case, the disguise was her
own. ...g ~
Then the day chosen for the runaway
match was an suspicious one. Maggie's ia
ther was to drive her to D, small vii.
lage near where she lived, and there she was
to Join sailing party down D river, to
the grove three miles below, from which the
party was to return in the evening, IN car
riages. 5s- z ,Sss, g. -.
Our plan was, that 1 should be in waiting
in the village, and should 60 to the boat
with the sailing party, while Maggie, after
leaving her father, should slip of with Bob
STYLES across the country. s&#-EE
At last, got dressed, and presented my
self before Maggie Lee, blushing Il great
deal. I believe feeling very much pinched
about the waist, and with an uncomfortable
consciousness that my-my shirt sleeves
were too short, or wanting altogether.
Everything finished, in the way of toilet,
Bob STYLES took me into his light wagon,
drove me over to D., by secluded
route, and left me at the hotel, where the
sailing party was to assemble. Several Of
the pick-nickers were already there, and
thev greeted my cavalier cordially, (every-
body knew Bob Styles,) asking if ne was
not going with them, etc. He told them he
was not. ... '.' s.s.
"Pressing business engagements you
know, and all that sort of thing. Deuced
sorry can't 60, though. lust had time to
bring Miss Lee over. and now Pm OF. MIR.
Bimby this is Miss Lec," and he ratified otl
a long string of brief introductions, which
me that but few of the company
we're acquainted with the young lady whom
| was personating-a fortunate thing for
the preservation OF my disguise.
Mr.. Bimby, tall, legal-lookins man, with
a hook nose, and eye-glass and fluffy hair,
seemed to be prepossessed with my perso'aeite
and | overheard him whisper to Bob Styles,
rs he went out:
sNice-looking girl, that Miss Lee.''
eyes," answered Bob, with mischievous
glance at me, ssshe is a nice girl, though a
little o-ahead sometimes. Keep a little
look k-out on her will you'-thcn, lowering
his voice-ssnot bad match for you, old
fellow; she is rich"
sIs she?'' said Mr.. Bimby, his interest
in her own right. Good day !" and
he was gone.
Maggie Lee, artful creature that she was,
had told her father that the sailing party
was to assemble at another hotel, and thith-
er he had takan her. Having business in
D. he left her there merely saying that
he would send the carriage for her at eleven
O'Clock. She, like dutiful daughter, kiss
ed him, bid him goodbye, and before he
had gone a hundred rods, took seat IN Bob
Styles light wagon, which had driven up to
the back door as old Lees carriage drove
away from the front, and the old story of
love and prejudiced age was en-
acted over again. - :. , s4s
As for us, of the pic mic excursion, We
had delightful sail down to the Grove, but
somehow could not enjoy it as much as
ought to have done. When walked on
board the boat, l felt awkward, as if every
body was looking at me. found MIR. Bim-
by, A. had suspected, young and rising
lawyer, mighty in Blackstone and his own
opinion. Hcinsisted on paying for my ticket
the boat was regular excursion packet, }
and purchasing enough oranges, pears, and
candies, to set up street stand. Four or
Eve times was on the point of swearing at
his impudent of6ciousness, but bit my tongue
Just in time to prevent the exposure But
It was not with him that found my role the
hardest to play. =z.' @a.zK s9 i
No; the young ladies were the difficult
ones to deceive. For instance, there was
one among them, beautiful girl Of seven.
teen, Just returned from boarding. school,
who had not seen Maggie Lee for three years.
Of course, she was delighted to see me, when
she found out that was Maggie, which, by
the way, did not occur until after we start
ed. She threw herself into INV arms, pulled
my veil aside, and kissed me half q dozen
lines, in manner that made my fnger-ends
Jingle for an hour. 1t was all very, nice, but
i had been in propria persona, would
nave liked it better. As it wns, / felt as if
were "obtaining goods under false pre-
ences," and that lawyer Bimby might issue
. warrant for my arrest on that ground, st
my moment. @Ee1 s8z ss
A whole knot Of crinoline then surround.
ID me, on the upper deck Of the boat, to the
liter exclusion and consequent disgust Of
Mr.. Bimby and the other gentlemen. kept
'ery quiet, only speaking monosylables, in
alsetto voice; but the others-Lord bless
'ou |! how they gabbled! Under strict
promise of secrecy, the little boarding.
,chool maiden, who had kissed me SO afec-
;ionately, revealed all her love affairs, and
also became unpleasantly confidential about
other matters-innocent enough in them
selves, but not customarily talked Of between
ladies' and gentlemen. - - q
Twas terribly embarrassed, but it would
not DO to give up then. Az soon q my trick