The Shasta courier., 1858-01-23
ne{ - the house et gentleman who owned the
grove snd assist hef . arrange her clothing

Z What if it should be necessary to remove the
greater part of her raiment What if she should
wish me to do some sewingl What if in the
unjust o. all the embarrassment of being closeted
with beaatiful girl of seventeen, in a state of
comparative freedom from drapery, my real Sex
and identity should be discoveredby her How
ever. nerved myself up for the task, and accom-
panied Jennie to the house designated An old
lady showed us into her chamber, and Jennie
heaying sigh of relief let go her dress. As
she cid SO, a-lsardon my oldshes Ia petticoat
fell to the floor. She was about to proceed, but
alarmed her by sudden and vehement ees-
ture. Stop cried frantically, and forgetting
my falsetto, stop don't undress, for Gods
sake 7
She opened her great brown eyes to their
widest extent.
And why not 2
Because l ami am-a-can you keep Sc
cretY
Why yes-how frightened you look Why
what is the matter, Maggie? you-why-ohl /
to ~ th!lp
And she gave three fearful screams.
Hush, no noise, or am lost exclaimed
putting my hand over her mouth. swear
mean no harm; if had would not have stop
ped you. Don't you see?'
She was all of tremble, poor little thing ::
but she saw the force of my argument
Oh, SIR she said, see you are man: but
what does it all mean? Why did you dress so?'
told her the story as briefly as possible, and
extracted from her a promise of the most sacred
secrecy. | then went outside the door, and
waited until she had arranged her dress when she
called me in again. She had heard of me from
Maggie and others, and wanted to hear all the
particulars. So we sat down and had long
talk, which ended in mutual feeling of friend
illness and old acquaintanceship quite wonder
| ful for people meeting for the first time Just
as we started to go back to the pavilion said
| must relieve my mind of one more burden.
Aud what is that?'
| Those kisses. You thought I was Maggie
Lee, or you would not have given them. They
were very sweet, but suppose must give them
back
And did.
! She blushed good deal, but she didn't resist,
only when got through she glanced up timidly,
and said
/ think you are real naughty, any how
| When we returned | found lawyer Bimby
quite recovered from his dizziness and all ready
for supper, which was served in the ball room
L sat by Bimby and Jennie, and made love to both
OF them in turn; to one as Maggie Lee, and the
other as myself. After supper, at which aston
ished several by eating rather more heartily than
young ladies generally do, We had more dancing
and hinted pretty strongly to Mr. Bimby that
should like to try another waltz.
| He didn't take the hint
Finding it rather dry amusement to dance
with my own kind soon abandoned that pleas
ure and persuaded Jennie to stroll out into tie
moonlight with me. We found the grove a char
ming place, full of picturesque little corners.
and rustic seats, and grayrocks leaning out over
the river On one of these latter bench was
placed, in nook sheltered from the wind and
from sight. Here we sat down in the full flood
OF the moonlight, and having just had supper. |
felt wonderfully in need of cigar According
ly, went back to a little stand near the ball
room and purchased several of a wondering wo-
! man who sold refreshments.
Then returning to the seats by the rocks, gave
up all cares or fears of my incognito, and rev.
elled in the pleasures of solitude-the fragrance
OF my cigar-the moonlight-and little Jennie S
presence.
| How long We sat there heaven alone knows.
We talked and laughed and sang, and looked in
each others eyes, and told fortunes and per-
| formed all sorts of nonsensical operations COM
mon to young people just falling in love with
each other, and might have remained there until
this month of August, in the year of our Lord
eighteen hundred and ffty-seven, for aueht |
know, had not the carriages been sent to carry
| us home, and the rest of the company began to
wonder where were This wonder begot
questions, the questions fears, and the fears
search, headed by the valiant Bimby They
called and listened, but our position down in
the sheltered nook among the rocks, prevented
them from hearing US or we them. At length
they hit upon our path, and all came along, sin
gle. until they got to the open space above
Then they saw sight
was spread out in free and easy position
my bonnet taken off, and my hair somewhat
tozzted up. One foot rested on the ground and
the other on a rock, about level with nv head.
(regardless of ankles this time,) and there sat,
putting away in very unlady-like manner. at a
high favored Concha. Jennie was sitting close
beside me with her head almost on my shoulder.
and her small waist almost encircled in nv arm.
Just as the party came along above us, laughed
out in a loud masculine voice
Just think of poor what's-his- there
Bimby! suppose he knew he was making love
to a manY
Husbr cried Jennie, Look there he is
and, oh my gracious there is the whole COM
pany!
Yes, we were fairly caught It was Of no use
for me to clap on my bonnet and assume falsetto
again-they had seen too much for that Be-
sides, by this time Bob Styles and Maggie Lee
were doubtless 'one fesh,' and INV disguise was
of no further Importance, SO owned up and
told the whole story
Lawyer Bimby was in rage He vowed to
kill me, and even Squared off, but the rest of the
party laughed at him so numerically, and sng-
gested that we should waltz it out together, that
he finally cooled down and snnk away, to take
some private conveyance home to D.
Bob Styles and are living in a large double
house together He often says that he owes his
wife to my masquerading, but he doesn't feel
under any obligation to me, for owe my wife
to the same thing.
N. B. Ny wifes name is Jennie.