Weekly Trinity journal., 1858-01-30
BOB STYLES, WEDDING.

Il couldn't think of such thing
But you must My happiness depends on it,
Here put on the thingumbobs, and the what's its
name
And my friend Bob Styles, held up before my
hestating gaze suit of feminine apparel. His
idea was that should personate his lady love
for one day, to prevent anybody from suspecting
the trutb-nar1ely, that she had joined him in
runaway marriage party-until it should be too
late for interference that is until the minister
should have tied; a knot between them, that no.
thing but special grant of the Legislature could
unite.
This scheme was not actually as absurd as 1t
appeared at first sight Maggie Lee was ttall,
queenly woman, with almost masculine air
and, at that time, / had very slight formal
most effeminate, so that, in fact there was really
but little difference in that point. Then | had
light hair, tolerably long, and fresh complex
ion. Part my hair in the middle, and put bon
net on my head, and few persons would have sus-
pected but what was Of the softer SEX
These accessories also gave me quite decided
resemblance to Maggie Lee, especially when, in
this case, the disguise was her own.
Then the day chosen for the runaway match
was an auspicious one Magge's father was to
crive her to D, a small village near where
she lived, and there she was to join a sailing
party down D river to the grove three miles
below, from which the party was to return in the
evening in carriages. Our plan was, that l
should be in waiting in the village, and should go
on the boat with the sailing party, while Maggie,
after leaving her father, should slip off with Bob
Styles across the country.
AT last got dressed and presented myself be-
fore Maggie Lee, bushing great deal, believe,
feeling very much pinched about the waist, and
with an uncomfortable consciousness that my
my-shrt sleeves were too short, or wanting al
together. Everything finished in the way OF
toilet, Bob Styles took me into the light wagon
and drove me over to D, by secluded route,
And IA4E AaA. Il -
were to assemble Several of the picnic ers
were already there, and they greeted my cavalier
cordially Everybody knew Bob Styles asking
II he was going with them, etc. He told them be
was not.
Pressing business engagements, you know,
and all that sort of thing Denced sorry | can I
go though. had just time to bring Miss Lee
over, and now I'm off Mr. Bimby, this is Miss
Lee. Miss WithergaIl, Miss Lee and he ratified
Of long string Of brief introductions, which
convinced me but few of the company were ac-
quainted with the young lady whom | was thus
personating--a very fortunate thing for the pre-
servation of my disguise. Mr.. Bimby, a tall
legal looking man, with hook nose, and eye
glass and puffy hair, seemed TO be prepossessed
with my. .perSonele. And | overheard HIM whisper
us he went out
Nice looking girl, that Miss Lee
Yes answered Bob with a mschievous
glance at me, she is a nice girl, though little
her, will you ?-then lowering his voice. Not
q bad match for you old fellow ; she is rich
is she !? said Mr.. Bmby, his interest deepen
ing.
'On my honor, replied Bob Forty thousand
in her own right. Day, day. and he was gone
Maggie Lee, artful creature that she was had
told her father that the sailing party was assem-
bled at anetbep hotel, thither he had taken her.
Having business in D., he had left her there,
merely saying that be would send the carriage
for her at eleven O'Clock. She, like dutiful
daughter, kissed him, bade him good bye, aud
before he had gone hundred rods took a seat in
Bob Styles light wagon, which had driven up tc
the back door ss Mr. Lees drove away from the
front, and the old story of deeds for love and
preJudced love was enacted over again.
AS for the picnic excursion, we had delight
fu sail down to the grove, but somehow | could
not enjoy it much as | ought to have dome
When | was walked on board the boat, felt awk
ward, as if everybody was looking at me. found
Mr.. Bimby, US | had suspected, young and rs.
ing lawyer, mighty in Blackstone and his own
opinion He insisted on paying for my ticket,
(tbe boat was regular excursion packetO and
purchasing enough oranges, pears and candies, to
set up street stand Four or five times was on
the point of swearing at his impudent officous.
ness, but bit mp tongue just in time to prevent
exposure. But ii was not with him that found
my role the hardest to play
No the young ladies were the difficult ones to
deceive. For instance, there one among
them, a beautiful girl of seventeen, 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 was Maggie,
which by the way, did not occur until we had
started. She threw herself inte my arms pulled
my veil aside, and kissed me half dozen times,
in manner THAI made my finger ends tingle for
half an hour 1t was all very nice, but if had
been in prOpria persona, would have liked il
better. As it was, | felt as if were obtaining
goods under false pretences, and that lawyer
Bimby might issue a warrant for my arrest on
that ground at any moment.
whole knot of ePinoine then surrounded
me, on the upper deck of the boat, to the utter
exclusion and consequent disgust of the Other
gentlemen. kept very quiet, only speaking in
nonOsylables, in falsetto voice but the Others
Lord bless you how they gabbed Under q
strict promise of secresy, the little boarding
school maiden, who had kissed me affectionately
revealed all her love affairs, and also became un
pleasantly confidential about other matters-n
nocent enough in themselves, but not custonarily
talked of between ladies and gentlemen.
/ was terribly embarrassed, but il would moi
do to give 1t up then AS soon as my trick should
become known, Bob Styles trick would also
come out and as news Of that kind travels fast
in the country, he and his lady love would be
telegraphed and followed before they could reach
Philadelphia, where the Styles family lived, and
where the knot was to be tied.
The river breeze was very fresh where we sat
and | noticed that several of the ladies were
glancing uneasily at me, but couldn't divine
the reason, until Jenny, my little friend from the
boarding school, put her face dangerously close
to mine, and whispered MY dear Maggie, your
dress is blowing up terribly high-your ankles
will be town-talk with the gentlemen ? Now
was conscious of having very small foot for a
man, and bad donned pair of open-work stock
which came nearly up to my waist, with pair of
CATERS borrowed from servant girl, in all of
which toggery my running geer' looked quite
gentlemen talking about my ankles, and OF being
cautioned by young girl, who would have been