The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-02

auectlohately, revealed all her love affairs. and became
unpleasantiy confidential about other m~atters-innocent
enough in themselves, but not customarily talked of be-
tween ladies aud gentlemen.
| was terribly embarrassed, but it would not 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 aud 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, aud |
noticed that several of the ladies were glancing uneasily
at me. | couldn't divine the reason, until Jennie, my
little friend from the boarding school, laid her face dan
gerously close to mine, and whispered My dear Mag
sic, your dress is blowing terribly high-your ankles
will be town talk with the gentlemen! =
Nor was l conscious of having a very small foot for a
man, and had donned a pair Of open work stocking which
came up nearly to my waist, with a pair of CATERS bor-
rowed from the servant girl, in all Of which forgery my
running gear looked quite feminine and respectable ;
but the idea of the gentlemen talking about my ankles,
and of being cautioned thus by a young girl, who would
have been frightened to death if l had told her the same
thing yesterday, was too much for me. | burst into a
sort of strangulated laugh, which I could only check by
swallowing half of my little flagree lace.edged handker-
chief. The young ladies all looked at me, in apparent
establishment at such a voice, and l wanted to laugh all
the more. Fortunately, Mr.. Bimby came to my rescue
at the moment, and edged himself in among the crino-
line.
May I sit here p he asked pointing to a low stool
near me.
.Certainly,' l %simpered, in my high ~falsetto.
'Ah, thank you,' said Bimby-with a lackadaisical
air, which nauseated me, as coming from one man to
auother-'you are as kind as you are fascinating!'
You Aatter mel
Il? No, indeed praise of you cannot be fattery,
Miss Lee
'Oh, sir, really you are a very naughty man. l said,
in the most feminine tone l could command.
He cast a languishing glance at me through the black
lace veil, and | fairly began to fear for his feelings.
We soon arrived at the grove, and found our band
pgaged-beforehand-awaiting us. Of course dancing
was the first amusement, and lawyer Bimby led me out
for a schottish. 1t was hard, at first tor me to take the
lady's part in my dance, but l soon got accustomed tc it.
When a waltz was proposed l resolved to have a little
amusement at the expense Of the unfortunate Bimby.
I had first nrade him ~purposely jealous by dancing
with two other young fellows, one of whom l knew, in
nv own character, but who never suspected me as Mag
gle Lee. This young man, who was a great woman
killer-a sort Of easy, devil-may-care rascal, who made
the ladies run after him by his alternate wrath of action
and GOODNESS of protestatlon Il selected to play off
against my legal admirer. | allowed him to hold me
very closely and occasionally looked at him with a half
fascinating expression. When we stopped dancing he
led me to my seat, keeping his arm about my waist, and
l permitted it. -,
Having thus stirred Bimby up to feats of wrathful
valor, | asked one of the gentlemen to direct the must
clans to play a waltz. Bin.by came Immediately.
'Ahem-a Miss Lee, shall la have the honor Of
(a-trying u waltz with you =
| smiled a gracious acquiescence, and we commenced.
Now | am an old stager at WALKING. l can keep 1t
up longer than any non professional dancer, male or
female, whom | ever met. AS long as the Cachucha or
Schonnebrunnen rings In my ears, l can 60 on, II 1t Is
for a year.
Not SO with MIR. Bimby. He plead want Of practice,
and acknowledged that he soon got dizzy.
aha, old boy thought |, IN give you a turn then !
But | only smiled, and said that i should probably
get tired first
sOh yes = he exclaimed, 'of course | can waltz as
long as any one lady, but not much more
For the first three minutes my cavalier did we'll. He
went on smoothly and evenly, but at the expiration OF
that time, began to grow warm. Five minutes elapsed,
and Bimby's breath cam harder and harder. On we
went, however, and | scorned to notice his slackenlDg up
at every round, when we passed my seat. After some
ten or twelve minutes, the wretched man gasped out be-
'Ah, are you not-get-getting tired
ooh. no - | burst forth, as coolly as if we were rid.
ing round the room-'Oh, no, l feel as if | could waltz
all night
The look of despair he gave was terrible to see.
was bound to see him through, however, and we
, kept at it. Bimby staggered, and made wild steps IN
all directions. His shirt collar wilted, his eyes protrud.
ed, his jaw hung down, and, altogether, l saw he could
, not hold up much longer.
This is delightful | said composedly, 'and you,
+ -de.lightful,' gasped he.
Don't YOU think it ought to go a little taste"
e He rolled his eyes heavenward in agony.
r Ah-puf-puff-I NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
: So when we neared the musicians, l said, faster, il
q YOU please-faster!' and they played a Ia whirlwind
Poor Bimby threw his feet about like a PAGER, and re-
8 volved after the manner of u teetotum which was nearly
;. run down. At last he staggered a step backwards, ano
e spinning eccentrically away from me pitched headlonl
= into the midst of a small bevy Of ladies in a corner
:. turned around coolly, and walking to my seat, sent the
uo,,nr wonon ki1lar for y GLASS Of ice water.
The miserable lawyer recovered his senses just in time
Il to see me thank his rival for the water,
% got some idea, from this, Of the fun young ladies
). find IL tormenting us poor devils of the other sex.
At this junction, and before Mr.. Bimby had come t.
e apologize for his accident, little Jennie came running
into the pavilion which served as a ball room. AS she
9 came near, [ perceived that her hands were clutcheo
tightly in her dress, and positively %shuddered, as sh'
whispered to me
s6h, Maggie come and help me fix my skirts the,
are all coming down !
What should l do? Twas in agony. A cold perspira
ton broke out upon my forehead. | wished myself
4 thousand miles away, and mathematical Bob Styles
.. masquerading project iuwardly with fearful maledictlons
| said | was tired out-could not somebody else 60
No, nothing would do, but l must accompany her t.
the house of a gentleman who owned the grove, and as
sst her to arrange her clothing.
l.. So | went.
= What if it should be necessary to remove the create
part of her raiment! What if she should tell me to d
- some sewing! What, if in the midst Of all the embar
n rassment Of being closeted with a beautiful girl OF seven
n teen, in a state Of comparative freedom from drapery
- my real sex and identity should be discovered by her
However, l nerved myself up for the task, and &C
companied Jennie to the house designated. An old lad.
+ showed US in her chamber, and Jennie heaviny a sigh Q
relief let go her dress. AS she did SO, a-pa'don m.
bushes "a petticoat fell to The floor. She was abou
to proceed, but l alarmed her by a sudden and vehemen
t. gesture.
!. .Stop!' l cried, frantically, and forgetting my falsetto
K. stop don't uulress, for Gods sake J
" She opened her great brown eyes to their widest ez
=. tent.
ne and why not?' j..
" Because 1 AMI am-a-can you keep q secret ?
ID sWhy yes-how ~trightful you look Why what
N the matter Maggie you -why-oh oh !! oh ~!
n Aud she gave lnree fearful screams.