San Andreas independent., 1858-04-17
ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE IT

seat, keeping his arm tightly around my
waist, and [ permitted it. Having thus
stirred Bimby into feats of wrathful valor
| asked one of the gentlemen to direct
the musicians to play waltz. Bimby
came Immediately.
"Ahem-a-Miss Lee, shall | have the
honor of-a-trying waltz with you"
l smiled gracious acquiescence, and
we commenced Now, am an old stagel
at waltzing; l can keep it up longer than
any non-professional dancer, male or fe-
male, that l ever met. AS long as the
Schonnebrum rings in my ears, can 60
on, if it is for year. Not so Bimby; he
pleaded want of practice, and he acknowl-
edged that he soon got dizzy. "Aha,
ola boy" thought I, "I'll give you a
turn, then" But l only smiled, and said
that | should get tired first.
"Oh, yes" he exclaimed, ''of course, I
can waltz as long as any young lady; but
not much longer"
For three minutes my chevalier did
well. He went smoothly and evenly; but
at the expiration of that time he began
to grow warm. Five minutes elapsed,
and Bimby's breath came harder and
faster. On we went however, and |
scorned to notice his slackening up at
every round as we passed my seat After
some ten or twelve minutes, the wretched
man gasped out between his steps: "Ah,
-a-are you not get-getting tired?"
"Oh, no" burst forth, as coolly as if
we were riding round the MOON "Oh,
no; | feel as if l could waltz all night"
The look of despair that he gave was
terrible to see. was bound to see him
out, however, and we kept at it. Bimby
staggered and made wild steps in all di-
rections. His collar wilted, his eyes pro-
truded, his lips hung down, and altogeth-
er, [ saw he could not hold out much
longer. "This is delightful" said COM
posedly; "and you, Mr.. Bimby, do waltz
so easily!'
"Ah, puff puf-yes-oh-puff- -
very delightful" gasped he.
"Don't you think we ought to go a
little faster?"
Herolled his eyes heavenward in agony.
So when we neared the musicians, | said
"Faster, if you please" and they played
la whirlwind. Poor Bimby threw his
feet about like fast PAGER, and revolved
after the manner of teetotum that was
nearly run down. At last he staggered a
step backwards, and spinning eccentrically
away from me, pitched headlong into a
bevy of ladies in corner, l turned round
coolly, and walking to my seat sent the
young woman-killer for large glass OF
ice water.
The miserable lawyer recovered his
senses just in time to see me thank his
rival for the glass of water. l got some
idea from this of the fun young ladies
find in tormenting us poor fellows of the
other sex. At this juncture, and before
Mr. Bimby had time to apologize for his
accident, little Jennie came running into
the ROOM As she came near me I per-
ceived that her hands clutched closely in
her dress, and positively shuddered as she
whispered to me, ooh, Maggie, come and
help me fix my skirts-they are coming
down
| said L was tired; "could not somebody
else 60 p
No, nothing would do but I must ac-
company her to the house of gentleman
who owned the grove, and assist her to
arrange her clothing. So | went What
if it should be necessary to undress the
greater part of her raiment? What if,
in the midst of all the embarrassment of
being closeted with beautiful girl of sew
enteen, in state of comparative freedom
from drapery, my real sex and identity
should be discovered by her? 1 felt as
if an apoplectic fit would be fortunate
occurrence to me just then. However, [
nerved myself for the task, and accompa-
MED Jennie to the house designated An
old lady showed us into her chamber, and
Jennie heaving sigh of relief, let go
her dress. AS she did so, a-pardon my
bushes petticoat fell to the floor. She
was about to proceed, but | alarmed her
by a sudden and vehement gesture.
"Stopv" l cried frantically, forgetting
my falsetto; "don't undress, for Gods
sakew
"And why not?'
Because | am-can you keep secret?"
"Why, yes. How frightened you look.
Why, what's the matter?-Maggie-you
-you-why-oh! oh !! oh p And she
gave three fearful screams.
"Hush; no noise or l am lost !" I ex-
claimed, putting my hand over her mouth;
'I mean you no HARM
She was all of tremble, poor little
thing, but she saw the force of my argu-
ment.
'Oh, sir" she said, "I see you are a
man, but what does it all mean? WHY
did you dress SO?
told her the whole story as briefly as
possible, and exacted from her promise
of the most sacred secresy. l then went
out of the door and awaited till she had
arranged her dress, when she called me
in again and we had long talk, which
ended in mutual feeling of friendliness
and old acquaintanceship quite wonderful
for people meeting for the first time
just as we started to go back to the pa
vilion, | said | must relieve my mind of
one more burden
"And what is that?" she asked.