The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1858-02-18

she came near, perceived that her hand
were clutched tightly in her dress, and
positively shuddered, as she whispere,
to me.
40, Maggie come and help me fl,
my skirts-they are all coming down =
What could | dol ! was in agony
A cold pcrspiration broke out upon my
forehead. ! wished myself twenty y-fvt
hundred miles away, and mathematical
Bob Styles masquerading project inward
ly, with fearful maledictions.
No, nothing would do, but l must ac.
company her to the house of gentle
man who owned the grove, and assist her
to arrange her clothing So | went.
What if it should be necessary to re
move the greater part of her raiment
What if she should tell me to do some
sewing What if in the midst of all
the embarrassment of being closeted with
beautiful girl of seventeen, in state
of comparative freedom from drapery,
my real sex and identity should be dis
covered by her
felt as if an apoplectic fit would be
fortunate occurrence for me Just then
However, | nerved myself up for the
task, and accompanied Jennie to the
house designated. An old lady showed
us into her chamber, and Jennie, heaving
a sigh of relief, let go her dress. AS she
did so, a-pardon my bushes Ia petit
coat fell to the floor She was about to
proceed, but alarmed her by a sudden
and vehement gesture.
"Stop! p | cried frantically, and for
getting my falsetto; stop don't undress,
for Gods sake
She openened her great broad eyes to
their fullest extent.
"And why not p
"Because | AMI AMI am-a-
can-can You keep a secret q
Why, yes-how frighteneedyou look
Why, what is the matter, Maggie you
-why-oh oh oh !"
And she gave three fearful screams.
"Hush, no noise or | am lost! ! ex-
claimed, putting my baadaoveF EeF@meGth..
| swear | mean no harm; if | had |
would not have stopped you. Don't you
see :"
She was all in a tremble, poor little
thing; but she saw all the force of my
argument.
0, sir" said she, " / see you are a
man; but what does it all mean ; Why |
did you dress 50 r.
| told her the story as briefly as posi-
bic, and extracted from her promise of
the most sacred secrecy.
| then went outside the door and wait
ed till she had arranged her dress, when
she called me in again. She had heard
of me from Maggie Lee and others, and
wanted to hear all the particulars; so /
sat down by her, and We had long talk,
which ended in mutual feeling of friend
liness and old acquaintenanceship, quite
for the first time. Just as we
started TO 20 back to the pavilion, said
that | must relieve my mind of one more
burden.
"And what is that p she asked.
"Those kisses. You thought | was
Maggie Lee or you would not have given
them. They were very sweet, but sup
pose | must give them all back"
And | did. She blushed good deal,
but she didn't resist, only when | got
through she glanced up timidly. and said
+" j think you are real naughty any
low"
When | returned, | found Lawyer
Bimby quite recovered from his dizziness {
md all hands ready for supper, which {
vas served in the ball room. sat be-
ween Bimby and Jennie, and made love ,
o both of them in turn; to one as Mag |
,ie Lee, and the other as myself, After |
upper, at which | astonished several by {
'ating rather more heartily than young :
aides generally do, we had more dane
NJ, and limited pretty strongly to Mr..
5imby that | should like another waltz. !.
lie didn't take the hint. !.
Fiuding it rather dry amusement to
ance with my own kind, | soon aban-
oned that pleasure, and persuaded Jen- !,
lie to stroll off in the moonlight with ME. I
We found the grove a charming place, :
Ill of picturesque little corners, and =
astie seats, and grey rocks leaning out a a
yer the river. On one of these latter !,
tile bench was placed in nook shelter =
d from the wind and from sight. :
Here we sat down in the full tide of )
loonlight, and having just had supper, = !
felt wonderfully in the want of cigar. = !
.ccordingly | went back to little stand q 4
ear the ball room, and purchased sever !, =
of the wondering woman who sold re- y
eshments. Then returning to the seat
7 the rocks, | gave up all the cares and N
ars for my iacogaito, and reveled in the l.
easure of solitude-the fragrance of e
y cigar-thc moonlight-and little Jen- :
e's presence.
How long we sat there heaven alone a
lows. We talked and laughed, and a
ing, and looked in each others eyes, fl
I'd told fortunes, and performed all the W