The Shasta courier., 1858-01-23


iat ground at any moment 49,
-isashole knot of crinolire then surrounded
me, on the upper deck of the boat, to the utter
excursion and consequent disgust of the other
genuemen kept very quiet, only speaking in
'nonosylaDles, IN afalse.to voice; but the others
Lord bless you. how they gabbled! Under a
strict promise of secrecy the little boarding.
school maiden, who had kissed me affectionate-
", revealed all her love affairs, and also became
unpleasanuy confidential about other matters
innocent enough in themselves, but not CUSTOM
arIly talked of between ladies and gentlemeuk
4 was terribly embarrassed, but it would hot
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
last 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
Inc river breeze was Very fresh where we sat-
ana noticed that several of the ladies were
giancing uneasily at me, but | couldn't divine
tne reason, until Jennie, my little friend from
the ooarding-school, put her face dangerously
close to mine, and whispered MY dear Mag
gle, your dress is blowing up terribly high
your ankles will be town-talk with the gentle
men, Now was conscious of having very
small foot for man, and had donned a pair of
open-work stockings, which came nearly up to
any w'ist, with pair of CATERS borrowed from
servant giii IN all of which toggery my run
ning geer looked quite feminine and respect
able but the idea of the gentlemen talking
about my auckles and of being cautioned bv
young girl, who would have been frightened to
death If had told her the same thing yesterday,
was too much for me. / burst into sort of
stranguated laugh, which could only check by
swallowing half of my filagree, lace-edged hand
kerchief. The young ladies all looked at me. in
apparent astonishment at such voice. and |
wanted to laugh all the more. Fortunately, Mr..
Blmoy came to my rescue at that moment and
edged himself in among the crinolne.
May sit here he asked, pointing to low
stool near me.
Certainly simpered, in my high falsetto.
An, thank you,' said Bimby-with a lacka-
daisical air which nauseated me as coming from
one man to another-'you are as kind as you
are fascinating
You fiatter mer
Il? No indeed; praise of you cannot be flat
terry, Miss Lee
oh. sir, really, you are very naughty man.
| said, in the most femme tone could command.
lie cast a Ianguishing 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-engaged beforehand d-awaitinp us. OF
course, dancing was the first amusement. and
Lawyer Bimby led me out for schottische. It
was hard, at first, for me to take the ladvs part
IN my dance, but | soon got accustomed to it.
When waltz was proposed resolved to have
a little amusement at the expense of the unfor-
tunate Bimby. had at first made him purpose
ly jealous, by dancing with two other Young fell
lows, one of whom knew in my own character.
but who never suspected me as Maggie Lee.
This young man, who was great WOMAN killer
a sort of easy, devil -may-care rascal who made
the ladies run after him by his alternate warmth
OF action and GOODNESS of protestation-I selected
to play off against my legal admirer. I al
lowed him to hold me very closely, and occa-
sionally looked at him with half fascinating
expression. When we stopped dancing he lei
me to seat, keeping his arm around my waist.
and permitted it. Having thus stirred Bimby
up to feats of wrathful valor, asked one of the
gentlemen to direct the musicians to play a
waltz. Bimby came immediately.
iAhem-a--Niss Lee shall Ia. haze the
honor of-ar-tylng waltz with you p
smiled gracious acquiesence aud We COM
menced Now am an old stager at waltzing
can keep it up longer than any non-profession-
al dancer, male or female, whom | ever met As
longas the Cachuca Schonnebrunnen tingle in
my ears, can go on if it is for year Not so
with Bimby. He plead want of practice. and
acknowledged that he soon got dizzy.
Aha, old boy thought l, I'll give you a
turn, them
But only smiled, and said that should pro-
baby get tired first
Oh, yesT he exclaimed, of course; can
waltz as long as any one lady, but not much
more
For the first three minutes nv cavalier did
we'll lie went on smoothly and ,enly, but at
the expiration of that time, began to grow warm.
Five minutes elapsed, and Bimby's breath came
harder On we went, however, and scorned
to notice his slackening up at every round. when
he passed my seat. After some ten or twelve
minutes the wretched man gasped out betw cen
his steps-Ahs a--are you not get-getting
tired (?
Oh, nor burst forth as coolly as if we were
riding round the room sOb, no. feel as if
could waltz all night
The look of despair that he gave was terrible
to see. was bound to see him through. how
ever, and we kept at it. Bimby staggered and
made steps in all directions. His shirt collar
wilted his eyes protruded, his jaw hung down
and altogether, | saw he could not hold out much
longer.
This is delightful said composedly. sapd
you, Mr.. Bimby, waltz so easily
puf-ah-puff yes-oh-puff-yery
-delightful.'
Don't you think it ought to go a little faster !?
he rolled his eyes heavenward in agony
An, puH-puf--I don't--as-puf--do don't
know
80 when we nearcd the musicians, said
iaster, If you please-fasterr and they PLAYED
a Ia whirlwind- Poor Bimby threw his feet
about like PAGER, and revolved after the man.
ner OF teetotum which was nearly run down.
AT last he staggered a step backwards and spin
ning eccenfrically away from me. pitched head
long INTO bevy of ladies in corner | turned
around coolly, apd walking to my seat sent the
young woman-killer for glass of ice water
ne miserable lawyer recovered his senses Just
10 time TO see ne thank his rival for the water.
got some idea. from this of the fun young la
dles lind in tormenting US yonng devils of the
other sex
At this juncture, and to apologize for his ac-
eiaent, little Jennie came running into the pa
Wilton which served as a ball room As she
came near, | perceived that her hands were
ciutched tightly in her dress. and / positively
snuddered as she whispered to me:
On, Maggie, come and help me FIX my skirts
they are all coming down
What should do? was in agony A cold
preparation broke out upon my forehead. /
wished myself a thousand miles away, and ana
snematized Bob Styles masquerading project
mwardly, with fearful maledictions l said
was tired out, could not somebody else go?
1ark 7