The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-01-27

suspicious sounds suggestive of fagellation.
The noise increased, and above the din we
distinguished Madames voice shrieking {:
"Dan Syvers you Dan Syvers, come out
of there or I'll smash ye." This interesting
morning salutation was adorned with
few choice expletives, and a. regular
prize fight ensued. The poor little Dan
evidently did fight, for she would yell
with pain occasionally, but her superior
strength and strategy gave her the laurel,
and the little man could be heard sobbing
very audibly, in a corner, over his most
wretched destiny.
This agreeable performance went on
every day !; sometimes bringing the stately
Mrs. Gloriana Smith to see what was the
matter, and frequently subjecting her to the
complaints of the bOarders. Harry and 1
stood it very well, however, and rather
enjoyed the business.
During the day Madame Syvers would
be circulating free ly from kitchen to garret,
insinuating herself in the ladies' rooms, and
even in our own apartment she was found
by. Harry one day, opening private drawer
OF his secretary which he had carelessly left
unlocked.
There was a young medical student
named Nymes, boarding at our house at
this time one of those soft, meek, good
natured souls who can be talked into any
thing through fear Of giving offence. His
devotion to the fair sex was so intense, that
he would attempt utter impossibilities at
the suggestion OF pretty girl. His devo.
tion, however, could not grasp Mrs. Syvers,
for he hated her with the common hatred of
the household, and dreaded getting into
conversation with her above all things.
Very naturally Nymes was favorite in
the house. His obliging character was
constantly made use Of by the girls, and
Nymes became sort of Mercury for our
little boarding house Olympus. He, how
ever, wisely cut Mrs. Syvers, and thus
escaped, generally, prospective infiction.
One day Nymes announced his intention
of going to New York on some business,
and as we were all shocked and greved to
be deprived of his company for so long a
time as three weeks, we all suggested to
him the propriety of having little parting
jubilee before he left-a little soiree dansante,
crowned with pleasant little supper.
Nymes had given several little parties Of
the kind at his rooms, which gave general
satisfaction, so be was quite delighted with
the idea, and avOwed his intention of imme-
diately making preparations.
In day or two, Harry and l received
our invitations on rose,colored note paper
for eight o'clock, Thursday evening, and
determined to 60, as we knew from past
experience that Nymes was capital hand
at entertaining his friends, and we would
have delightful little time of it. We
found on investigation that Nymes had
invited the whole femality of the house with
the exception of the bette MORE, Mrs. Dan
Syvers. That he had the courage to per-
petrate this neglect was matter OF wonder
ment to US all, and l need not say it was a
matter of general congratulatiOn.
Loud, indeed, were the plaudts and en-
comiums bestowed upon Nymes for his
satisfactory course of conduct. When he
came up to dinner on the invitation day, he
Mrs. Syvers looked at him. She had
wreathed her face with her most seductive
smiles that day, and the first thing she did,
after Nymes was seated at the table, was to
ask him if she was going to have dancing?"
"for," said she, "you know we poor ladies
can't get along without dancing;" she
hoped, morever, "that Mr.. Nymes' rooms
were entirely ventilated, as she invariably
caught cold alter beilg in those over heated
rooms"
Harry, she means to 60, depend upon
it," | whispered.
Poor Nymes! He quivered in his boots,
turned as red as matured beet, and finally
upset the sauce be was passing to Miss Din
ley, directly in that amused young lady's lap.
Overcome with this fatal catastrophe, be
rushed from the room. Mrs. Syvers, how
ever, went on eating in the most satisfactory
manner, and was unusually gracious to US
all; remarking that " Mr.. Nymes had been
looking shocklngly for two or three days,
and must be ILL.,"
1t was generally believed that Nymes was
desperately in love with pretty little Miss
Dinley Indeed, furious Irritation had been
carried on for some time between them; and
the young lady was in highly excitable
state of mind in regard to the party. Nymes
had craved the privilege OF conducting her
to the festive scene. The usual feminine
confabulation about dresses prevailed and
the eventful day having arrived, there GER
tainly was in our house " a running to and
fro," twinkling of little feet along the
passages, cleaning of incomplete toilets
from room to room, delicious little gamuts
of silvery feminine laughter, and a general
elimination to Nymes' party;-at least
Harry and thought so, from what we saw
and heard as we went up to our room about
tea-time.
The girls told us that throughout the day
Mrs. Dan Syvers had been most indefatigably
endeavoring to borrow pair of slippers
and had announced to several of them her
intention of being present at Nymes' party
in the evening.