Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-03-06
miscellaneous.
RUEfUL'S LOVE SCRAPE.

We heard good story few evenings
since, to the effect that a gentleman,
while taking swim on the lake at Buffa-
10, New York, on casting his eyes toward
the beach, to behold rag picking female
deliberately put his shirt, white panta-
looms, stockings, &c, into her basket,
and uomoSe. Pursuit was in vain, and
the denuded one was compelled to make
up the DEFICIENCIES of his wardrobe with
blasphemy. In fact, in the language of
Scripture, " he clothed himself with
curses as with garment" That was
cool on the part of the rag picker GER
tainly, but we once heard of an incident
that beats it into lint. A young man,
whom we shall call Rueful, on certain
occasion invited his lady-love, Miss Ara
bella Simpkins, to take walk. Il was
a sultry evening in August, and by the
time the young couple reached the Park
they were rather tired, Rueful suggested
that they should 60 in and take a seat
near the fountain to rest themselves. -
Alas, for Rueful, the suggestion was an
unfortunate one. Throwing open she first
gate they came to, our hero held it back
whilsl Miss simpAins entered, and az he
was about following, he let go the gate
rather suddenly and coming at him with
some force it caused him to stumble for
ward, aud striking his toe at the same
time against some obstruction, he fell at
full length upon bis face.
Rueful's index was badly scratched,
and his body was somewhat bruised, but
he would not have minded that, had he
met with no greater misfortune but un-
fortunately for the poor fellow, his panta.
looms were rather fine drab, and they
could not stand the sudden strain which
had been put upon them-they parted on
the seat all the way across. Had it been
daylight Rueful would have felt like NOV
ing for home at once, but the darkness
favored him, and picking himself up with
much alacrity, he offered his arm to Miss
Simpkins as though nothing had happen
ed, and shortly afterwards they were
seated, side by side, near the fountain,
the cool breeze ever and anon waiting
the fine spray into their faces, and the
mournful murmur of the falling water
soothing their senses into sweet tran
guilty.
Rueful had entirely recovered from
the nervousness which his sad mishap
had produced, and he began to feel, to
use his own expression, like bird -
What melancholy truth it is, that the
sweetest dreams are apt to be disturbed,
and that when we feel ourselves most Sc
cure we are often in the most danger.
Rueful was not aware he passed his arm
around the slender waist Of his darling
girl and strained her to his bosom, whis-
pering the while some soft nothings in
her ear--he was not aware, we say, while
thus employed, that flag of truce was
waving beneath him-that be bad let
ter in the Post Office-that be was in the
predicamcnt which the old rhyme repre-
sents Dickey Dine as having been
in--tLat to be plain, he was displaying
more linen than is either fashionable or
gentecl. Rueful was not aware Of this,
and be was happy that nothing but Rue
full was on the Park-other eyes than
Rueful's did see something white, and
those eyes glistened in anticipation But
let us anticipate. Rueful had made up
his mind that
That was the night,
Which made him, or unmade him quite"
He had determined TO PROFOUND to
Miss Simpkins the important question,
an affirmative answer to which would
render him supremely happy-he had
screwed his courage 10 the sticking place,
and was just about to whisper, in tone
such as only youth suffering from loves
delightful panic can employ, wilt thou
be mine, Arabela, when he thought he
felt something jerking at him behind
He paused, aud as there WAS 10 repeti-
ton Of the act immediately he attributed
il to his Imagination, and had again fixed
his mouth to pronounce the important
sentence when again he felt another jerk
Rueful knew not what 70 make Of il, AMI