The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1865-02-02

saying that he would send the carriage for
her at eleven o'clock. She, like dutiful
daughter, kissed him, and bid him good
bye, and before he had gone a hundred
rods, took seat in Bob Styles light
wagon, which had driven up to the back
door as old Lees drove away from the
front, and the old story of headstrong love
and prejudiced age was enacted over once
again.
AS for Us of the picnic excursion, we
had delightful sail down to the grove,
but somehow 1 could not enjoy it as much
as [ ought to have done When [ walked
on board the boat, [ felt awkward, as if
everybody was looking at me. [ found
Mr.. Bimby, as [ had suspected, young
and rising lawyer, mighty in Blackstone
and his own opinion. Heinsisted on pay
ing for my ticket, (the boat was regular
excursion packet and purchasing enough
oranges, pears, and candies to set up a
street stand. Four or five times [ was on
the point of swearing at his impudent
offciousness, bat bit my tongue just in
time to prevent the exposure But it was
not with him found my role the hardest
to play.
No; the young ladies were the difficult
ones to deceive. For instance, there was
one among them, beautiful girl Of seven
teen, just returned from boarding school,
who had not seen Maggie Lee for three
years. OF course she was delighted to see
me, when she found out that [ was Mag
gle, which, by the way, did not occur till
after we had started. She threw herself
into my arms, pulled my veil aside, and
kissed me half dozen times, in q manner
that made my finger ends tingle for an
hour. 1t was all very nice, but if [ had
been IN propria persona, [ would have
liked it better. As it was, [ felt as if l
were "oDtaining goods under false preten-
ces," and the lawyer Bimby might issue a
warrant for my arrest on that ground at
any moment.
A whole knot Of crinoline then surroun-
ded me: on the upper deck of the boat, to
the utter exclusion and consequent disgust
of Mr.. Bimby and the other gentlemen. [
kept very quiet, only speaking monosylla-
bles, in falsetto voics; but the others
Lord bless youl how they gabbled! I'm
der strict promise of secresy, the little
boarding school maiden, who had kissed
me so afectionately, revealed ali her love
affairs, and also became unpleasantly con-
fdential about other matters-innocent
enough in themselves, butnot customarily
talked Of between ladies and gentlemen
[ was terribly embarrassed, but it would
not do to give it up then. As soon as my
trick should become known, Bob Styles
trick would also come out; and as news of
that kind travels fast In the country, he
and his lady-love would he telegraphed and
followed before they could reach Philadel-
phia, where the Styles family lived, and
where the Knot was to be tied.
The river breeze was very fresh where
we sat, and | noticed that several of the
ladies' were glancing uneasily at me-
couldn't divine the reason, until Jennie,
my little friend from boarding school, laid
her face dangerously close to mine, and
whispered: "My dear Maggie, your dress
is blowing up terribly high-your ankles
will be town talk with the gentlemen"
Now was conscioVs of having very
small foot for a man, and had donned a
pair of open worked stockings which came
up nearly to my waist, with a pair of gait
ers, borrowed from servant girl, in all of
which toggery my running gear" looked
quite feminine and respectable but the
idea of the gentlemen talking about n7y
ankles, and of being thus cautioned by a
young girl who would have been frighten-
ed to death if had told her the same
thing yesterday, was too much for me.
burst in sort Of strangulated laugh, that
| could only check by swallowing half Of
my little filagree lace edged handkerchief
The young ladies all looked at me in
apparent astonishment at such a voice and
l wanted to laugh all the more Fortu-
nately, Mr.. Bimby came to my rescue at
that moment, and edged himself in among
the crinoline.
"May sit here ?" he asked, pointing
to low stool near me-
Certainly" simpered in my high
falsetto
'HAh, thank you," said Bimby-with
lackadaisical air which nauseated me, as
coming from one man to another" you
are as kind as you are fascinating"
''You fatter me !"
'I? No, indeed; praise of you cannot be
fattery, Miss Lee"
"Oh, sir, really you are a very naughty
man" | said, in the most feminine tone [
could command.
He cast languishing 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-awaitiDg