The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-10-06

"Too bad, too bad ! plague take that
provoking bell why couldn't it wait a
moment longer; but see, girls, do each of
you think up something splendid, and in
the morning when we take our stroll, we
can compare notes, and adopt the best"
eyes, so We can. o, these tiresome
lessons shall not sleep wink this
night. There, there, come" and the
Fgirls gathered up their books and flew off
to their own apartments bnt which of
the two, the studies or that extraordina-
ry letter, was the recipient of the greater
portion of their thoughts, is matter of
speculation.
Col. Mordaunt's residence stood at the
head of little village not thousand
miles from the getty of Monuments" in
Maryland, and but short walk from Mrs.
Champions Female Seminary. The Col
onel was very fond of the young ladies at
the Seminary, who frequently, at his
invitation, made his spacious grounds
the rendezvous of their daily strolls.-
They were always particularly delighted
when allowed to visit this charming place.
They gambolled over the green grass like
so many lambkius in the sunshine, and
when they grew weary. sat down to rest
in the dim, delightful shade of the grand
old trees. The Colonel often came out
among them, and would pat the head of
one, pinch the rosy cheeks of another,
and present each with bunch of sweet
flowers, which they always received with
eager delight.
The morning following the advent of
Fanny Clayton's first love letter they were
permitted to visit the Coloue's premises.
Fanny's party made no attempts to join
the sports, but wi hdrew in a body to
wide-spreading oak tree, where they sat
down on the grass, pulling to pieces the
flowers they gathered by the way, ostensi-
bly, for botanical purposes, but really as
blind, and to keep off intruders. They
were about to open the discussion, when
they observed comedy, bright,looking
young mulatto girl enter the gate near
which they were seated.
"Where have you been. now, Zoe ?"
said Fanny, as the girl drew near on her
way to the house.
"Only over to the Club, MISS" said
Zoe, pausing before them. The girls
looked at each other moment, and Fan
ny said:
"Come here, Zoe, close I'd like to
know what you've been doing at the Club.
Where's Aunt Judy?"
"She's sick, miss, a week now, and she
gets me to clean up in her place; but if
the dust and dirt get as thick as from
here to the Seminary, you don't catch
Zoe there again"
"Why, what's the matter now 2"
"Matter enough for me, miss. Mr..
Jack Waters kicked me down stairs this
morning, and told me to tell master to
keep his eaves.dropping niggers at home"
"Ah listening, were you that's very
bad, Zoe; listeners never hear any good
of themselves
"But l wasn't listenin', miss, at least
not that time, and that's what made me
so mad. | never listened but once since
Use been going over there, and then l
think | oughter-the way they was a.
talking about you !"
"About mo, Zoe," said Fanny, turning
crimson, "what in the world could they
have to say about me, | don't even know
them"
"They was talking about you, miss,
anyway"
"Here, Zoe, come sit right down close
to me-" said Fanny, sweeping the dresses
aside to make room "now, tell me just
what they were saying"
"Well, Miss Fanny, it was jest this
way. 1t was last Tuesday morning, 1
think, that I had just finished sweepiu'
and putin things to rights, and then
went down to bring up ices. While l
was gone, Mr.. Jack and Mr.. Aft. Sim
mons came in. I never walks very heavy,
and the door was little way open, thong ii
not enough for them to see me, and L
heerd them say somethin' about Fanny
Clayton-they didn't even say Miss-and
somethin' about love; so | jest stood still
minute, and heerd Mr.. Jack say he
was going to write you letter, and make
believe he was dying in love with you,
and he'd bet five dollars you'd think it
Was all earnest, and said you was pretty
gal, but looked like you might be tar
tar; indeed he did, MISS
20, the mean, audacious, good-for-
nothing scamp were some of the adjec-
tives freely bestowed by the indignant
girls; but Fanny ClaytOn's cheeks we're
glowing, her eyes blaring.
20, girls, don't you see it?" Can't
you see it now? Zoe, you're a treasure !!
Listen, listen o, he shall pay dearly
for this. I've got an idea--a splendid
one ! How lucky it was that Zoe came
here o, do listen to what / am saying.
1t is better than all our plans put togeth-
err" The girl fairly quivered in her ex-
element. ale said be was going to write
me letter, and he has; the initial cor
responds with his name exactly. o, I'm
going to fix that fellow nicely. Zoe,
Zoe, you must help me, say, will you p
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