Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-01-28
THE EVENING STAR.
y DAY IN PETTICOATS.
BY A MODEST YOUNG MAN.

WHAT'S ie name.
And my friend Bob Styles. held MP befcr
my hesiiant gaze q whole suit of feminine ap
parel.
His idea was that should personate hi
suspecting the truth-namefy that she hal
JOINED Rim In runaway marriage partytup
til II should be too late for interference that is
nnni Inc minister should have tied knot be
tween tht N that nothing but special grant OF
The legislature could unite
This scheme was not actually SO absurd as
II appeared at first sight. Maggie Lee was q
tail, queenly woman, with an almost masculine
air, and at that time, had q very slight form
-slmost effe inmate, 60 that, in fact, there was
really but little difference in that point Then
i had light hair parted In the middle, and pu
bonnet on my head and few persons will
suspect that was not Of a softer sex. These
accessories also gave me quite a decided re
semolsnee to Maggie Lee, especially when AZ
In this case the disguise was her own.
Then the day chosen for the runaway match
was an suspicious one. MaRgie's pa was tc
she lived, and there she was to Ioiu a Saline
party down the D. river, to the grove
three miles below; from which the party was
to return in the evening in carriages.
Our plan was, tina, should be in waiting In
the village, and should go on the boat with the
railing party, while Maggie, after leaving her
father would ship off with Bob Styles, across
At last got dressed, and presented myself
before Maggie, blushing r BAT deal belle ve
feeling very much pinched about the waist,
my my shirt sleeves were too short; or want
Ing altogether.
Everything finished, in the way of toilet,
Bob Styles took me into his light wagon, drove
me over 10 D, by secluded route, and
LETT me at the hotel, where the sailing party
was to assemble. Several of the pic-ni ckers
were already there, and they greeted my cav
alier with cordiality, every body knew Bob
Styles asking il he was going with them. He
told them he as not
Pressing business engagements, you know.
n of yh
go, though. just had time to bring Miss Lee
over, and now I'm off. Mr.. Bimby this is NJ iss
Les. Miss Withergall, Miss Lee" and he rat.
tied Of long string Of brief introductions,
which convinced me that but few of the com
pany were acquainted with the Young lady
whom was thus personating-a very tortu-
nate thing for the preservation of my disguise.
MI Bimby, tall, legal. looking man, with
hook nose, and eYe-g glass and puffy hair,
seemed to prepossessed with my personelle.
snd overheard HIM whisper to Bob Styles as
he went out
"Nice looking girl that Miss Lee"
EYES," answered Bob, with a mischievous
glance at me, "she is nice girl, though a little
go-ahead sometimes. Keep a little look ost
on her Will you,''-then lowering his voice
Ia rich"
Ills she!" said Mr.. Blmby, his interes. Deep
ening.
"On my honor" replied Dob "Forty thou
sand dollars in her OWN right. Day-dayi' and
he was gone.
Maggie Lee, artful creature that she was, had
told her father that the sailing party was to
assemble at another hotel, and thither he had
taken her. Having business in D, he left
her there, merely saying that he would send
the carriage for her ct eleven O'Clock. She
like dutiful daughter kissed him, and bid
him good bye. and before he had got hundred
had driven up to the back door as Mr. Lees
drove from the front and the old story of head
strong s. love and prejudieed age was enacted
Az for ms of the mic. mic excursion MA had a
delightful sail down to the Grove, but some
how, could not enjoy it as much as ought
to have done. When 1 walked on board the
boat, felt awkward as If every body was look
ing at me. found Mr.. Bimby as had sus-
pected. young and rising lawyer, mighty in
Blackstone and his own opinion. He insisted
on paying my fare (the boat was q regular ex-
cursion packet) and purchasing enough oranges
pears, and candies, to set mp street stand.
Four or five times was on the point Of swear
ing al his impudent righteousness, but bit my
tongue just in time to prevent my imposure:
But II was not with him that found my role
the hardest to play.
TO deceive. For instance there was one among
them, beautiful girl of seventeen. inst return
ed from boarding school, who had not seen
Maggie Lee for three years. OF course she
was delighted TO see me, when she fopnd ont
that was Maggie Lee, which by the way did
not occur until after we had started. She
aside, and kissed me half a dozen times, in q
manner, that made my finger ends Jingle for
an hour 1t was all very nice, but If had
been in proprid persona, / would have liked
It better. As it was / felt as il i was obtain.
ing goods under false pretenses, and lawyer
Bimby might issue warrant for my arrest on
That around at any moment.
whole knot of crnoline then surrounded
me, on the upper deck OF the boat, to the utter
exclusion snd consequent disgust of Mr.. Bimby
and all the other gentlemen. 1 kept very
quiet, only speaking in syllables, in a fal-
sttto voice, but the Others-Lord bless you.
how they gabbled! Under, strict promise OF
secresy, the little boarding school maiden who
had kissed me so afectiOnately, revealed all
her love affairs and also became very unpleas-
antly confidential about other matters-inno-
cent enough in themselves. but not customar-
lily talked OF between ladies and gentlemen.
was terribly embarrassed, but ii would not
do 10 give II up then. AS soon as my trick
should become know Bob Styles trick would
come out and news of that kind travels fast in
the country, he and his lady.love would be
tseGraphed and, followed before they could
reach Philadelphia, where Styles lived and
" here the knot was TO be tied.
The river breeze was very fresh where we
sat, and L noticed that several of the ladies
were glancing uneasily at me. ! couldn't d.
vine the reason, until Jennie, my little friend
from boarding school, laid her face ngerous-
ly close TO mine, and whispered: "My dear
Maggie, your dress Is blowing up terribly high
your ankles will be town talk with the
Rentlement'
Now l was conscious of having a very small
foot fora man, and had donned pair OF open
worked stockings which came up nearly to my
servant girl i'll all of which toggery my ssrun-
nIng gear looked quite feminine and respect.
able; but the idea OF the gentlemen talking
about my ankles, and Of being thus by young
lady, no would have been frightened to death
if had told her the same thing yesterday, was
too much for me. / burst in a sort OF strangu-
lated laugh, which could only check by swal-
lowing halt OF my filagree lace edged b and
EerehIef The young ladies all looked at me
III apparent astonlshment at such voice and
i wanted to laugh all the more. Fortunately,
Mr. Bimby came 10 my rescue at the moment
and edged him self in among the crinoline.
M y sit here!" he asked pointing to low
stool near me.
Certainly" simpered in my high falsetto.
''Ah, thank you," said Bimby-with lacka-
daisIcal air which nauseated fme, as coming
from one man 10 anoiher-''you are as kind
as you are fascnating.'
"You fiatter metz
terry, Miss Lee :.
"On sir, really, you are a very naughty man.
said IN the most feminine tone could com.
mand
He cast languishing glance at me through
the black lace veil, and fairly began to fear
for his "feelings."