Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-01-28

But only smiled, and said that 1 should
probable get tired first.
sob, yes!" he exclaimed. "Of course; can
waltz as long as any one lady, but not much
For the first three minutes my cavalier did
we'll He went smoothly and evenly, but a /
the expiration Of that time began to grow warm.
came harder and harder. On we Went, how.
ever, and scorned to notice his slackening up
at every round, when we passed my seat. Al
ter some ten or twelve minutes, the wretched
man gasped ont between his steps. 49,
"Ah, ARE you not-geLgetting very tired.
"Oh no % burst forth las coolly as if we were
riding ground the roomo-"Oh,.no, feel as it I
The look Of despair that he gave was terrible
to see 81 = =
and we kept att. Bimby staggered and made
| Wild steps in all directions. His shirt. collar
| Wiited, eyes protruded, his jaw hung down;
and. altogether, saw he could not hold out
This is delightful" said I, "and you Mr..
Bimby. waltz SO easily!'
| puf-delighlful,' he gasped.
| fasterl"
He rolled his eyes heavenward in agony
| "Ah, puf-puf-I dOn't-ah-puf-don't
| know" i'.t
So when we neared the musicians, said:
| played a Ia whirlwind.
| Poor Bimby threw his feet about like a fast
PAGER, and revolved after the manner OF tee
totum which was nearly run down. At last
| h e staggered q few step backwards, and spin
| ming scientifically away from me, pitched
| headlong in the midst OF bevy OF young Ia
dies in q corner. ! turned eoolly, walked to
| my seat, and sent the young woman killer
| after glass OF ice-water.
| The miserable lawyer recovered his senses
| Just In time to see me thank his rival for the
| wafer.
| l got some idea from this Of the fun young
] ladies have In tcrmenting us poor devils Of the
| other sex.
At this juncture, and before Mr.. Bimby had
time to apologize for his accident, little Jennie
| came running into the pavilion which served
| for ball room. As she came near perceived
| dress, and positively shuddered as she whis-
| pered to me.
"Oh, Maggie! come and help me fix my
skirts-they all coming down"
What should do! l was in agony. A cold
perspiration broke out upon my forehead.
wished myself a thousand miles away and
mathematical Bob Styles masquerading pro-
ject inwar dly, with; fearful maledlctions.
said was tired out-ceuld not somebody
else 60?
No, nothing would do but / must accom-.
pany her to the house OF g. gentleman who
owned the grove, and assist her to arrange her
clothing.
So went.
What if it should be necessary to remove the
greater part Of her raiment! What if she should
tell me to do some sewingf What II in the
m ldst Of all the embarrassments of being clos.
e,ed with beautiful girl of seventeen, in state
of comparative freedom from drapery my real
sex and indemnity should be discovered by herl
felt as if an apopletic fit would be q fortu-
nate occurrence for me just then.
However, / nerved myself for the task,
and accompanied Jennie to the house designa-
ted: An old lady showed us into her chamber,
and Jennie heaving a sigh OF relief let 60 her
dress. AS she did so, a-pardun my bushes!
petticoat fell to the floor. She was about
to proceed but alarmed her by sudden and
vehement gesture.
.Stopr' cried frantically an forgetting my
falsetto; ''stop! don't undress for Gods saken'
She opened her great brown eyes to their
widest extent.
"And why not!"
because AMI am a-can you keep Sc
cret!'
"Why yes-how frightened yoH look!' Why
oh! Obj!
And she gave three screams
"Hush, no noise, or am lost! exclaimed,
putting my hand over her mouth: l swear
mean no harm; If 1 had l would not have
stopped you. Don't you seep'
She was all OF q tremble, poor little thing
butshe saw the force of my argument.
"Oh, cir" she SAID, see yon are man; but
I told her the story as briefly as possible, az
ter exacting from her promise OF the most sa-
cred secresy.
till she had arranged her dress, when she
called me again. She had heard of me from
Maggie and others, and wanted to hear all the
particu lars; 30 sat down by her, and we had
q long talk, which ended in mutual feelings Of
friendliness and old acquaintanceship, quite
wonderful for people meeting the first Time
said must relieve my mind Of justone more
burden.
"And what's thatr' she said.
"Those kisses. You thought / was Maggie
Lee, or you would not have given them. They
were very sweet, but I suppose 1 must give
them back"
And did.
She blushed good deal, but she didn't re-
slst only when got through, she glanced up
81 think you are real naughty anyhow"
When we retreated, found lawyer Bimby
quite recovered from his dizziness and all
hands for supper, which was served in the
ball room. / sat between Bimby and Jennie!
and made love to both in turn: to one as Mag
gle Lee and the other as myself. After sup
per- at which / astonished great many by
eating rather more heartily than young ladies
generally do, we had more dancing, and hint
ed pretty strongly to Mr.. Bimby that should
like to try another waltz. -...zs -
He DIDN'T take the hint
Finding it rather dry amusement to dance
with my own kind. / soon abandoned that
10 the moonlight with me. Wefound the grove
a charming place, full OF picturesG Ne little
ners and rustic seats; and great grey rocks
leaning out over the river. On one side OF
these latter little bench was placed; in a nook
sheltered from the wind and from the sight.
Here we sat- In the full flood of the moon
light, and having just had dinner. felt Won
derfully in need OF cigar. Accordingly, l
went back to q little stand near the ball. room
and purchased several of the wonderful wo-
man who sold refreshments. Then returning
to the seats by the rocks. 1 gave up all cares
OF fears for my incognito, and revelled in the
pleasures CT solitude-the fragrance Of my ci-
gar-the mOonlight-and little Jennie's pres.
ence.
| How long we sat there, heaven knows. We
| talked and laughed, and sang, and looked into
| into each others eyes, and told fortunes; and
performed all the nonsensicaI operations COM
| mon amongst young people just falling in love
with each other, and nigh have remained there
| tlll the month of August, in the year OF our
| Lord eighteen hundred and fifty.seven; for
| aught know. had not the carriage been sent
| to convey us home and the rest Of the COM
pany began to " onder where we were.
This wonder begat questions, the questions
fears, and fears search, headed by the valiant
Bimby. They called, and looked and listened,
but our Position down in the sheltered nook
among the rocks prevented them from hearing
us or them.
at length they hit upon our path, and all
came along, single file, until they got to the
open space above.