The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-07-28
VOL. I.-NO. l3.

DerDy was tTelnDllnp WIN COlu ana
wrath.
F" You mean to marry Derby then?"
asked Susan.
81 suppose SHALL" cried Margaret
Maria gayly. al like to llirt with Dan.
and if he had as many dollars as my
poor, dear absent Derby"
You would choose Dan?"
"To be sure l would. lie amt such
fool as"
Derby. 1Ia ha! But what is this ?
A coat and pair Of pataloons."
"Good gracious! How did they
come here?"
Derby was trembling with excitement
burning with rage; but now he felt a
new source of uneasiness. The dis
covery of his pantaloons might lead to
the discovery of himself. Had he been
dressed he would have liked nothing
better than to confront the periidious
Margaret EIaria-but for the present, it
was not to be thought of. He felt him
self blushing all over, in spite Of cold.
| To his relief, however, the girls, after
making out that that there was nobody
| in or tIhder the bed, did not seem dis
posed to inquire into the mystery of the
panta,oons; but Margaret Maria eX-
claimed:
"I'll tell you what will do, Sue. I'll
dress myself in these clothes, and go
| into the widow Slade's room. She'll
think it is q man, and won't she be
| frightened?"
Frightened? Nor' cried Susan.
"She's had two husbands. But do it.
See what she will say"
81 will. Here, help me, Sue. 1Ia!
ha! And there's Il hat too. How kind
in somebody to leave all his clothes
hereW
Derby-poor dear, present Dcrby-was
breathing very hard; his heart beat
heavily, and every nerve shook. What
the deuce he was to do if Margaret
Maria went Off with his pants he could
in no manner determine; and from the
exceedingly interesting conversation
which was going on he knew that his
worst fears were to be realized.
"Oh, amt it fit" cried Margaret
Maria. "Only turn up the trowscrs
five or six inches, and shall be fixed.
Here, black my upper lip with this piece
of coal, shan't make love to you. Ha!
ha! amt / dashing fellow?"
And Derby could hear somebody kiss
ing somebody and somebody laughing
as though she could not help it.
A moment after the girls had left the
room. Derby stole timidly from his
hiding-place. Margaret Maria had taken
the lamp and his clothes with her;
she had left darkness and her own
clothes behind. A happy thought struck
unhappy Derby. In all haste he en-
robed himself in Margaret Maria's
gown, then he put her shawl over his
shoulders, and threw on her bonnet and
veil. His eyes having been accustomed
to the darkness, he could see to do this
without difficulty. In five minutes he
was ready to follow Susan and Marga-
ret Maria.
, During this time there was a great
= deal of laughing up stairs. Margaret
Maria in Derby's attire, went to Mrs.
Slade's room, who was little startled
5 at first, but who took things very coolly,
t until she found that it was not man,
. after all, when she virtuously gave vent
, to her indignation. The adventures
' next proceeded to the attic, where the
l girls were sound asleep. Susan having
e placed the lamp in the passage, hid be-
= hind the door, while Margaret Marie
o entered and aWoke Jane Woods with {
'. violent shower OF kisses. Jane uttered
:, q faint scream and demanded in whis
y per
Il "Who are you"
:, "Sh !" said Margaret Maria.
Jane hushcd accordingly, until sht
It saw the strange figure proceed to Mar,
&c Clark's pillow, when she concluded tha
d it was her duty to scream. Mar,
? screamed, too, after she had been sew
t. eral times kissed; and Sarah Jonc
Joined in the chorus until her moutl
y was stopped by hasty buss.
D "Is it you, George?' she whispered.
lie At this moment the strange figure
:; which had been seen by the light in tn
y passage, ran out, and Susan, catchin
Is up the lamp, ran in.
"What is the matter ?" she cried i
st pretended astonishmcnt.
ce "Thcre is man in the room."
+, "He was kissing Sarah Jones"
bs "He didn't kiss me. lie was kissin
re Mary Clark"
Is "Me? guess I'd have torn his eye
as out. 1t was Jane Woods he kissed"
ed Susan was very much astonishcd {
course, and the girls were all very il
?" dignant; and no one Of them woul
he confess that she had been kissed, unit
1T Susan pointed out the marks of II
coal moustache on all their faces, an
at called in Margaret Maria. Then the
ed was great deal of laughing; and Ma
garet Maria having gallanty kissC
ret them all, again set out to so dow
y! stairs.
nor But now it was Derby's turn to ha'
He little fun, and Margaret Maria's TO
,ry astonished. AS Susan advanced Il
a lamp she carried revealed Il fright
looking object standing at the foot
oy, stairs. 1t was apparently n woman
gigantic structure; her dress was
He short that her bare feet and ankles cou
I9- h,