The Van Buren press., 1869-06-22
MISCELLANY.
From Chambers Journal.
In Woman's Clothes.

You will remember | was always con
sidered very pretty boy, and in early
days, when we were all children,you usec
to say that ought to have been girl
When | was about twenty-one years old
| was staying one long vacation with
some friend. of the 110th regiment then
quartered in Ireland. In the regiment
there was a certain Captain Dundee, who
was rather heavy, stupid fellow, though
a pretty good officer, and who prided
himself upon being very sharp. He used
to boast that nobody could take him in
and that he would recognize person in
any conceivable disguise was very in
innate with Captain Dundee, and so far
from thinking him very sharp, used to
abuse him for his stupidity, and was al
ways chatting him on the subject.
One evening at moss, when Captain
Dundee was not present, bets were made
that could not pass an evening in his
company dressed as n lady without his
discovering the trick. | bet that could
do so. Many officers took my side, and
at last it ended in very heavy bets indeed
being made not by me, but, what was
worse, by my friends, for ! felt that their
losing or gaining almost a fortune, de
pended entirely on me. As the day drew
near, these bets were doubled. | quite
trembled for the result. | may mention
that though / did not know it, al! these
bets were fictitious, and only proclaimed
for the sake OF keeping me up to the
mark. In fact, those concerned thought
lessiy wanted to have jolly lark, were
frad Of my backing out. AS twas, !
felt that about Els 900 in bets depended
on my getting through the evening safely
in my assumed character as lady.
Captain Dundee had married young
larky, care-for- thing, stick at.nothing
Irish girl. ! do not mean to say that she
was really bad, but, from thoughtless-
ness, from not over refined nature, and
from very exuberant, uncontrolled spir-
its, she would rush into scrape, little
thinking or caring about the conse-
quences, or how she should get out Oft
successfully. The bet was, that the first
evening Mr.. Fenwick could get an invi-
tation for himself and an imaginary niece,
Miss Fenwick, to dine with the Dundees,
i was to personate, or attempt to person
ate, the niece; and the said bet more
over, was to the effect that | should sue
cessfully deceive Captain Dundee till such
time as the party separated, however late
the heur might be.
Without my knowledge, Mrs. Dundee
was let into the secret hence all nay trou-
BILE. She in her wild Irish way, quite en-
tered into the joke, and at once determin-
cd to make confusion worse confoundcd.
Very soon note came, stating that
Captain and Mrs. Dundee requested the
pleasure of Mr.. and Miss Fenwick to din.
ner in quiet way on the 10th instant.
Only one or two brother officers were
coming. The fatal day arrived. Remcm-
Der, thought that thousands depended
on the result, and that Mrs. Dundee was
as ignorant as her husband ofmy intend.
ed appearance. Imagine me with pro
fusion of false black curls flower OF
two stuck here and there no end Of lady
jewclry--rngs, ear rings, broach, etc. q
thin muslin dress, with high body, my
face skillfuly painted. In fact was al
together very we'll made up by first rate
hand sent for from Dublin. Partly to
keep up my courage and get me mp to
the mark, and partly because knew that
in my assumed character must not
drink much wine, | imbibcd consider
able quantity before | started More
over, in secret pocket, | concealed q
small flask Of brandy, with which ] hop
ed to be able to keep up my spirits on the
sly,
At table, I played the part well.
talked and nirted, chattcred about dane
ing and so forth, and protested ] was
mad about balls Poor wretch that was,
| wish ] had held my tonguc was un-
Willingly rushing to destruction. drank
as much champagne as | dared in assum-
cd character, and thought everything was
going all right, and that my friends were
quite sure to win their money Scarce
had the cloth been removed. when Mrs
Dundee said 81 have pleasing sur.
prise for all you good people. A few
DAYS ago, | received an invitation from
Sir George and Lady Clonmell to q ball
at their house this evening, with permis'
sion to bring any OF my friends. Slr
George lives twelve miles or Dundee
has secured the large omnibus from the
nn and ordered four horses. and VIC
start at nine o'clock. We can all go to-
gether; we shall have q jolly evening, and
am delighted to tliink that you will be
able to enjoy yourself, Miss Fenwick "
Good gracious! how my heart sank
within me Ny bet held good till the
time we separated. My friends must
lose their money. ] could never get
through ball. knew. said my dress
was high and would not do for ball
my maid" said Mrs Dundee, :" shall
dress you in one OF my evening dresses.
"No that she shant,' almost shrek
nd out ;"if I must 90, will 60 Just as