The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-07-22
A DAY IN PETTICOATs.
by A MODEST YOUNG MAN.
"I couldn't think of such thing.

But you must. My happiness de-
pends on it. Here, put on the thing
umbods; and the what's it's name"
And my friend, Bob Styles. held ur
before my aesitating gaze whole sui
of feminine apparel.
His idea was that ! should person.
ate his lady love for one day. to pre-.
vent anybody from suspecting the
truth-namely that she had joined him
in q runaway marriage party-until il
should be too late for interference =
that is, until the minister should have
tied knot ketween them that nothing
but special grant of the Legislature
could unite.
The scheme was not actually so alb.
surd as it appeared ut first sight.
Maggie Lee was tall, queenly wo.
man, with an almost masculine air,
and at that time 1 had a very slight
form-almost effeminate, so that, in
fact, there was really but little differ
ence in that point. Then had light
hair parted in the middle, and with q
bonnet on my head few persons would
suspect that was not the other sex.
These accessories also gave me quite u
decided resemblance to Maggie Leo,
especially when as in this case, the
disguise was her own.
Maggie's pa was to drive her to
D., small village near where she
lived, and there she was to join q
sailing party down D. River. to
the grove three miles below; from
which the party was to return in the
evening III carriages.
Our plan was that / should be wait
in the village, and should go to the
boat with the sailing party, while
Maggie after leaving her father should
slip off with Bob Styles across the
country.
At last / got dressed and presented
myself before Maggie, blushing a
great deal, 1 believe, feeling very
much pinched abou. the waist, and
with an uncomfortable consciousness
that my shirt sleeves were too short
or wanting altogether.
Everything finished in the way OF
toilette, Bob Styles took me into his
light wagon and drove me over to
D., by secluded route, and left
me at the hotel where the sailing par
ty was to assemble. Several of the
pioneers were already there, and they
greeted my chevalier with cordialiiy
(every body knew Bob Styles asking
if he was going with them. He told
them he was not.
Pressing business engagements,
you know and all that SORT of thing. -
Deuced sorry can't go through. ]
just had time to bring Miss Lee over,
and now I'm off. Mr.. Biinby this is
Miss Lee, Miss Withergail, Miss Lee, l"
and he ratified off q long string of brief
introductions.
Mr.. Bimby, tall, legal looking
gentleman, with hook nose, and an
eye glass aud puffy hair, seemed to be
prepossessed with my personelle, and
1 overheard him whisper to Bob
Styles, as he went out:
Nice-looking girl. that Miss Lee. "
Yes" answered Bob, with mis-
chievous glance at me. " She's q
nice girl, tho little go ahead some
times. Keep little look on her will
you," then lowering his voice he said,
'' not bad match for you old fellow,
she is rlch."
IS she 2" said Binhy, his interest
deepening.
"On my honor" replied Bob.
/" Forty thousand in her own right,
Day, day p and he was gone.
Maggie Lee, ariul creature that she
was, had told her father that the sail
ing parry was to assemble at another
hotel, and thither he had taken her.
Having business to D, he had left
there, saying that he would send the
carriage for her at IL o'clock. She,
like dutiful daughter, kissed him
goodbye, and before he had gone one
hundred rods got in Bob Styles's light
wagon which had driven up to the
back door as Mr.. Lees drove from
the front, and the old story of head
strong love and prejudiced age was
enacted over once more.
AS for Us of the picnic excursion,
we had delightful sail down to the
grove but somehow I could not enjoy
it as much as I should have DONE
When I walked on board the boat, I
felt awkward as If every body was
looking at me. I found Mr.. Bimby,
as had expected, young and rising
lawyer, mighty in Blackstone and his
own opinion. He paid my fare (the
boat was an excursion packet and
brought me oranges, pears and can
dies enough to set up street stand.
Four or five times I was on the point
of swearing at his impudent officious-
ness, but bit my tongue just in time
to prevent my exposure. But it was
not with him that found my role the
hardest to play.
No, the ladies were the difficult
ones to deceive. For instance, there
was one of them, beautiful girl OF
seventeen, just returned from board
ing school, who had not seen Maggie
Lee for three years. OF course she
was glad to see me, when she found
out that I was Maggie Lee, which, by
the way, did not occur until we had
started. She threw herself into my
arms, pulled my veil aside, and kissed
me half q dozen times in manner
that made my finger ends tingle for an
hour.
It was all very nice, but if I had
been in ''propria persona, [ woule
have liked it better. rs it was
| felt as if I was obtaining goods
under false prets nces," and lawyer
Bimby might issue a warrant for my
arrest on that ground. at any mement