Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1872-11-06

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l. I'D like TO see for myself what the
young villain has had the impudence to
write! Ais fair in love or war, they
say"
Thus medtating, I tiptoed into the
room-a dainty little bower of white
muslin, pink ribbon. Lubins perfumes
and cr;mping pins-and took up the let
ter.
But before | could unfold it, the sound
of voices and footsteps, in the hall be-
yond, struck thrill of disnay to my
soul.
by Jove!' l cried, mentally, "lhe
sooner | get out of this the better"
And dropping the letter, made mad
plunge for the door.
The door but oh. unlucky fates 1t
was the wrong one; and, instead of es-
Gaping into the hall, | darted into will
derness-a grove, so to spedk-of mus
lin founced dresses silken skirts and
snowy draperies.
Before could recover myself, the
voices and footsteps were close upon me
in the very room-and all retreat was
effectually cut off. l retired upon a tel
escopic cage of hooped skirts, which
clung around me with almost human ma
lciousness, and drew the door as close as
| dared.
Nothing on earth shall induce me to
let any one in !" | muttered between my
teeth, as parasol and ten bandboxes
tumbled about my ears.
Here was pretty position. though. for
Dionysius Pewter, esq, cooped up like a
rat in trap among dresses and jockey
hats, his feet entangled in hooped skirts,
and a sun umbrella hooked into mis- col
lar! Suppose any one should come to
the closet l-suppose the girls should
find me eaves-dropping i-suppose
But just here Jenny Middletons mer
ry, musical laugh routed the dismal pro
cession of suppositions.
"Just let me see it, Jenny dear !!
coaxed Nelly Powers. "One look, darl-
ing-nuly one y
Nonsense T. cried Jenny. There.
nothing in it, indeed -
But you're resily engaged to him l'''
Yes. really and truly
"But what will Mr. Pewter say p
MIR Pewter, indeed !" flashed ouI
Jenny, so electrically that | almost
jumped among the slippers and skirts
"a red-whskered, conceited puppy. who
fancies the whole feminine world is in
love with him What do you suppose
care what he says p
Though" said Nelly, demurely, "i
would have been tin to bring him to the
proposing point! Just fancy him on hi:
knees Wouldn't he do it siifi1y :"
And the little coquette laughed out al
the idea
"Perhaps you could manage it your
self,' said Jenny, wickedly
Il dare say could" said Nelly" One
might do any thing with such fool al
that -
How my cheeks burned.
"Just hand me that curling stick, dear,
said Jenny, speaking with cluster O
hair pins in her mouth ''And> now &c
the white muslin polouaise out of tn,
closet"
My heart gave a great jump, and then
stood still as Nelly fitted across tn,
room and laid her hand on the knob o
my prison-house
Dear me y cried Nelly, "what ALL
the doorl 1t won't open"
Give it a good pull" said Jenny
without looking around. 1t Otter
sticks"
Nelly pulled vigorously on her side
| held stoutly on mine; but as evil fat'
would decree the slippery handle sudden
ly slid out of my grasp, and the doo'
flew open. disclosing me to the girls ter
rifed view, statue of despair
Before l could open my lips to speak
it was banged to again, and the key
turned. while Nelly and Jenny flew into
the hall. screaming in wild chorus
A man man thief burglar
a robber murderer T.
In an instant the room was thronged
with people, all asking questions at once
in sort of Babel of voices.
"Where is he :" bawled my cousin
Joe ri settle him -
As he spoke he threw open the door
making lunge with poker that came
within quarter of an inch of my head
"Hold on. Joe !" gasped, in desper
alton. "It's only l y
"Only you," roafed Joe I" and wha
on earth are yOa doing here r
Hush -sh sh T. | whispered Don't
for PHYS sake, speak SO loud !! Ill ex
plain it all only let me out shall
smother in another minute. if you don't
And like a convicted criminal, was
led out. the hooped skirts trailing after
me, like a vindicative serpent. in full
view of the girls, whose terror had
changed to bysterical laughter, halfsup
pressed gigsles. Alas, for the dignity OF
man
l told my Cousin Joe as plausible a
story as could invent about my having