Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-04-30


Miss Biglow. I 1t must be dreadful to
use all those things that you were talk
ing about
"Mr. Goodman glanced approvingly
toward her, but Gertie Edmonds
pinched my arm and whispered,
III bet pair of gloves that she
won't stand washing
"I'd like to try it, answered.
"Girls are always thouhtless and
foolish, said Aunt Sarah, sagely, "and
was no exception to the rule. That
speech of Mr.. Goodman's suggested a
wicked thought to Gertie Edmonds. it
was that we should all go out in the
boat next day, taking, if possible, Miss
Biglow with us; and when in quite
shallow water, manage to upset the
boat"
"And then" said Gertie, cit would
be such fun to see the paint wash off
her face"
eel regret to say, my dears, that
entered into this wicked joke with
hearty good will, but was repaid for
my share in it by what happened after
ward, as you will see by and by"
cat first Miss Biglow absolutely re-
fused to go ON the water at all, but by
Mr.. Goodman's earnest solicitations
she at last consented to make one of the
party. Besides Mr.. Goodman there
were two other young gentlemen, cousins
of Gertie's, and need scarcely tell you
that they entered with delight into our
plot against the unfortunate Miss
Biglow.
"Next day we dressed ourselves as
plainly as possible, not caring to ruin
our best things by orr contemplated
ducking in the lake. Everything went
on as well as could be wished, and we
pushed out gently from the shore, with
our unsuspecting victim on board We
place where We girls sometimes went in
bathing, and then, at a given signal,
manage to upset the boat.
MIR. Goodman was whispering some
soft nonsense into Miss Biglow's ear,
when Harry Edmonds gave the precon-
certed signal, and we all leaned over at
once to pick water-ily. Over went
the boat, and in an instant everybody
was foundering about in three feet of
water. A terrific scream from Miss
Biglow, some violent splashing and
trembling on the part of Mr.. Goodman,
and then we saw him rescue her bodily
from the water, and carry her triumph
antly to the shore In his arms.
"We followed without delay, and
found Mr.. Goodman sitting ON the bank,
gazing in direct dismay at the object he
had so calamity carried to shore. Poor
Miss Biglow did not kprepossessing;
and the two rude young cousins of
Gertie's burst out laughing when they
saw her, which was very unkind and
thoughtless of them"
"Did you laugh, Aunt Sarah ?" we
asked.
"Well, my dears, laughing is very
contagious. and could not help join
ing in. She sat on a stone, looking, as
that naughty Gertie said, just like an
ancient mermaid, just risen from the
sea. In the struggle her hat had come
off, taking with 1t the wealth of hair
which had been Mr.. Goodman's especial
delight In it's place was tight little
knot with a wiry wisp of hair stretch
ing out at right angles, and asserting
itself in most obtrusive manner. But
her face represented the most astonish-
ing change, for the paint had been
washed into stripes and patches, and
the cheek which had rested upon her
cavaliers shoulder was quite white,
while the other was a stripy red color,
very peculiar indeed. For some reason
she had not spoken word since reach
ing the shore, but sat with her hand
, kerchief to her mouth, looking about
} her with an expression of intense
/ anxiety.
, Harry had fshed up her hat with
all the lack hair hanging to it, and now
, presented it to her on the end of a
: stick. The position was too ludicrous,
1 and we burst out laughing in her very
face. At first she looked at the hair in
5 bewildered sort of way, not seeming
to understand what we were laughing
? at; then putting up her hand felt the
r little top knot at the back of her head ;
/ as she did so, the whole horrible truth
r flashed upon her; and she sprang to
5 her feet trembling with fury.
: "Vipers /" she said; and we saw
{ that she hadn't tooth in her head.
l "Scorpions And, without taking
s her back hair with her, she fed toward
!, the house.
We all followed, inwardly wondering
t what she would do and whether she
- really thought we upset the boat In
4 tentionally. She did not appear al
s dinner, so our hostess went upstairs
and vas cleseted with her for about al
:, hour when she came down we fancie6
l. she looked rather gravely at us, but
;, equity conscience" you know, and
!, we began to feel very guilty.
IS "Will you come down to the lake
y with me, Sarah" she said.
). Goodness, Gertie! I answered
r "It's almost II o'clock. and what dc
n you want to go there for ?"
CT must go, she said, determinedly
d "You never noticed it, but / lost al
d my back hair in those nasty rushes, ant
II must get it tonight; fastened tn,
l. veil over the back of my head, SO you
did not see it going"
), OF course / went with her, and, creep
r. ing out of the house by back door
t. we ran, hand in hand, down the darl
n match tn the lake and soon reache.