The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-04-07


not much mora.
For the first three minutes my cavalier
did we'll. He went smoothly and even
ly, but at the expiration Of that time be-
gan to grow warm. Five minutes
elapsed, and Bimby's breath came hard
or and harder. On we went, however,
and 1 scorned to notice his slackening
up at every round, when we passed my
seat. After some twenty minutes, the
wretched man gasped out between his
steps:
"Ah, a-are you not get-getting tired,
Miss Lee9"
"Oh, no! !" burst forth "Oh, no, /
feel as if could waltz all night"
The look of despair that he gave me
was terrible.
was bound to see him through, how
ever, and we kept at it. Bimby stag
gered, and made wild steps in all direc-
tions. His shirt collar wilted, his eyes
protruded, his jaw hung, and altogether
/ saw he could not hold on much longer.
"This is delightful" / said, compo-
sedly," and you, Mr.. Bimby, waltz so
easilyl"
Puff-puff-puff-ah puff-yes-oh
puf-delightful," gasped he.
Don't you think it ought to go
faster?"
His eyes rolled heavenward in an awful
agony.
"Ah-puf-I-puf- don't puff = I
don't know"
When we neared the musicians, said
Faster, if you please, and they played
q la whirlwind.
Poor Bimby threw his feet about like
fast PAGER, and revolved after the man.
ner of teetotum which was nearly run
down. At last he staggered a step back
ward, and spinning away from me,
pitched headlong into the midst OF
small bevy of ladies in the corner.
/ turned around and walked to my
seat, and sent the young woman-killer
for glass of water.
The miserable lawyer recovered In
time to see me thank his rival for the
water.
1 got some idea from this of the fun
the ladies find in tormenting us poor
limbs of the other sey.
At this juncture, and before Bimby
had time to apologize for his accident,
Jennie came running into the pavilion
which served as ball room. AS she
came near 1 perceived that her hand
we're clutched tightly in her dress, and /
positively shuddered as she whispered
to me:
"Oh, Maggie come and help me fix
my skirts-they are all coming down I"
What should I do2 1 was in agony.
A cold perspiration broke out upon my
forehead. / wished myself q thousand
miles away, and mathematical Bob
Styles masquerading project inwardly
with fearful maledictions.
said was tired eut-could not some
body else gol
No, nothing would do, but must ac-
company her to the house of a gentleman
who owned the grove, and assist her to
arrange her clothing. So went.
What if it should be necessary to re-
move part Of the raimentl What If she
should tell me to do some sewing? What,
if in the midst of all the embarrassment
of being close.ed with beautiful girl of
seventeen in state of comparative free
dom from drapery, my real sex and iden-
titv should be discovered by her
However, / nerved myself up for the
task, and went with Jennie to the house
designated. An old lady showed us into
her chamber, and Jennie let go her
dress. AS she did so, a-pardon my
blushes-petticoat fell to tie floor. She
was about to proceed when alarmed
her by sudden and vehement ges-
tuye.
"Stop!" cried, frantically, and for
getting my falsetto; "stopl don't un-
dress, for Gods sake !"
"And why Dot9"
Because am a-can you keep Sc
cretl"
"Why, yes-how frightened you do
look9 Why, what is the matter, Maggie
-yOu-why-oh-oh oh oh! !"
And she gave three fearful screams.
Hush, no noise, or / am lost, / ex-
claimed, putting my hand over her
mouth. 81 swear mean no harm If
had I would not have stopped you don't
you see2"
She was all of tremble, poor little
thing (; but she saw the force of my argu-
ment.
"Oh, SIR" she said, "I see you are a
man ; but what does it all means Why
did you dress 30 r.
/ told her the story as brief as pcssi-
BILE, and exacted from her a promise OF
the most secret secrecy.
/ then went outside of the door, and
waited till she had arranged her dress,
when she called me in again. She had
heard of me from Maggie and others
and wanted to hear all the particulars;
so sat down by her, and had long talk
which ended in q mutual feeling of
friendship, and old acquaintanceship,
quite wonderful for people meeting for
the first time. Just as we started back
to the pavilion said must relieve my
mind of one burden.
"And what is that2" she asked.
"Those kisses. You thought / was
Maggie Lee or you would not have
given them. They were very sweet, but
suppose must give them back"
And I did.
She blushed q good deal but didn't
resist, only when got through she
glanced up timidly and said
ct think you are real naughty, any
how"
When / returned I found lawyer
Bimby had quite recovered from his diz-
ziness, and all hands ready for supper,
which was served in the ballroom. /
sat between Bimby and Jennie, and made
love to both of them in turn: to one as