The Osceola times., 1876-02-05

certed attempt NJ ciIePssntsS, anu
brought dash of exquisite color to the
one velvet check of her companions face
which was revealed to me.
"And as for pinafores," said, sulkily
continuing my soliloquy, and drawing in
my head again like a turtle, "Pm sure
they'd be vastly more appropriate and
becoming than that little pinked and
scalloped and puckercd affair Of plaid
silk which Miss Lizzie wore under the
dignified name Of apron"
Such saucy little pockets, fixed off with
gimp and things-the corner of tiny
note and the profile OF a big, ye!!ow or
ange revealed from the distended mouth
of one, and the lace edge of handker-
chief, with captivating rent in it, hang
ing jauntily from the other; such wicked,
knowing tasseIs, such lengths OF varie.
gated silk cord round, round and round
her pretty waist, as though once started
It had lost its way and had been travelling
in circle every since, instead of going
straight ahead Ms any sensible cord would
have done that had been stout enough
not to get becoilcd on the road. 1t looked
contented, though, as if it didn't care a
whit for the predicament it was in, or
whether 1t ever went straight again, as it
could have that charming route to travel
round and round, and ] began to wonder.
"He's splendid, Lot, isn't he ?"
Miss Danes voice broke my wonder
ings. was modest in those days and
blushed easily. My wife told me yes
terday, referring to that morning, that the
tip Of my car, Just visible at the edge Of
my desk lid, grew red as coal, and that
her friend threw a lozenge at it and
missed it by the sixteenth of an inch. !
wasn't aware of the circumstance before
"Say, Lot, don't you think he's splen-
did2" came that loud whisper again.
"If do, don't intend to tell him of
it," she retorted.
Evidently, however much averse she
would have been to informing me on such
point, she was nothing 10th for me TO
Judge of her musical powers, for she burst
forth into merry song and warbled like
bird-in fact, like twenty birds. Whether
my ear looked like coal or not, ii drank
in that gay melody, and, when it ceased,
longcd for more.
"What eyes he has !"
"Rather too deep-set for beauty"
"Dcep-set, indeed They are protru-
ing as cows, and as big"
"Mere difference Of opinion, my love.
Don't let us quarrel"
"No. Then, how much character there
is in his nose"
Decidedly"
had large nose, reader.
Room or more"
started her there by dropping book.
/ was actually getting angry. But she
recovered from her fright almost imme-
diately, and went on, in still louder
tone:
GLOW do you think he will answerG"
Answcr3'
Miss Arden spoke inquiringly, in a
puzzled voice:
You speak as If you thought | in
tended TO propose to him"
And 50, ! dare say, you will, 1t being
leap-year, and you 50 smitten."
A merry laugh followed this sally.
" In that case think he would answer
in the Affirmative"
"Ol you conccited creature, Lot Ar
den!"
Hush What if Mr.. Eldridge should
overhear us?"
As If hadn't overheard them.
"Who cares if he does? It's nothing
to him."
Nothing TO me! to sit there and hear
myself discussed in that way. oh, nothing
at all!
"But, seriously, what do you mean?"
"Why, have you forgotten that
prophesied flirtationg mean how do
you think he would do for that?"
All i! fiirtationl Maybe ! didn't hold
my breath for fear of losing the answer,
and then maybe
"Oh, passably, if he understands his
place and stays in it, l hate presuming
men,"
"Men! Boys!"
"Well, boys, then. Men in assurance,
boys in intelligence, are what we have
nowadays.'
She spoke Ms if she had lived in the
age of her grandmother. clenched my
hands, and declined Jupiter under my
breath in Latin.
"Do you think you'll bring him
around" ?"
"For shame. I'm sure have no such
design on his peace"
"Now, really, am aching to know
what you intend to do. Shall yeu fiirt
with him."
My intentions were not consulted, but
l made them, nevertheless, biting my
6ngcr.nails viciously all the time.
"Oh, no matter"
you're too bad. ! got you from the
other girls on purpose to have conf
dental chat. and here the time is almost
up, and you haven't told me thing
"Well, will now-two things. Your
hair is twisted out of your net, and your
collar is shockingly tumbed."
Bother my collar! Shall you flint
with him? wouldn't mind, only that
hateful Sue tiscomb VOWS she'll get
ahead Of you, and | don't want TO see
her win. Now, do tell me "
| thrust my head up again and looked
at them. They were not minding me in
the least, though they had stopped
directly in front of me. Lizzie looked
flushed and anxious, Miss Arden cool
and selfpossessed,
| laid my hand upon the bell and gave
1t violent ringing. The two girls stared
like culprits, and glanced hurriedly up at
me. What they saw in my face ! can't
say, but they both coloted. Just then
they separated for their seats, but not
before heard Lizzie whisper desper-
ately, "Shall you9"
81 shall " floated back the reply, low
and firm, as il determined not to be
mistaken.
Should she? We'd see.