The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-05-17


idea popped into execution. With the
utmost caution she unfastened the blind
put her hand in, and drew the tempting
article toward her.
Two hours later mother and I seated
ourselves upon the piazza to enjoy the
declining day. Mr.. Lochabar. our
bachelor neighbor, joined us after lit
tie, and we were enjoying pleasant
chat, when up the walk, with the demurest
of countenances, came Cynthy, and,
trotting closely at her side, Nep, with
Aunt Cuped's cap and wig tied securely
upon his head A funnier sight [ never
saw I laugh now when I think of it,
In spite of the audacity Of the trick and
our direful forebodings of Aunt Cuped's
wrath, mother and 7 joined Mr.. Locha-
bars outburst Of laughter for an instant
when suddenly from the window above
us an angry voice screamed:
"Its YOU is it, you little black imp }?
Til teach you !" and flying down the
stairs came Aunt Cuped, looking like an
escaped bedlamite, with her red face,
flashing eyes, and each particular short
gray hair standing son end, like quills
upon the fretful porcupine." In her
frenzy she darted forward, and, Selling
Cynthy's woody head with both hands,
shook 9 her VIZ violently, ezolaiming between
You ittle-Satan- I'LL teach you
to let my-things alone You've
taken-my wig-and I'll take-yours p
There really seemed to be danger Of
it. Cynthy whimpered. Nep growled
and showed his teeth ominously, while
mother and I started to interfere; Just
then Aunt Cuped turned suddenly and
beheld Mr.. Lochabar's horror-stricken
face. With one wild shrek she rushed
into the house and up the stairs, which
she did not descend again that night.
Mr.. Lochabar sorrowfully declined our
invitation to tea, and went home sad
der and wiser man."
Cynthy received her merited scolding,
and promised with wild wailing to do
better in future.
"I don't mean to be bad, Miss Dora,
but pears like can't help it, nohow."
1t "'peared SO to me many times in
course of her short " Reign of Terror"
Aunt Cuped left us the next morning,
and did not return for more than a year
For short time there was an amend
ment in Cynthy's ways. She seemed to
try to do as we told her, and began to
hope that my experience would not prove
an ignominious failure. [ rejoiced pre-
maturely, however; the impression made
by her escapade grew fainter and fainter,
and, at the end of fortnight, she was as
bad as ever. The number and fertility
of her mischievous inventions were won
derful; could almost find it in my much
tried soul to admire them at times.
One morning early in the fall I was
busily engaged in sweeping my room,
when the door-bell rang. Peeping
through the blinds [ beheld young gen
tleman whom had frequently met at
sister Maria's "Run to the door, Gym
thy" exclaimed, hurriedly, beginning
to take down my hair from it's crimping-
pins.
"Is Miss Templeton at home?" [
heard manly voice say.
La, yes, sab Walk right in Gle par
lor, sab. Yerll have time to look at all
de pictures in de stellyscope while she's
combin' out her frizzes an a changin'
her gownd."
"That horrible child p exclaimed in
vexation. My resolution was quickly
taken. / wound my hair upon it's pins
again, retied my soiled apron, and
marched grimly down to meet my guest
"I shall not apologize for my appear
ance," said, after we had exchanged
greetings. "for I take it for granted that
you would rather excuse my dishabille
than to wait while make an elaborate
toilette"
[ felt rather proud Of my feat, too, for
it required considerable moral courage
for woman to go, looking like fright,
into the presence OF a gentleman for
whom she entertains-well, high opin-
ion. This young man possessed equal
courage as events proved. Some time
after, [ do not pretend to say how long,
for somehow or somewhy that was the
shortest morning ever knew, Cynthy's
voice at the parlor door said meditatively,
Wal, de frizzin' pins don't seem to
make no differences [ see. But, Lor, I
dunno's dey scratch eny more'n whiskers
do"
My companion burst into peal of
laughter, while started up in fame
and went to the door. Cynthy looked SO
friendly and innocently unconscious Of
having done anything out Of the way,
that I did not pour out the Walls of my
wrath upon her devoted head, but CON
tented myself with sending her away.
One cold night in November just aswe
were about separating to go to our rooms
Cynthy rushed down stairs screaming,
cob /! oh! my beds afre my beds
afire p Father rushed up at an equal
pace, hrrriedly directing us to bring up
water and old pieces of carpet. For
some minutes there was lively work, but
at last the flames were entirely subdued,
and the bedstead blackened, dripping,
forlorn-looking object enough. 1t seems
that in her rrnaging Cynthy had I'M
earthed an old warming pan, and, the
night being cold, had filed it with live
T. Jo4o Il 4~> I.