Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-02-20
A Day in PetticOats.
BY A MODEST YOUNG MAN.

| uepcUuS Oh IL. 1ltIo, pub vi Ilc
thingumbobs, and the what's its
name ?"
And my friend Bob Styles held
up before my hesitating gaze whole
suit of feminine apparel.
His idea was that 1 should per-
senate his lady. love for one day, to
prevent anybody from suspecting the
truth-namely, that she had joined
him in runaway marriage party
until it should be too late for inter-
ference; that is until the minister
should have tied knot between
them that nothing but special grant
of the legislature could unite.
The scheme was not actually so
absurd as it appeared at first sight.
Maggie Lee WAS tall, queenly wo-
man, with an almost masculine air,
and, at that time l had very slight
form--almost eifeminate, SO that, in
fact, there was really but little diff
ference in that point. Then 1 had
light hair parted in the middle, and
put Il bonnet on my head aud few
persons would suspect that I was
not the softer sex. These accessor-
les gave me quite resemblance to
Maggie Lee, especially when as in
this case the disguise was her own.
The day chosen for the runaway
match was an auspicious one. Mag
gie's pa was to drive her to D., a
small village near where she lived,
there she was to join a sailing party
down D. river, to the grove
three miles below; from which the
party was to return in the evening in
carriages.
Our2plan was, that 1 should be
awaiting in the village, and should
go ON the boet with the sailing par
ty, while Mggie after leaving her
father, should slip off with Bob Styles
across the country. at last I got
dressed, and presented myself before
Maggie, blushing a great deal, 1 be-
lieve, feeling very much pinched
about the waist, and with an uncom-
Portable consciousness that my shirt
sleeves were too short or wanting
altogether.
Everything finished, in the way of
toilet, Bob Styles took me into his
light wagon and drove over to D.,
by selected route, and left me at
the hotel, where the sailing party
was to assemble. Several of the
picnicers were already there, and
they greeted my cavalier with COR
diality Everybody knew Bob Styles, J
asked if he was going with them.
He told them he was not.
Pressing business engagements
you know" and all that sort of
thing. Deuced sorry I can't go,
though. just had time to bring
Miss Lee over, and now I'm off.
Mr.. Bimby, this is Miss Lee. Miss
Withergall, Miss Lee," and he rat
tied off long string of brief intro
ductions, which convinced me that
but few of the company were ac-
quainted with the young lady I was
thus pcrsonating-a very fortunate
thing for the preservation of my dis
guise. Mr.. Bimby, a tall, legal
looking man with a hook nose, and
eyeglass and puffy hair, seemed to
DO prepossessed with my personeile,
and I overheard him whisper TO Bob
as he went out:
Nice looking girl, that Miss
Lee."
Yes, answered Bob, with q mis-
chievous glance at me, "she is q
nice girl, though a little go-ahead
sometimes. Keep little look oui
to her, will you ?"-then lowering
his voice he said" not q bad match
for you, old fellow, she's rich"
8" Is she p said Bimby, his inter
est deepening.
"On my honor" replied Bob
Forty thousand dollars in her own
right. Day-day" and he was gone
Maggie Lee, artful creature thai
she was, had told her father that ths
sailing party was to assemble at an
other hotel, and thither he had tn
ken her. Having business in D.
he left her there, merrily saying he
would send the carriage after her q
eleven o'clock She, like a dutifu
daughter, kissed and bid him goot
bye, and before he got a hundre.
rods, got into Bob Styles light wa
gon, which had driven up to Ia,
back door rs Mr.. Lees drove from
the front, and the old story Of head
strong love and prejudiced age wa
enacted over again.
J As for us of the picnic excursion
We had delightful sail down to th
grove, but somehow, / could no
enjoy it as much as l ought TO hav
done. When walked on board th
boat felt awkward, as if everybod
, was looking at me. l found Mi
Bimby, as had expected, o youn
and rising lawyer, mighty in Blacl