Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-01-16

though stricken with collie, and pcnt
up yell would occasionally ring out
on the night air like o cry of agony.
The figure was soon ended, however,
and the student returned to US flushed
and happy. 1t was my turn next.
was not possessed of the audacity of
either Visalia or the student, and
trembled at the ordeal before me but
there was no honorable way out Of the
dilemma, as we had entered into SOL
emn compact to stand by one anoth-
er. / declined, however, to don the
unmentionables in which the student
and Visalia had figured, contenting
myself with the shirt, coat, and green
necktie. -
My advent in the dancing room, like
that of my predecessors, was greeted
with something more than smile by
the loungers around the door; but, to
my surprise, the ill-concealed deri-
sion drove away my timidity and
filled me with q species of desperate
confidence. Itexcited my resentment,
and enabled me to understand the in
comprehensive audacity of the COM
panions who had gone in before me-
On reaching the inner sanctum, my
first encounter was with charming
creature named Smith. We had made
each others acquaintance the day be-
fore in under the Nevada Fall, and
were on the most friendly terms. She
did not even glance at my brogan
boots, but held out her hand, with a
bewitching smile: "Why, Mr.. Corne-
Illus, how late you are ]"
L ri T fsl4
"What a shame that you should be
so formal in Yosemite! Here is Miss
Nasturtium, who has been looking for
you all the evening"
| at this instant the lady in question
| detached herself from the arm of q
claw-hammer, and saluted me-
"Where is Mr.. Visalia?" she asked
81 thought l saw him here awhile
ago."
81 really cannot tell you, Miss Mas
turtium," answered. 'Iexpected to
find Kim here"
"And what has become of the stu
dent?" chimed in Miss Smith. glancing
hastily around the room. II have not
seen him for half an hour. And your
friend has not put in an appearance
this evening. 1 Thought you four were
inseparable."
''Mat fell into the river on the way
down." l stammered, cropping des-
perately about for some plausibl es,
cape from my dilemma, ''and he had
to go back to camp to change his
clothes"
| ats funny" said Miss Nasturtium,
"that Visalia told me nothing about
that when we were dancing together.
But / noticed that he was little ex-
cited"
! By this time a little knot of lady
campers had gathered around me, and
noticed that some of them were ex-
changing knowing glances and whis-
pcring in suspicious manner. They
were beginning to see through tho CO.
operative clothes business.
"Mr. Cornelius" said Miss Smith
advancing toward me in a coquettish
manner, and laying her hand on nv
arm, "what a pretty green necktie you
have on! The student wore one JUS
like it when he was here"
Sand what nice, stylish coat you
haye!" chirpcd in another. "Mr. vi.
salia wore one of tho same cut, and
with the same candle-grease stair
down its back when we last had the
pleasure of his company"
"And what a mice" But
saw "the jig was up" and did not per.
NIT Miss Nasturtium to finish her sen
tence.
"Listen, ladies'" 1 said, s:and I will
acknowledge the corn. The boys are
outside in the brush. This suit O
clothes which you see before you is {
animation affair, and we are trying
to work it ON the installment PLAN
Think gently-pity our affection. Ii
the name of the best we could do, b.
mcrciful-be-"
l was never allowed to finish my
speech. A merry peal of laughter Gu
my words short off, and Immediately
there was rustling and scampering
and in less than three minutes com
mittee of four or five bewitching crea
lures stood around me in nubias ant
wrappers, and sternly demanded tina
| should lead them to the hidden re
treat of my companions.
Resistance was useless, and com
piled. will not tell you of the seem
that followed, for L cannot. Suffice
it to say, that the boys were dragged
from their hiding places among tn
rocks, and marched into tho ballroom
in all the glory of their mountain at
: tire. retained the good clothes
; however, and John Muir's shirt, ant
was happy. But the claw-hammer
they were the maddest fellows yo1
ever saw. The girls would hardly no
| tice them. And when "Home, Swee
. Home" announced that day was break
ing about the brow of old Ell Captain
we marched off up the river, arm il
arm, to our camp proud and satisfies
that for one night at least we hat
/ been socks of the walk"