Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-04-19

said Cinda, taking the last Ole from the
oven and depositing it alorg side the
others in the pantry.
"Have you got the napkins all sorted
out, Cindy? l don't think them white
ones will be half as 'propriate as the
yaller damasks."
eyes, ma, I've got them all arrang-
ed" said Cindy, as she dried her hands
with the towel.
"What time is it gettin' to be!" in
quired Mrs. Brown.
"Halfpast-fve"
"Land sakes alive, child! You must
fly about and get the house to rights.
Cindy, it's getting late; halfpast-fvel
Girl, you don't seem to have no notion
Of the value Of them minits that go
speedin along. IF you was to get mar
ried now, why then some minits would
be shorter than seconds. Cindy-Cin-
dy Brown! What are you blushin' for !?
l only mentioned about minits and
marryin'-but, land sakes alive, girl,
don't let 'em pop the wits clean out of
your silly head, and send the red to your
face. Your time'll come, darter, so
don't let it bother you now"
Cindy did blush, though, and deeply,
too. She blushed even deeper as she
stood before the looking-glass arranging
her hair.
What pretty face it was, and how
faithfully that glass reflected all the
charming outlines and colorings? She
was a plain little maid, yet she knew
that the face smiling at her with spark
ling eyes, rosy checks, and soft lips
with twin rows of pearls between them,
was a pretty one.
l wonder if any man had ever yet
told her that she was handsome 3
Pshaw! such question does no credit
to the writer; fattery comes soon
enough without tempting it; and he
asks pardon for his silly question.
There they come, Cindy's friends !;
focking over the closc-cropped pasture,
strolling along the roads; some singly,
some in groups of two, three, and four.
The invitations had been sent out a
week ago; it was the main subject Of
conversation for week past, and now
the dear little maids friends were gath
ering to help her celebrate the dawning
of n new year, just about to enter upon
Cindy's life.
The small parlor was comfortably
filled with the merry, laughing crowd.
The sitting-room was filled, and even
the kitchen was brought into usc
In the sitting-room they were spin
ming the platter. Cindy sprang to catch
it in response to her name, sung out by
very red-faced, awkward country lad.
Too late The platter began to lag,
and it wobbled over on its side ere Gin
dy could catch it.
Forfeit, forfeit, Cindy. Let me be
your judge" exclaimed Myra Jinks,
Cindy's bosom friend.
"Very we'll, Myra, you shall be my
judge"
GAIL right. Bow to the wittiest, kneel
to the prettiest, and kiss the one you
love best"
ooh, my! Not that, Myra."
eyes, you've got to do it, and blind
folded, too," returned the mercilcss
Judge.
"Why, how can bow to the wittiest,
kneel to the prettiest, and kiss the one
that / love best, if I cannot see either
of them?"
ooh, guess at it, Cind it will be
such fun" exclaimed one of the boys
and he drew the back of his hand across
his lips as if he'd fain be, without urg-
ing, the recipient of the "kiss the one
you love best"
"Well, blindfold me, them"
"Cindy's eyes were securely blind
folded with handkerchief and she was
placed in the middle of the room, turn
ed thrice about, and then launched
forth upon her interesting mission.
"The folks at the big house," whis-
pered the boys and girls, as two young
ladies in white, accompanied by two
strange gentlemen, came into the room.
Cindy being blindfolded, was all un-
conscious Of the new addition to her
guests. The four stood in one corner,
interested spectators Of the merry scene.
Arranged around the room were the
country boys and girls, and there in the
middle of the room was Cindy, blind
folded.
She reached out her hands-pretty
little hands by the way, though triAe
red. She walked a few yards forward
and bowed.
A litter ran about the circle, for led |
the dullest fellow in the vii
lagc, blushed even to the roots of his
carroty hair, as the girl bowed to him.
Then she turned, walked straight in
the opposite direction, and knelt upon
npa Lnoo