Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-04-13
A DAY IN PETTICOATS,

And my friend Bob Styles held up
before my hesitant gaze suit of fe-
male apparel.
His idea was that should person.
ate his lady-love for one day to pre-
vent anybody from suspecting the
truth-namely, that she had joined
him in a 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 a special grant of
the Legislature could unite.
This scheme was not actually so
absurd as it appeared at first sight.
Maggie Lee was a tall queenly wo-
man, with an almost masculine air,
and at that time l had very slight
form-almost effeminate, so that in
fact there was really but little differ
ence in that. Then l had light hair,
tolerably long, and fresh complexion.
Part my hair in the middle, put q
bonnet on my head, and few persons
would have suspected but really was
one Of the softer sex. These Access
sorles also gave me quite decided
resemblance to Maggie Lee, espec-
| ally when, as in this case, the dis
guise was her own.
Then the day chosen for the runa-
way match was an suspicious one.
Maggie's father was to drive her to
D, a small village near where
she lived, and 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 i'll the carriage.
Our plan was that l should be in
waiting in the village, and should 90
Oh the boat with the sailing party,
while Maggie, after leaving her faith
er, should slip off with Bob across the
country.
At last l got dressed, and present.
ed myself before Maggie Lee, blush
ing great deal, | believe, feeling very
much pinched about the waist, and
with an uncomfortable 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, drove me over to D.
by secluded route and left me a
the hotel, where the sailing part,
was to assemble. Several of the pic
nickers were already there, and the,
greeted my cavalier cordially (every
body knew Bob Styles), asking if h,
was going with them, etc. lie tolt
them he was not.
"Prcssing business engagement
you know. and all that sort of thing
Duced sorry l can't 90 though.
just had time to bring Miss Lee over
and now I'm off. Mr.. Bimby, Mis-:
Lee, Miss Withergall, Miss Lee" an,
he ratified off a string of brief intro
t ductions, which convinced me tha
. few of the company were acquainted
with the young lady who l was per
sonating-a very fortunate thing fo
the preservation of my disguise.
Mr.. Bimhy, a tall, legal-lookin,
man, with a hook nose, eye-glass ant
tinny hair, seemed to be prepossesse'
with my personelle, and l overheard
! him whisper to Bob Styles, as he wen
out:
Every nice looking girl, that Mis-
Lee"
"Ycs," answered Bob, with mis-
chievous glance at me, "she is nc
7 girl, though little 90 ahead some
times. Keep little lookout on her
\ win you ?''-then lowering his voice
!, ''not a bad match for you, old fe'
low she is rich.'
SIS she?" said Mr.. Bimby, his ir
. terest deepening.
. son my HONOR replied BoE
n "Forty thousand dollars in her ow
t right. Good day." and he took hi
leave.
Maggie Lee, artful creature tn:
she was, had told her father that til
y party was to assemble at another he
: tel. and thither he had taken he
Having business in D., he le
It her there, merely saying that /
:. would send a carriage for her at |
r. O'Clock. She, like a dutiful daughte
kissed him goodbye, and .efore l
1t gone u LOOh a. SCi
:; in Bob Styles light wagon, whi(
drove up to the back door as o.
1t Lees carriage drove away from Il
front, and the old story of headstror
/ love and prejudiced age was enacte
: over again.
AS for us, of the picnic excursion
Ie we had delightful sail to the grow
but somehow | could not enjoy it
at l ought to have done. When I wake
rv on board of the boat, l felt awl
S ward, as if everybody was looking
ry me. l found Mr.. Bimby, as l h.
" suspected, a young and rising lawye
r. mighty in Blackstone and his own G
" timation. He insisted On paying f
ticket-the boat was Irregular excur
ion packet-and purchasing enou,
oranges, pears and candies to set
% stand. Four or five times l was
the point of swearing at his imp
dent officiousness, but bit my tong