Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-04-13

threw herself into my arms, pulled
my vail aside and kissed me half a
dozen times in a manner that made
my fingers tingle for an hour. 1t
was all very nice, but if had been
in proper person would have liked
it better. AS it was, felt as though
l was getting goods under false pre-
lenses, and that lawyer Bimby might
issue warrant for my arrest on that
ground at any moment.
A whole knot of crinoline then sur
rounded me upon the upper deck of
the boat to the utter exclusion and
consequent digust Of Mr.. Bimby and
other gentlemen. I kept very quiet,
only speaking monosyllables in a fall
setto voice; but the others-Lord
bless you! how they gabbled! Under
a strict promise of secrecy the little
boarding school maiden, who had
kissed me so affectionately, revealed
all her love affairs, and also became
unpleasantly confidential about other
matters, innocent enough in them
selves, but not customarily talked
of between ladies and gentlemen.
=. l was terribly embarrassed, but it
would not do to give up then. AS
soon as my trick should become
known, Bob Styles trick would also
come out, and, as news of that kind
travels fast in the country, he and
his lady love would be telegraphed
and followed before they could reach
Philadelphia, where the knot was to
be tied.
! The river breeze was very fresh
where we sat, and noticed that sew
eral of the ladies were glancing un-
easily at me. / couldn't divine the
reason, until Jennie, my little friend
from boarding school, laid her face
dangerously close to mine and whis-
Ipered: my dear Maggie, your dress
is blowing dreadful high-your legs
will be town talk with all the gentle
men!"
Now l was conscious of having a
very small foot for man, and had
donned a PAIR of open worked stock
ings, which came nearly up to my
waist; with a pair of CATERS hor-
rowed from the servant girl, in all of
whlchtoggery my running gear looked
quite feminine andrespectahle but the
idea of the gentlemen talking about
my legs, and being thus cautioned
by Il young girl, who would have
been frightened to death if | had told
her the same thing yesterday, was too
much for me- | burst into sort of
strangulated laugh, which l could on
ly check by swallowing half of my
little tiligree lace-cdgcd handkerchief.
The young ladies' all looked at me in
apparent astonishmcnt at such voice
and / wanted to laugh all the more.
Fortunately Mr.. Bimby came to my
rescue at the moment and edged him.
self in among the crinoline.
May sit here?' he asked, point
ing to 4 low stool near me.
"Certainly,' l simpered, in my
high falsetto.
"Ah, thank you,' said Bimby
with a lackadaisical air that nauseated
: me, rs coming from one man tC
another; you are as kind as you are
fascinating!''
"You fatter mel
81? No, indeed; praise of you
cannot be ilattery, Miss Lee
l ''Oh, sir, really you are a naughty
man." l said, in the most feminine
tOilt L NOill't
He cast a languishing glance at me-
through the black lace veil, and
= fairly began to fear for his feelings.
We soon arrived at the grove, ant
found our band engaged beforehan,
, I-awaiting us. OF course dancing
was the first amusement, and Bimby
led me out for schottische. 1t wa
hard, at first, for me to take the la
dy's part in my dance, but l soon go
accustomed to it. When waltz wa
: proposed, resolved to have a littl'
II amusement at the expense of unfor
> tunatc Bimby.
first made him purposely jealous
u by dancing with two other youn!
fellows, one of whom / knew, in m,
> own character, but who suspected
: me as Maggie Lee. This young man
u who was great woman-killcr, a sor
Of devil-may-care rascal, who mad
the ladies run after him by his alter
> nate wrath of action and GOODNESS o
e protestation, selected to play OF
" against my legal admirer. l allowe
II him to hold me very closely and oc
u casionally looked at him with a hal
IL fascinating expression. When W
. stopped dancing he lead me to a seat
" keeping his arm around my waist
and / permitted it. Having thu
u stirred Bimby up to feats of wrathf,
. valor, I asked one of the gentlemen
- direct the musicians to play a walt;
u Bimby came Immediately.
y "Ahem-a-Miss Lee, shall L.
~ have the honor of-a-trying a wall
~ with you?'
= / smiled acquiescence, and "
> commenced. Now l am an old stag,
u at waltzing. l can keep up long,
3 than any non-professional dance