Daily Republican., 1883-08-18
A REGULAR DANDY.
BY ANNABFL DWIGHT.

We were out in the pasture pickin,
blueberries, my sister Sue ann her hns
band, Will Bent and my,eif-Molli'
Grafton.
Freed from the conventionalities o
city life, arrayed myself In an old blu
and white-striped calico skirt Of Sues
which is several inches too short, {
shabby pink cambria sash of my own
ard green cotton sun-bonnet.
Will declares that ! am too utterly
gorgeous for anything, and Sue is con
vulsed with laughter every time sht
looks at me.
"We must get back to the house be
fore the afternoon train is due, y
says Sue, presently, for If Cecil
Benedict should see you in this cos
tune it would be the death blow to my
hopes"
deigned no reply to the speech be-
yond elevating my nose conte mrtu.
ously as I put a very few berries
into my pail, and good many into my
mouth.
am bored to death by the thought Of
this Cecil Benedict His beauty, his
fastidious notions have been lauded to
the skies ever since my arrival In East
port.
l have seen his picture, a fair, Ian.
guid- looking gentleman of twenty-six
or seven, with big, sleepy, blue eyes,
and long, straw -colored whiskers on
either cheek real Lord Dundreary.
looking man.
"A regular dandy" l commented !;
whereupon Sue and Will protestedindig-
nantly that it was no such thing.
Today they are expecting visit
from him, and Will is just consulting
his watch when a long, shrill whistle
rings over the pasture, and we look up
to see a tall, rather slender figure, in
immaculate white linen and broad
straw hat, vaulting over the wall
" BY George there he Is now," ex.
claimed Will, with more force than ele.
gance. =.
Sue groans family as she looks me
over.
"Will, can't you introduce me as
somebody else?" gasp, terribly con.
scious ofmy glaring attire, my dishevel.
ed locks, and my berry-stained hands.
Will mods comprehensively, ind goes
tc meet the new conner with great etfu.
sion.
As they approach us again am dim
ly aware that Mr.. Benedict Is explain
ing why he came on the morning in
stead of the afternoon train, and then
Will says glibly:
"Mr. Benedict, this is neighbor OF
ours, Miss Polly Noggles."
Mr.. Benedict barely refrains from
staring, and bows low to hide a smile
that witches the corners of his mouth
Will is preternatnrally grave, and as
for me, l Am CONFUSED with angry
laughter, and breathe mental VOWS of
vengeance upon my brother-in-law's
head.
"Ltt us return to the house at once"
says Sue, who is making an heroic
with her feelings.
Will picks UP her pail and his own
"Can be of any service to you, Miss
Miss Noggles 2" queries Mr. Bene-
dict with an effort, as he extends one
white hand for my berry pail which is
only about half full.
"Thank you, no." reply in
smothered tones, thankful for the
shelter of my hideous sun-bOnnet, 81
shall remain awhile longer, with Mr..
Bpnt's permission.
Certainly, certainly" says Will
"stay as long as you want
to Polly, and come as often as you like
berries are plenty.
You are very kind,"I murmur,
with faint sarcasm, plunginR despe-
rately in among the tall bushes out
sight, of where can give vent to my
emotion.
Fifteen minues later come creeping
up to the back of the house like thief,
and Fastening through the kitchen
When the dinner.bell rings descend
to the dining.rQom. serenely conscious
hat am looking as fresh and dainty |
~ possible in my white cambric suit |
with knots of rose colored ribbon at my
throat and ia my hair.
am presented with due ceremony to
Mr.. Cecil Benedict, who gives curious
look as he hears my voice.
We indulge in a languid filtration all
through dinner, and as we adjourn to
the sitting room, Mr.. Benedict remarks,
81 wonder If Miss Polly Noggles has
succeeded in filling her berry pail 2"
He looks straight at me as he says
this, and laughs in a low, merry, mu.
steal tone, which proves plain enough |
that he suspects the identity of the
young lady in question.
"Will is so absurd" said Sue, in her
soft tones "if he had introduced her as
Miss Smith it would have passed off
very we'll, but-Polly Noggles !"
Here we all shout with merriment,
and begin to think that the dandy Is
very good company.
He is really dandy, thought am
quite positive on that point.
He spends whole fortnight with us,
and Is always just 40 nice and immacu-
late, from the fair, smooth locks of
hair, to the polished; nicely fitting num-
Der six boot.
We tlirt desperately all through his
visit, and make the most absurd
speeches to each other; and, the day
before he goes away, he filches my
silver thimble from my work-Casket,
md owns UP to it with coolness when
accused but walks to the village in the
afternoon to purchase u gold one, which
le presents to me.
1t being only thimble, l accept 1t,
md we bid each other a rather senti.
mental adieu, greatly to the amuse-
nent of Sue and Will.
Two years later the great rebellion
,roke out.
At the very first am wild to go out
IS nurse in the southern hospitals.
For awhile my parents oppose it, but
.fter my brother Charley enlists, they
i've a reluctant consent, and l go, feel.
ng that | have found my mission. L.
1t has been q terrible day-hot and
ultry.
There has been hard battle, and man
fter man, MANNED and bleeding, faint
no and diving, is brought into the long