The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-27
MISS SCAMPER.
'hOmas Dunn English. in uarper's Bazaar.

New York city" They had no servants with
them. The old man suit of rather rusty
black, and his trunk, an antique leathern con-
venency bore the letters rs. s." in brass headed
nails. The young womans trunk-she had but
one-was large enough and of modern make,
but it was apparently not well filed, since she
had shown but three dresses all the three weeks
she had remained One of these. Of rich mate
rial, she wore of evenings the other two, of
some washable material, were worn alternately
in daytime She had no jewelry beyond plain
gold brooch. One of the eligible young men
there said that "the Scamper has but one Sun
daygo-tomeetin' and two work-day suits" for
which his neighbor should have kicked him, but
didn't The eligible young was looking for
an eligible mate in the person of Miss Bolsoyer,
the great heiress, whom the society paper
had said was coming TO the Rappaquah; though,
as she hadn't come, the Browns young man of
the society paper labored under delusion. The
match making dowagers did not fear this modest,
pretty and wellcultvatad young woman, for the
gilded youth who were lying in wait for Miss
Bolsover much more gilded, did not bangle in
her train. Indeed she had no train. Her bust
ness was to look after her poor old grandfather,
who was not in good health, and with whom the
waters seemed to agree. Didymus Dodd, who
had scraped acquaintance with old Scamper,
as the fellows irreverently called him, seemed to
be her admirer; but Didymus was nobody. He
was well made, tall, handsome, and of good ad-
dress; but he was only upper clerk in Phil
adelphla insurance company To be sure, he
would be superintendent after January vice
Higgins, retired and superannuated, and would
then draw salary of five thousand year. But
no one knew that, and the possible good fortune
to poor Miss Scamper; and, if they had known,
five thousand year was no great matter. So
the field WAS left to Miss Scamper and welcome.
Didymus only began paying attentions to Miss
Scamper out of courtesy, and because no one
else did, but the more he saw of her the more
he liked her. and it ended in his being badly hit.
As he and she were the only impecunlous people
at the old-fashioned resort-the other visitors
counting their dollars well up in the hundred
thousands-the matter attracted attention, and
by way Of getting both Out of the way of mar
riageable sons and daughters, scheming mothers
lent the affair all the quiet encouragement pos
sible. And this passed into a more active ma
ture from two little incidents that occurred
about ten days before the end of the two-months
vacation of Didymus.
There was Mrs. DeNyse at the springs, who
was well known as an amateur vocalist of merit,
and whose voice, though little reedy in the
upper notes, had been trained so well as to make
her worth hearing. One evening when a few
were in the parlors her friends bescught her to
favor them, and so on and she expressed her
readiness, but there happened to be no accom-
PIANIST Miss Scamper, who was chatting near
by with Dldymus. looked up, and quietly said,
Perhaps can serve you in that way, Mrs. De
Nyse"
Can you play at sight, Miss Scamperl" in
quired Mrs. De Nyse
Miss Scamper nodded assent and seated her
self at the piano-forte and accompanied the
voice with such good judgment that the singer
was delighted.
Il wish could carry you about with me- my
dear" she said But do you not sing? You
surely must"
"a little"
Urged by all around. Miss Scamper, to her
own accompaniment, sang an aria from Ii
Irovatore. Her voice proved to be rich so
prano OF full register clear as a silver bell and
admirably cultivated. There was a moments |
pause when she had done, though not to lose
a note, and then a storm of applause
Here was sensation. Everybody talked of |
her method, and the gilded youth were in rap 1
lures The mammas conferred and concluded |
that Miss Scamper member of some church |
choir or attached to some English opera troupe |
who knew But they were civil There a
party going over to Almont, Col. Parsifals
place, next day. Would she go9 She assented |
Didymus said to her in a low voices
ut is riding party, Miss Seamper. / know |
the best horse in the livery stable here, and, if
you'll permit me, Ill secure it for you"
To which she replied in the same tone: "Thank !
you, Mr.. Dodd; you are very kind; but have
one at command already. Get that for your
self"
Somewhat rebuffed, Didymus colored, but she
added, Mine shall not disgrace you" which was
a distinct intimation that she expected him as
escort The spirits of Didymus rose from zero
to blood-heat
The next morning, as the riders were ready to
start, groom known to be one of Colonel Par
stalls rode up leading q magnificent blooded
bay horse, equipped with sidesaddle. AS they
admirng the animal, Miss Scamper in q
neat riding habit, made her appearance. The
groom took off his hat Didymus noe little as
tonished, put forth his hand, and the lady
vaulted to the back of the horse with easy grace
The cavaleade set out, Miss Scamper and Didy- |
mus together, and, being better mounted than
the Others were soon at the head of the column
About mile from the springs that was a bar
in the way. lofty tulip tree had been blown |
down during the night and had fallen across the |
road, the trunk we'll up on account of the wide |
roots. Some one had already cleared way by |
letting down fences on the roadside; but Miss |
Scamper did not 20 around with the rest She
faced the trunk the horse went over and then
trotted on. Didymus faced it, too. His brute
got over, but half stumbled. Didymus was
country bred had ridden horses to mill bare
backed, and was a half centaur when boy; so |
he brought his horse up.
Miss Scamper smiled approvingly.
Every body admired the ease and grace with |
which Miss Scamper managed her horse, and
Didymus more than nybody.
when they arrived at their destination, the
party dispersed in the house and the
grounds. They found old Scamper there. He |
had gone over before in a carryall. Alrnont
was the property of Colonel Almont, and was
for sale, with its fine booded stock of horses
and cattle, its furniture, it library and
everything in the house and around |
it, The Colonel and his family were in Europe
and intended to stay there while he educated his |
sons at Heidelberg So he offered the whole-a
house that cost $780, 900, with all his Offices of |
all kinds. stables, palmefy, grapery and green
houses, furniture made TO order, and over l, 200 |
acres of land in high state of cultivation for"
as he said in his letter. "a mere song" So it |
was; but as it was set to the tune of $500 900, |
there were few who could render the music.
They all admired the place The agent, who
was there, seized on the Seampers and Didymus,
to whom he showed everything and explained
everything Didymus was amused at this, and
whispered to Miss Scamper, He has picked out
the only three who would certainly not buy it,"
Miss Seamper, by the twinkle of her eyes, evil |
IDENTIFY appreciated the fun of tine situation.