The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-01-09
miscellaneous.
Miss Scamper.
BY THOMAS DUNN ENGLISH.

None at the Rappaquah Sulphur Springs
knew who Miss Scamper was, and few cared
To know. She came with an old gentleman
who registered the pair as s. Scamper and
granddaughter, New York city," They were
doubtless poor folks ON holiday. They
had no servants with them. The old man
wore suit OF rather rusty black, and his
trunk, an antique leather conveniency, bore
the letters 5. s. in brass headed nails. The
young woman's trunk-she had but one
was large enough, and of modern make, but
it was apparently not well filled, since she
had shown but three dresses all the tire,
weeks she had remained. One of these, OF
| rich material, she wore of evenings; tn.
| other two, OF some washable material, were
worn alternately in day time. She had NO
jewelry beyond plain gold brooch. One o
the eligible young men there said that "tht
Scfamper has one Sunday .go-to-meetn' and
two work-day SUITS" for which his neighbor
should have kicked him, but didn't The
eligible young man was looking for an
eligible mate IN the person of Miss Bosover,
the great heress, whom the society paper had
said was coming to the Rappaquah; though,
us she hadn't come, the Browns young MAJ
of the society paper labored under delusion
The matchmaking dowagers did not feaI
this modest, pretty, and well cultured young
woman, for the gided youth, who were also
lying in wait for Miss Bolsover, much more
gllded, did not bangle in her train. Indeed
she had no train. Her business was to look
after her poor old grandfather, who was not in
good health aud with whom the waters
seemed to agree. Didymus Dodd, who SCRAP.
an acquaintance with old Scamper, as the
fellows irreverenlly called him, seemed to he
her admirer; but Didymus was nobody. He
Was well made, tall, handsome, and of GOOD
address; but lie was only an upper clerk IN
Philadelphia insurance company. To be
sure he would be superintendent after Janu
airy, 0ice Higgins, retired and surperannuated,
and would than draw q salary of five thou
sand year. But no one knew that, and the
possible good fortune to poor Miss Scamper {;
and had they known, five thousand wear
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 CID; but the more he saw of her
the more he liked her, and it ended in his he
ing badly hit. AS he and she were the only
impecunious people at the old and old-fasI
Toned resort-the other visitors counting
their dollars well up in the hundred thousand
the matter attracted attention, and by way
OF getting both out of the way of marriarea.
BILE sons and daughters, scbcming mothers
lent the affair all the quiet encouragement
possible. And this passed into more active
nature from two little incidents that occurred
about ten days before the end of the two
months vacation of Didymus.
There was a Mrs. De Nyse 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 a hearing. One
| ptprr vI,s,,, raxuy =.
friends besought her to favor them, and so
on, and she expressed her readiness, but there
| happened to be no accompanied. Miss Scam
per who was chattering near by with Didy-
mus, looked up, and quietly said, Perhaps |
can serve you that way, Mrs. De Nyse."
Can you play at sight, Miss Scamper?'
inquired Mrs. De Nyse.
Miss Scamper nodded assent, and seated
herself ut the piano forte, and accompanied
the voice with such good judgment that the
singer was delighted.
[ II 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 air from II
1f0odtore Her voice proved to be rich
soprano, of full register, clear as silver bell.
ments pause when she had done, as though
not to lose note, and then storm of ap
| plause.
| Here was sensation. Everybody talked
of her method, and the gilded youths were
| III raptures. The mammas conferred, and
concluded that Miss Scamper was a member
of some church choir, or attached TO some
English opera troupe, who knew But they
were civil. Their was party going over 10
Amont, Colonel Parsials place, next day.
| Would she go? She assented Didymus
said to her in low voice:
ut is riding party, Miss Scamper.
know the best horse in the livery stable here,
and i you'll permit me, I'll 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 yourself"
Somewhat Iebuffed Didymus colored, but
she added, Mine shall not disgrace you"
/ which was distinct intimation that she ex-
pected him MS escort. The spirits of Didy.
mus rose from zero to blood.heat.
The next morning the rs riders were ready
! to start, u groom, known to be one of Colonel