St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-05-26
PRETTY POsY;
Or, the Old Crows Nest

PRETTY POSY;
Or, the Old Crows Nest.
"What have you got there?" said DR.
Plimpton. as his daughter POsy EN-.
tered the room with strange object in
her hand.
''This is a crows nest" she replied
with a laugh. 'Capt. Cardigan, up at
the court, always said he would marry
the girl who had the courage to climb
for the crows nest.'
why. my dear, am surprised at
you. It's just like telling the captain
that you want to marry him."
''But don't want to marry him." she
said, bursting into tears. II got the
nest because none of the other girls
dared to. feel as if hated that odious
captain"
''Well, dare say it's all right, my
dear; only motherless girl can't be too
careful how she gives occasion for COS
sip. Now, I'll take my tea, and tell
Bessie to bring in the SOUP"
gone for Posy: she was silent and dis
tracted during supper. She looked sol
EMMY at the crows nest, as some dim
pied young savage might eye mystic
amulet which had incOmprehenSiDly
wrought her evil.
''I'Il burn the old thing" she said to
herself. Il hate the very sight of it!'
And every time that she thought of
Rolf Cardigan her cheeks would burn.
her pulses tingle. Poor little Posy!
1t seemed as if at one. step she had
passed from childhood to the estate of
woman. And she was not at all pleased
with this, her new inheritance. 1t
brought self-consciOusness, mOrtifica-
ton. a world of vague fears and terrOrs.
"Oh" thought Posy, why can mot
always be child?"
And when DR.. Plympton was deep in
some medical book, Posy kept out OF
the room, and making her way into the
frosty starlight, at the back of the
house, set about kindling fire of dry
sticks. leaves and MOSES. Upon this
she inundated, as OH funeral pyre. the
luckless crows nest, and watched it
burn with a sort of savage satisfaction.
Until suddenly, hand fell lightly on
her shoulder.
Are you making a Rembrandtesque
pose of yourself, Posy?" asked a cheer
full voice. And there in the rising and
falling flames stood Capt. Rolf Cardigan
before her.
MOI" said Posy, crisply.
''Then what are you doing?'
II am burning that horrid old crows
nest" Posy made reply, giving the
flames an additional poke with the
forked stick that she held in her hand.
Burning the crows nest, Posy?
What fore"
because Pm sick and tired of the
sight of it," said Posy. There! And
l wish I'd never climbed for it. But
but only l wanted people to know that l
could climb, and that l wouldn't be
dared"
:.Posy!" said the captain.
"Well?" detiantly retOrted Miss Pimp-
ton.
ut is me that you are angry with, not
the crows nest
.Weli,'' said Posy. "And if it is?''
sin that case" said Capt. Rolf, 81
shall accept Lieut.. Commander Cor
riDge's proposal and go up to the Polar
sea with him. It's dangerous eXpedi-
ton. No one ever yet came back from
the frozen straits alive?''
':Ohr' cried Posy, her limpid eyes
dilated with horror.
'':But what difference does it make"
somberly observed Capt. Cardigan, ''if
ones friends don't care for one? Come,
Posy, may as we'll out with it, did
love YOU very dearly. l was trying to
muster up courage to ask you to be my
wife before this absurd business of the
crows nest. Of course, that silly bra
vado was all nonsense. Ii old Nabby
Clipper had climbed UP first do you
suppose l would have married her?''
Posy burst out laughing at the idea Of
rheumatic old Aunt Nabby Clipper
climbing the big oak tree. And she
burst out crying at the dreadful posi-
biity of the Frozen Straits. But Capt.
Cardigan kept solemnly Oh, without the
least change of expression.
''But it's all over now" said he.
Goodbye, Posy. Perhaps you will be
kind enough to make my adieux to your
father. 1 don't suppose shall ever see
him again"
Posy came close up to him. She ven
tured to put one little hand OH the
shaggy sleeve of his coat.
s.But-did you really love me, ROlf?"
said she.
BETTER than the whole world be-
sides,'' sturdily answered Rolf.
''DO you love ME nOw?"
''Desparatelyv
"Then.'' said Posy, resolntely, "you
shan't stir one step to the Frozen
straits"
He bowed his Lead.
''Admiral Posy," said he, "you, and
you alone, are my chief commanding
officer. i receive my orders from you.
But don't you think that it's almost a
pity that"
THAT what?' said Posy, almost hys-
terically.
..That you burnt up that beautiful
crows nest?"
DR.. Plimpton Was still puzzling what
he should do about that insoluble prob
lem of Posy when the door opened
and the young lady herself came in,
with Capt. Rolf Cardigan at her side.
''Oh?" said DR.. Plimpton. "How?
What? You don't meaIl-''
s'Please, Sir" said Capt. Cardigan,
with mock gravity. ''may have Posy?"
Yes" said DR.. Plimpton, with long
sigh OF relief, with all my heart.''
And so Posy was married. and lived
happily ever after. But she always
colors like rose and puts her hand
over her husbands mouth. when the
captain begins to tell all interminable
story about certain old crows nest
which once occupied the top bought of
certain old oak tree.
Don't Rolf" she says.
And he laughs and says: "It's only
a fairy story, my dear"
Sunday at White Bear Lake.
St. Paul & Duluth Sunday trains will
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