Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-09-10
POSY.

The table was set for the evening
meal in DR.. Plimpton's snug little
dining room, where the red and gold
hangings reflected the cheerful blink
of the freight; the old silver on the
sideboard shone radiently, and the
glass and china were polished to per-
lection point.
The good doctor sat down in his
armchair, put up his slippers to the
blaze, and looked complacently
around him.
"Very comfortable !" said he, Every
comfortable indeed! Here's the fire,
and here's the table already, and here
am l. But where's Posy I"
The next moment distant door
banged like the report Of artillery, a
merry peal of laughter sounded
through the hall, and in came Posy-
a bright-eyed, dishevelled, L'Allegra
sort of maiden, with cheeks brighter
than any carnation, eyes that sparkled
like wells Of blue light, aud big
nest of some description carefully
balanced on her arm.
Have kept you waiting? Oh, |
am SO sorry, papa" said Posy, breath
lessly.
my daughter" said the doctor,
looking at her in some amazement,
"what have you got there p
And he put his gold eye glasses in
most investigating style.
cts a--nest % said Posy, exultant-
ly.
"What sort of nest ?" said the
doctor.
"a crows nest" answered POsy.
"Ah, papa, you may well look sur
prised. It's the very old nest from
the top of Beecham's Oak. And l
climbed up and got it myself My
own self, and nobody helped me.
But oh was dreadfully frightened
once or twice, when the tree-top rock.
ed in the wind and the old dead
branches gave way beneath my feet
l shut my eyes and chung with both
arms around the trunk, and sort OF
dizziness came over my head But il
was only for moment. | got the
nest, papa. And you know what
Captain Rolf Cardigan up at the
Court has always said,-that he
would marry the girl who had cour'
age to climb up and capture that
crows nest He thought none of us
dare to do it, but"
"Posy," interrupted DIR. Plimpton
in dismay, II am surprised at you!"
why, papa ?" innocently demand
ed Posy, perching herself on the cor.
ner of the table, and depositing her
dearly won treasure in the nearest
soup.plate, where she contemplated il
with natural pride.
"To think" said the doctor, "that
you should be so devoid of maidenly
feeling as thus to openly compete for
the hand of young gentleman who
is almost stranger, who"
But he isn't perfect stranger,
papa" said Posy. i've known him
ever since we were children. And
we've had lots of quarrels, and one or
two reconciliations !"
"Posy, how old are you" abruptly
demanded DR.. Plimpton, fixing his
eyes on his daughters face.
Sixteen, papa" Posy promptly
answered.
Sixteen !" desperately repeated
the doctor. "If you don't know any
better now you never will |! Really
am at loss what to do Whether
had better send you to a boarding
school, or invite your Aunt Bethiah
here to take charge of you, or marry
again it is really difficult to decide =
II think, papa, if you don't mind
I'd deal rather you'd marry again,
said posy earnestly. That is, If you
will let me select my step-mother."
"Posy, don't be so silly !" said The
doctor.
"Is it silly!" said Posy, pouting
Indeed / was quite in earnest. Blu
after all, papa, what is it that l have
done so terrible ?"
Don't you see, child" said The
doctor, kicking of his slippers il
desperation, you've as good as told
Rolf cardigan that you want tt
marry him !"
Papa"
Posy jumped of the table and stood
with flashing eyes and color that var
led from white to red.
"Well, my dear, what is y"
81 don't want to marry him." sale
Posy. II only got the crows nest be
. cause he said we could none of u
girls do ii And / knew that could