The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1891-06-24
A TOMBOY.

- f---Sese AcuioA hC0 JOoic
to her aunt, Mrs. Walton, demurely
.P'raps not; but to go tearin'
around the country at the rate you
do is. It's not only that, but You
must jump the rope and climb trees,
and go rowing on the bay, just like
a man.
@Well, Aunt Hester, it's good for
my health" protested her nease;
sand as to .the latter accomplish
ment, / am only emulating Ida
Lewis, and people called her a
heroine and not a tomboy.'
"Well, there's no use talking to
you, for you always find some kind
OF an answer to all say, remarked
Aunt Hester, with a sigh of resign
ment; "only I do wish you'd leave
|oethase praDl:s for whi,e and act
a little proper. for I'm sure Mr..
Carlyle would admire you very
much if you'd only-only-"
'only resolve myself into an ami
mated 'propriety' machine or fash
ion platel'' supplemented wilful
Josie. @No thank you, Aunt Hester.
If can't win his gracious favor in
propria persona, ] can exist very
comfortably, not to say agreeably,
without it. Whoever marries me
has got to do SO with his eyes wide
open to all my faults, foibles, and
imperfections generally, but as for
putting on mask of polite hypoc-
crisy, wouldn't do it to gain the
favor of crown prince HIMSELF"
Some months previously, Mr.. Har-
old Carlyle. a particular friend of
the good old lady, had come down
to pay her a visit, the duration of
which had since been heightened
indefinitely. From the moment his
eyes fell upon the bright piquant
face, and supple, girlish figure of
his friends ward and niece, he had
been attracted by it, and Aunt Hes
ter noted the fact with unalloyed
and ill-concealed delight, if having
been a pet project of hers from the
first to make match between them.
But Mr.. Carlyle, although a very
excellent and estimable gentleman
in many respects. had been brought
up in the very best society, and had
a strong sense of what were termed
the "proprieties, and when he came
upon Josie one day, perched in the
crotch of an apple tree engaged in
inspecting a deserted birds nest, it
had given him quito a shock, and
seriously impaired his former high
opinion of that young lady. He
had uttered his remonstrances not
to her, however, but to Aunt Hester.
Finding her own efforts unsue-
cessful, Aunt Hester had suggested
to her guest, sub rosa, that he at
tempt the role of moderator, think
ing possibly word from him might
be more effective with her wayward
niece. He had accordingly under
taken to follow out her suggestion;
proving, however, but an awkward
ambassador, and retreating from the
contest decidedly second best, in the
face of Josie's indignant protest.
There was decided coolness be.
tween them for several days, and
Mr.. Carlyle resolved to try new
tack. He would cultivate her So
ciety more; keep her oftener at his
side, and little by little perchance,
win her over to his way of thinking.
1t would be quite gratifying to his
self love to gain the conquest over
this willful little beauty, and he set
about the undertaking in good
earnest.
"May l have the pleasure of your
company this afternoon for a drive,
Miss Josie?" he asked one day, as
she was about fitting away after
dinner.
Josie hesitated a moment, and
then looked up with a malicious
smile.
"Well, yes if you won't consider
dignity compromised by the society
of such tomboy, Mr.. Carlyle"
"Iwillrisk it." he replied, quietly;
al shall hold the reins this timel''
The jaunt progressed very pleas
antly for a time. Mr.. Carlyle ex-
erted himself to be unusally agree
able, and as he aftera while dropped
the tone of patronizing superiority
that he was apt to assume toward
her, Josie's manner warmed into
genuine cordiality, affording him an
opportunity to discover that her
mental endowments keptyery credi-
table pace with her physical accomp-
lishments. In short. thew made