The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-01-12
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MISS SCAMPER.
BY THOMAS DUNN ENGLISH.


knew who Miss Scamper was, and few cared
to know. She came with an old gentle
man, who registered the pair as IS. Scam
per and granddaughter, New York City,"
They were doubtless poor folk on holiday.
They had no servants with them The
old man wore a suit of rather rusty black
and his trunk an antique leathern con-
veniency, bore the letters s. 5. in brass
headed nails. The young wonans 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 re-
manned. One of these, of rich material,
she wore of evenings; the other two, of
some washable material, We're worn alter
nately in day time She had no jewelry
beyond gold brooch One of the eligible
young men there said that "the Scamper
has one Sunday -go-to-meetin' 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 Rolsover
the great heiresss, 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 that modest, pretty,
and well cultured young woman, for the
gilded youth, who We're also lying in wait
for Miss Bolsover, much more gilded, did
not dange in her train. Indeed, she had
no train. Her business was to look after
her poor old grandfather, who was not in
good health and with whom the waters
seemed to agree. Ddymus Dodd who had
scraped an 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 good address: but he was
only an upper clerk in a Philadelphia in
surance company. To be sure, he would
be superintendent after January, vice
would then draw a salary of five thousand
year But no one knew that, and the
possible good fortune to poor Miss Scamper;
and had they known, five thousand IA 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 be-
cause no one else did: but the more he saw
of her the more he liked her, and it ended
in his being badly hit. An he and she
We're the only impccunious people at the
old and fashioned rcsort-the other visitors
counting their dollars well up in the hun
bred thousands - the matter attracted
attention, and by way of getting both out
of the way of manageable sons and daught-
ers scheming mothers lent the affair all the
quiet encouragement possible. And this
passed into a 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 evening: when few were in the par
Tors, her friends besought her to favor them
and so ON. and she expressed her readiness
but there happened to be no accompanst.
Miss Scamper who was chatting near by
with Didymus, looked up, and quietly said
"Perhaps | can serve you that way, Mrs
De Nyse."
'Canyou play at sight, Miss Scamper?'
inquired Mrs. De Nyse.
Miss Scamper nodded assent, and seated
herself at the piano forte, accompanied the
voice with such good Judgment that the
singer was delighted.
81 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 Troyatore Her voice proved to be
rich soprano, of full register, clear as a
silver bell, and admirably cultivated
There was moments pause when she had
done, as though not to lose a note, and
then storm of applause.
Here was a sensation. verybody talk
ed of her method and the glded youth
were in 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. There was a party
going over to Amont, Colonel Parsifalls
place, next day. Would she go? She
assented Didymus said to her in a low
voice:
at is a riding party, Miss Scamper |
know the best horse in the livery stable
here, and if 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 rebuffed, Didymus colored,