Year: 1865

tnofOugnly moftlned by my conduct, and
did not hesitate to lecture me soundly on
my folly; and my Aunt Alice emphatically
declared | was the most consummate fool
she had ever seen. | knew it was true, but
so perverse is mani did not feel at all
obliged to her for uttering it.


One day it rained little in fact, it Of
ten does so. Florence Hay was returning
from the village just as the shower came
up, and partly out of regard for my mother,
with whom she was great favorite, and
partly from the fear of running her new
spring bonnet, she stepped into our house


My mother was delighted to see her, and
made her quite at home directly. 1t was a
new thing for the little maiden to visit my
ways hitherto taken flight to the field or
the hay NOW. Now, however, it was rain
ing hard, and was holding silk for my
mother to wind 50 a retreat was next to
impossible


Though in exquisite torture every mo-
ment lest the fair visitor should address
some question to me and oblige me to
speak, yet | enjoyed being where | could
look into her bewitching face, immensely
She had such blue eyes, and such cherry
lips And those cherry lips had kissed me
blushed red hot to think of it, and my
good mother anxiously commented on my
high color, saying she was afraid was
going to have the crysipelas. Erysipelas
indeed


1t rained all the forenoon. Florence stay
ed to tea, and by the time the meal was
over had broken two plates, knocked down
a saucer, upset the cream pitcher, and near
! y cut the end of my thumb of, with my
knife Also, the rain had not ceased, and
it was dark


Florence declared she could not stop an
other moment Her friends would be alarm
ed about her she must go at once. My
mother urged her to remain all night. But
she could not think of it and while she
was arranging her wraps, my mother beck
oned me into the entry.


Roy" she said decisively, Florence
should not go home alone "


I" can't help it " said doggedly. Il
guess nothing will degour her on her Jour
ney"


My son !" she exclaimed with just Sc
verify, " | cannot permit you to speak i'll
that way of one whom so highly respect
1t is ungentlemanly Your father is alb
sent the servant is busy, and Florence has
a full half mile to walk You will attend
her home"


My limbs trembled under me. | would
have darted from the back door, and left
my mothers favorite to shift for herself,
but my austere relative had kept firm
hold of my arm and without further par
ley, drew me back to the parlor.


"If you must CO." she said to Florence,
g will not urge you Roy will walk with
you"


Florence opened wide her blue eyes in
evident astonishment and, as for me, the
whole creation was in a whirl The room
went round and round like a top-I was
obliged to grasp the back of a chair to keep
from falling-I was penetrated with speech
less dismay


"Roy Florence is waiting! y said my
mother.


There was no appeal! To use vulgar
but expressive phrase, | was in for it "
and nerved by sort of desperate courage,
which sometimes comes to the aid Of the
weak in great extrcmities flung open the
door, blundered down the steps, and out in
to the street. Florence followed leisurely
behind, shut the gate after her and fasten-
ed the latch. How | enTied her provoking



We went on-shc on one side Of the road,
on the other, and about three yards in ad
vance of her. By and by, when we had
proceeded in utter silence for quarter of
mile, my companion said demurely:


Roy, you can get over the fence and go
in the field, and III keep the road"


The little jade was quizzing me | could
not endure her ridicule, so forthwith | made
a sort offying leap to her side of the street,
scattering the mud in every direction as
landed beside her | had just begun to
think how much better the footing was on
that sidewalk than on the one | had left,
when heard somebody whistling, and look
ing up saw Will Richardson, mutual ac-
luaintance, approaching The cold pers-
peration started to my brow-how could |
endure to be seen going home with girl ?
could not. Nonever The idea was out
Of the question | flew to the wall, sprang
over, and threw myself down behind pile
Of stones.


heard Will and Florence laughing to-
gether in a vastly amused way-and then
she took his arm and off they went. | shook
my clcnched hand after them-at that mo-
mcnt | could have cudgeled Will without



The ridiculous story ofmy adventure got
wind and no doubt Will spread it, and |
was the laughing stock of the village. My
mother gave me sound berating, and my
staid, punctilious father administered the
severest rebukc of all--he said | was a dis
grace to my ancestors.


managed to live through it, though, and
a few months later | entered college. |
will not inger Oh the days spent with my
Alma Mater the history Of the scrapes
which my mischief loving fellow students
got me into during those four years, would
I'LL three volumes of octave.


AT the end of the prescribed time grad
uated with the highest honors, for ! had al
ways been most determined bookworm,
and with my diploma in my pocket, | re-
turned.


My friends were rejoiced to see me, they
said, and Aunt Alice informed me- that |
had improved wonderfully in manners, as
well as looks she thought me decidedly
handsome, she said, ,whicn remark | private
ly concluded, was about as sensible as any
| have ever heard her make.


The day following my arrival home, my
mother spoke of Florence. | had been
longing to ask about her, but dared not