230 Kate Osborne. [May, 



full for words ; but the gentle pressure of her haud in his, and her tear- 

 ful e} e, yet smiling lip, made telegraphic answer of all her heart 

 would say. 



Clinton saw that his motives were understood and appreciated, and 

 the consciousness of this put him at ease at once ; then, smiling, he 

 resumed: "By our contract of hire it is stipulated between 'the high 

 contracting parties ' that each is at liberty to ' bamboozle ' — ' so it is 

 nominated in the bond,' to bamboozle the other ad libitum, as you 

 musicians say, and no offense is to be taken thereat. Now, I must con- 

 fess that I sent the ' kurnel ' " — here Clinton made a quizzical face — 

 " down to the wheat-field to look after a trespassing horse, that I saw 

 lying in the fence corner, which, though he may be found ' couchant,' 

 will never be seen ' levant ' again, in this world ; and this, my first 

 achievement in bamboozlement, as^Kr contract, I trust yi-u will pardon, 

 when I assure you, my dear Kate, that it Avas with no worse motive 

 than to secure this private interview, so necessary to the prosecution of 

 my plans." 



While Harry was thus making his explanations in the parlor, and 

 Kate was telling him how becoming ' cotton-drilling and nankeen ' were 

 to his figure and complexion ( ! ), farmer Osborne was striding along 

 back from the field, very hot, very angry, and muttering quite audibly, 

 * I hope I'll ketch tliat jankee there yet ! Send me down here to drive a 

 carrion out of a forty-acre field — what he calls ' a patch,' eh ? zangs! 

 I'll larrup the fellow, if it costs me a law-suit ! " 



Soon he approached the house ; there, in the porch, sat Dick Quirk, 

 with stick and bundle on his knee, who, hailing the farmer as he drew 

 near, inquired, " AVal, I say, kurnel, did yeou git him eout ? " 



'• No," growled the colonel, " but I'll get t/ou out so quick it '11 make 

 your head swim ! " 



" Why, what on airth's the matter, kurnel ? " asked Quirk ; " You look 

 a leetle excited : dew tell what has happened ! " 



" I can tell better what 's going to happen ! I'm going to larrup you 

 out of your confounded yankee hide ! Send me down to chase a dead 

 horse out of the field, will you?" and with clenched fists the enraged 

 farmer drew near with evident design to execute his ' larruping ' intent. 



" Neow, dont git riled kurnel," said Quirk, " for yeou kneow it was in 

 our contract to bamboozle, and not git mad abeout it." 



"Yes, but 'the artickle aint signed yet,' " retorted the colonel, in 

 mocking imitation of Quirk's previous objection to going to drive the 

 horse out. At this Quirk gave a loud and hearty laugh, exclaiming : 



" Wal, I never ! Kurnel, yeou've got me there ! haw, haw, haw ! I 



