PETERSON’S MAGAZINE.
PHILOPENA.
BY A. L. OTIS.
"There is more real fun in one week of country, than in a whole year of city life," was the declaration of every guest at Mrs. Bartol's country-seat, during the week I spent there last summer. Such sociable intercourse, such scope for improvement of each other's acquaintance, such chatty breakfasts, and long afternoons in the woods, and drives at sun-down or moonrise, and evenings on the porch, facing the southern heavens, and catching the southern breeze, while we sang solos, duos and concertos!
There were half a dozen guests: three young ladies, and as many gentlemen. Mrs. Bartol and her son Clement completed the party.
There was Celia Linton, the beloved—much coveted as a daughter-in-law of Mrs. Bartol. There was Kate Upham, supposed to be very willing to be the daughter-in-law herself, but in reality a little, careless flirt, quite heart-whole. And there was myself, Celia's intimate friend.
Of the gentlemen—first Clement, loving Celia with all his heart; but so impulsive and demon strative a lover, that he frightened the timid girl into absolute avoidance of him.
Then John and Arthur Clare, whom I shall not have occasion to mention again, I think. And th■n Jack Linton, Celia's brother, aged fourteen, a "mad-wag," general mischief, and great favorite. One day we were all sitting around the dinner-table, eating almonds.
"I have a philopena," said Clement, "who will take it? No one offers? Then, mother, be proxy for them all. Now, ladies, the ono who can catch me, shall have the Psyche."
This was a small marble head of a beautiful Psyche, which Clement had bought that morning. I happened to know that he had intended it for Celia, but she had too strong a sense of propriety to accept so valuable a present, He hoped to make a play of giving it, and put her in such a position that she could not refuse it.
Mrs. Bartol saw through the plan, and highly approved it. So she ate the almond in behalf of us all, and proposed the German fashion of the philopena. We agreed ; therefore if any one of us could make Clement take something from her, she won the forfeit. As I knew Clement's wishes, I manoeuvred to make Celia the successful offerer, and Mrs. Bar tol also did so, but Kato was a host against us. She had a quick invention, with Jack Linton to spur it on, for he espoused her side warmly. I wondered which would win the day, Clement or Kate—man's determination or woman's wit— for it was quite evident to me that Clement did not care to let Kate have the beautiful bust, which, however, she strongly desired to win from him. Clement wished to offer Celia somo apricots, but they had been removed to the other side of the table, and the waiter had gone to bring in the coffee. Kato jumped at the opportunity. She handed them to him, but her eyes twinkled too expectantly. Clement refused to take them with a merry nod. Mrs. Bartol tried to make Celia pass his cup of coffee to him, but the shy girl avoided doing so. We soon saw that, unless by accident, she would not win the Psyche. She was as deter mined not to seek it, as Clement was to make her take it. After dinner, Kate engaged Clement in con versation She was sitting by the window, he, standing, leaning against the sash. She flatter ingly motioned to a chair at ner side, giving it a gentle push with her hand. wh'.ch she did not withdrow. Clement gallantly affected haste to take the chair, but before he had done so he recollected. "Ah; a trap, Miss Kate! But I am not the mole to be caught in it!" "No, you arc by no means blind! You see through all my c!cc little plans." 89
