Miss Dexie | Page 8

and Dexie turned sharply
around and faced the rest. "He had better learn the whole of our names,
and the history of them as well, and then, perhaps, he will be kind
enough to drop the subject forever. Here is the story: At the time father
was married he was doing business in Augusta, Maine; but it happened,
unfortunately, that mother was born and brought up in Dexter. For
some reason, that I have never been able to fathom, when we twins
appeared we were honored by being called after those respective places!
Gussie was the smartest and best-looking baby, I suppose, so she was
selected to bear the name of the capital city, while I had to bear the
burden of Dexter! It is a wonder how I managed to survive the
christening, for the very name was enough to finish one! Oh! I have
wished a thousand times that the town of Dexter had been visited by a
conflagration, and wiped out of existence, before mother's people ever
went there! But there! I daresay they would have gone to Skowhegan!
Norrigewock! Mattawamkeg! or some other place with an outlandish
name, and, of course, I should have been named after it, just the same!
Dexie is bad enough, but Skowie, think of it!"
A peal of laughter interrupted Dexter's hot-spoken words; but the

mention of her name always touched a tender spot, and she added, in an
injured tone, that made her father smile in spite of himself:
"And there is Louie. Everybody thinks her name is Louisa, so she
escapes the questions of the curious; but her name is Louisiana, after
the State where grandma's old home is. We were there for a long visit
when she was a baby, and she is not likely to forget that fact all her life.
Then papa has a sister in Georgia; so of course we went to see her, too;
but her plantation was so lovely we were all delighted when papa
consented to stay there a year or two and help Uncle Edward set out
some new groves, and get everything in good running order. We were
there when Georgie was born, so he got off comparatively easy; but
then! boys always do!"
Plaisted's shouts of laughter forbade further expressions of displeasure,
and Dexie turned her back again and looked out the window, while she
regained her composure. Nothing so aroused her indignation as the
mention of her name consequently few knew what it really was. Louie
liked her name, for by bearing it she became her grandmother's favorite,
and Gussie could look on the matter with indifference.
"I quite sympathize with Dexie," said Mrs. Sherwood, "but her father
has a New Englander's love for novel names, and gives no thought to
the unnecessary burden that it puts upon the children, one which they
have to bear all their lives."
"Oh! well, Gussie can't complain, I'm sure," said Mr. Sherwood. "No
one will become inquisitive over her name," he laughingly added.
"I have no doubt that Miss Gussie feels thankful she secured first
choice," said Plaisted, "and that her good looks entitled her to it," and
he looked over at Gussie with bold admiration in his glance.
"I don't think looks had anything to do with it," said Mr. Sherwood,
"else this curly pate would have had first choice," reaching over to pass
his hand over the brown rings of hair.
"Seems to me this conversation is much too personal," said Dexie,

rising from her seat. "I think a change would be welcome to one and
all," and she sat down before the piano.
Mr. Sherwood smiled his approval. He was very proud of his daughter's
musical ability, for she could sing and play to suit the taste of any
audience, and could arouse the inner emotions of those who had any
feelings that were capable of being stirred at all. One of her
accomplishments, which she seldom exhibited before strangers, was
that of whistling. Few people have heard the exquisite notes that can be
produced by an adept in the art, but there are whistlers and whistlers,
whose notes differ as much as those of the linnet and the crow. While
accompanying herself on the piano, Dexie could produce such
wonderful trills and quavers, with such purity of tone, that she could
almost rival the very birds themselves, and she never failed to surprise
and charm all that heard her. Wishing to please her father, as well as
convince Mr. Plaisted that her name did not make her a "ninny," she
selected some of her best pieces and sang her most charming songs;
then, after a few soft notes, she broke into a bird-song, whistling the
notes so faithfully true that Mr. Plaisted was startled as well as
delighted, and