Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-03-06

All day Mrs. Potts was revolving in her
mind the most feasible means of preventing AL
bna from appearing at her party and her con-
science smote her when she saw the unsuspec-
ting girl SO indefatigable in assisting with the
preparations. Before Albina went home Mrs.
fotts had come to the conclusion to follow
Mrs. Montague's advice, but shrunk from the
task of telling her SO in person. She deter
mined to send her, next morning, a consise
note, politely requesting her not to come, and
she intended afterwards to call on her and
apologize, on the plea of her party being by no
means general, but still so large that every
inch of room was an object of Importance; al
so that the selection consisted entirely of per-
sons well known to each other and accustomed
to meet in company, and that there was every
reason to fear that her gentle and modest
friend Albina would have beer unable 10 enioy
herself among so many strangers, &C., &C.
These excuses she knew were very flimsy, but
she trusted to Albina's good nature, and she
thought she could smooth off all by inviting
both her and her mother to sociable tea.
Next morning Mrs. Potts, who was on no
occasion very ready with her pen, considering
that she professed to be an an fam to everything
employed near an hour in manufacturing the
following note to Albina -
Mrs. Washington Potts compliments to
Miss Marsden, and she regrets being under the
necessity of dispensing with Mrs. Ms COM
pany to join the social circle at her mansion
house this evening. Mrs. w. P. will explain
hereafter, hoping Mrs. and Miss M. are both
well. Mr.. w. P. requests his respects to
both ladies, as well as Miss Potts, and their
favorite little Lafayette desires his best love-
This billet arrived while Albina had gone
to her mantua-maker to have her new dress
fitted on for the last time. Her mother opened
the note and read it; liberty which no pa
rent should take with the correspondence of a
grown-up daughter. Mrs. Marsden was
shocked at its contents, and at loss to gness
the motive of so strange an interdiction. At
first her only emotion was resentment against
Mrs. Potts. Then she thought of the disap-
pointment and modification of poor Abna,
whom she pictured to herself passing forlorn
evening at home, perhaps crying in her own
room. Next, she recollected the elegant new
dress in which Albina would have looked so
beautifully, and which would now be use-
less.
'Ohn soliloqnized Mrs. Marsden, what a
pity this unaccountable note was not dropped
and lost in the street. But then, of course
some one would have found and read it, and
that would have been worse than all. How
could Mrs. Potts be guilty of such abomnable
rudeness, as to desire poor Albina not TO come,
after she had been invited. But great people
think they may do any thing. | wish the note
had fallen into the fire before it came into nv
hands; then Albina would have known moth
ing of it; she would have gone to the party,
looking more charmingly than ever she did in
her life; and she would be seen there, and
admired, and make new acquaintances, and
Mrs. Potts could do no otherwise than behave
TO her politely in her own house. Nobody
would know of this vile billet, which perhaps
after all is only joke, and Mrs. Potts would
suppose that of course Albina had not received
it besides, have no doubt that Mrs. Potts
will send for her tomorrow, and make salts
factory explanation. But then, tonight, if
Alblna could only get there tonight. What
harm can possibly arrive from my not showing
her the note till tomorrow? Why should the
dear girl be deprived of all the pleasure she
anticipated this evening! And even if she
expected no enjoyment whatever, still how
great will be the advantage Of having her seen
| at Mrs. Washington Potts select party it
will at once get her on in the world. OF
course Mrs. Potts will conclude that the note
miscarried, and will treat her as if it had never
been sent. l am really strongly tempted to
suppress it, and let Albina CO.
The more Mrs. Marsden thought of this
project, the less Objectionable it appeared to
her. When she saw Albna come home de-
lighted with her new dress, which fitted her
exactly, and when she heard her impatiently
f wishing that evening was come, this weak and
ill-judging mother could not resolve las she
afterwards said) to dash all her pleasant an
tcipations TO the graund, and demolish her
castles in the air. My daughter shall be
happy tonight thought she, whatever may
be the event of Tomorrow She hastily con-
cealed the note, and kept her resolution of not
mentioning it to Albina.
Evening came, and Abina's beautiful hair
, was arranged and decorated by a fashionable
French barber. She was drest and looked
charmingly.
Albina knew that Mrs. Potts had sent an
invitation TO he U. S. Hotel for Lieutenant
Cheston, who was daily expected but had not
f yet .eturned from New York. and she regret
ted much that she could not 60 to the party
under his escort. She knew no one else Of
the company, and she had no alternative but
to send for carriage and proceed ihiher by
herself after her mother had sent repeated
messengers 10 the hotel 10 know if MIR. Ches-
{ ton had yet arrived, for he was certainly ex-
pected back that evening. As Abina drove
TO the house, sine felt all the terrors Of diff
dence coming upon her, and already repent
ed that she had venlured on this enterprise
alone. On arriving, she did not go into The
ladies' room, but gave her hood and cloak at
once 10 a servant, and tremulously requested
another attendant TO inform Mr.. Pous that a