The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-08-09

rive when she should be called "my Lady
Killkitten" in earnest
In due course of time his. lordship, who
was become long thin hobledeboy, left
Mr.. Briggs's preparatory establishment
which, SO far as young Killkitten had
been concerned, was preparatory to moth
ing but ignorance and self-importance or
his iordship's part; and vanity and future
inevitable vexation of spirit, on the part
of Miss Araminta Briggs.
| should be involved in a very long sto
ry, were I to follow his lordship through
his future career; it is therefore with the
deepest regret (on Miss Briggs's account
that here take leave of him for ever
confessing at the same time that she never
from the moment of his departure heard
anything more about him.
For some years lost sight of Aramin-
ia: and when again l visited the town OF
Thornbury, old Mr.. Briggs had gone to
join his wife lin the church-yard,) and
Miss Briggs had been married two years
to Mr. Deedums, the highly respectable
solicitor.
This was rather a downfall certainly,
and at Thornbury tea-parties, the sound
Of "M Mrs. Deedums maid is come with
lantern and pattens," was hardly an equiv
alent for the loss of "Lady Killkitten's s
carriage stops the way"
/ Still, however, in a country town the
lawyers lady is rather a great person,
and poor Araminta's head had been too
much turned in days gone by, to ever be-
come quite steady in quiet straightfor-
warh way again. She therefore, it must
be acknowledged, gave herself airs, and
led the fashions among the Snookses of
Thornbury. Mrs. Deedums's "teas'' were
really very smart things in their way, and
often, as Araminta prepared for the re-
ception of her guests, she sighed, and
thought how much she might have been
admired had it been registered in the
Peerage that "the present Viscount Kill
kitten had married Araminta, only daugh-
ter of Peter Briggs. Esq, Briggs House,
TEornbury, Worcestershire"
Again l lost sight of Araminta, and
when by chance revisited Thornbury,
she was the still fair widow of the late
Mr.. Deedmus, who, having died much
richer than had been anticipated, had left
her very handsome jointure. She was
about forty, and still handsome; and hav-
ing just thrown aside her weeds, it seemed
to be her object to forget Deedums and
his set as quickly as possible, and become
on visiting terms with some of the more
aristocratic families of the neighborhood.
Chance in some measure promoted her
views, for she accidentally had formed an
acquaintance with an Honorable Mrs.
Moore, during short visit to Chelten-
ham, to which place she had gone imme-
diately after Decdum's death, to recruit
her health by change of air, and her spir-
its by change of scene; or in other words,
to forget her late husband as soon as pos
sible, and all the disagreeableness attend
ant on his illness and demise.
Mrs. Moore was acquainted with some
of the best families in Gloucestershire.-
Having accepted an invitation from the
widow, she arrived at the lady's residence
in the town of Thornhury. She called
upon her friends in the neighborhood ;
they of course, when they returned the
visit, left cards for the widow. The long
desired object was gained and the wild
ow knowing that none of "the townspeo-
ple," determined to give the latter a cut,
and to cultivate in future the more exclu-
sive and recherche suburban society.
During the stay of the Honorable Mrs.
Moore, Mrs Deedmus accompanied her
to dinner and evening parties, at all the
great houses within ten miles of the town;
and after the departure of her guest, the
widow determined to open her house, for
the first time since the death Of her hus-
band, and give rout.
Now all these great people had received
Mrs. Deedums as a sort of necessary ap-
pendage to their old acquaintance, Mrs.
Moore; but knowing that the widow had
always been one of "the set" in the town,
they never dreamt of visiting her, or in
deed Of keeping up any sort of acquaint-
ance after Mrs. Moore's departure beyond
a distant bow, or patronising smile of
recognition.
/! When, therefore, the little three corner
pink notes of invitation arrived, there was
an exclamation of surprise, and a general
wonder expressed of "whom shall we
mcet;" and very brief indeed was the de-
bate, which ended in a determination to
send civil refusals.
/, being in the town, happened to be
among the persons invited, and having
called in the morning, had been told by
the widow that it would be rather large
party as she had received no excuses, and
that [ might come as early as | liked,
though it was probable few of her guests
would arrive before ten. Not wishing to
help light the candles or witness the slow
accumulation of the party, determined
to make my appearance at half-past ten
There is no such bore as witnessing the
gradua! mixing of the ingredients of a
party; it is like tasting again and again
a pudding in its culinary progress. ]
like to enter the party when 1T is ready
made, and to get slice of the pudding
when it is served up hot at table.
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