The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-04-16
An Evening Party

!. AnEvening Party.
Oh! those weary tea parties; even now fe,
the creeping shudder of repugnance chill ove
+ me, as think Of them, and the wretched boul
used to spend in this way at W. On
in particular, ] well. remember, and from th
bearing it has upon an important subject, I wi
describe it:
It was very hot summer evening; one {
those upon which a person longs, with an ire
sstible craving, to be out of doors, and fre
from the pent, sitting atmosphere of room
when the dew lies heavy upon the droopin
flowers. and they send up their rich fragranc
into the night, until the air becomes heavy witt
odors; when the long Shadows lay in the pal
moonlight over fields and lawns. and the star
gem the deep blue sky like diamonds on tn
Il robes Of queen. Well, upon such night a
this went Mrs. Beauchamp and to a tea-par
ty, at the house Of g very stately maiden lad,
in the dingy College Green. It was littl,
house with marrow passage, small dark sit
ting room, long narrow windows, in each o
which was seat and most dismal looking fur
niture, every article Of which seemed precisel,
as if it had been made for the earliest and lare
est dwelling upon record; a couple of hideous
blear-eyed cats, a asuperannuated parrot, and {
foatman who was the best representation of al
Egyptian mummy ever saw, out of the Brit
| lsh museum. In the closet-front room Of this
suffocatng house-the party was gathered; and
the meagre:tea, the atoms of a stale cake. ir
the beautiful old silver basket, and the thin,
blue cream, in the rare Dresden iue, were sci
out. The chamber had that peculiar musty
smell common to rooms in which the windows
are seldom opened; and it's effects upon pool
me, coming In from the fresh, balmy air out.
side, was really distressing I felt as if a tight
cord was suddenly passed around my head
and the power to draw deep, free breath was
gone.
In time, however, | became somewhat accli-
matlzed, and at leisure 10 attendt to what was 90
1 ing on. The evenings first greeting Host, but
as | suppose they were the same as usual, the
same exclamations and lamentations, the same
self-pltyings and inquiries. | do not imagine
that my loss was very great. / was first arous-
ed to attention as Mrs. Tollemache observed:
What change In the weather since Sun
/ day week-hoW it did rain all that day.
= es, i didn't go to church either morning
OF night. ! think It is no part Of ones duty to
get wet feet and spoil their clothes. leave
that for girls like the Aylmers.'
sAh, how constant they are in their atten-
dance at st. Johns now-I see them 90 by ey-
cry day to the early service
oh, of course; they have great object in
view, sneered Miss Abigail Howard
Indeed replied very innocent, sleepy old
lady; 'Ididn't know that, but always thought
they must be very good young women
s .Oh, very emphasized Miss Abby, drop
ping the corners Of her mouth.
oh, very, repeated Mrs. Beauchamp, eonly
I'm afraid there moi very disinterested. Hand.
some young curates are wonderful incentives to
goodness.
'Really-is it that?'
Ofcourse; the thingis plain enough. They
never troubled daily service while Mr.. Benson,
with his fat wife and eight children, was curate;
but now that Edward surtees does the duty,
they never miss. Iwonder they are not asham-
ed of themselves
But thought I heard Mrs. Raymond say
last night that both the Miss Aymers were en-
gagged
'Ah, it's all very well for Mrs Raymond to
set that about. She's their aunt, you know,
and dare say would be thankful enough ifthere
was prospect of getting them of, with their
tllrty ways and extrayagant habits; but depend
upon it, they are neither engaged nor lkel ly to-
be; for as for their catching Edward Surtees,
there's no more chance of their succeeding in |
that than there is Of my flying
No; that isquite certain. They make their
attack rather too openly
Yes, indeed. Why, it was no longer since
than to-day saw Harriet Aylmer go past three
times; and as it is pretty generally known that
Mr.. Surtees is occupied all day every Tuesday
IN the vestry, I don't think it requires any SUI
intelligence to divine where she was
going. Oh, these clothing clubs, and district
accounts, and national schools make capitalex-
,uses'
sOh, dear me, how shocking! I'm sure I
couldn't have thought it. Well, there's no
inowing any one, CALCULATED the old lady
Such nice, pretty, modest looking girls, and
heir mother the old deans daughter-oh dear,
lear!
A little more of the same amiable, pleasant (;
ak, and the. subject changed-at least the
ames did; as for the subject, that remained ,
retty nearly the same all the evening. /
The next day we went-poor me againl-to
all upon another lady. Her drawing room {
7as full OF morning visitors, and after while !
1e gossip turned upon St. Johns schools; G
ON them, in natural diversion, it went to a
dWard Surtees, from him to the Miss Ayl- t
1ers. was busily engaged in tracing the G
uaint figures upon an old japanned work v
lble, and paid no attention to the conversa t
on, until the now familiar name of Miss Ayl- n
er struck my ear; then listened and heard e
Lrs. Beauchamp say: G
'oh, there's no question at all about it, a
ae was seen to go to the church three times f;
,sterday, and of course there can be no doubt n
hat for. It is absolutely scandalous.' e
Dreadful l-wonder Dr.. Sydney does not te
It stop to it. Not that think the young d
ans to blame, for if the girls will throw Ii
emselyesin his way, what is he to do?-but
ep Ia
Shocking Oh, it'll end, Of course,
Mr.. surtees being discharged, and her leay Il
! the town Efo
Horrible! And heard she was engaged al
hat are her parents about? They ought to- III
ashamed of themselves, letting their chill
en- act in such a disgraceful manner &c
oh, Mrs Aylmer's poor silly thing, and th
Tiers the girls to do just exactly as they to