The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1857-1858, 1857-08-12

One of our wealthy citizens, residing on
Broadway, is known to have numerous eecen-
trieities, the most familiar OF which, IRON re-
cent event. Is his antipathy to all assemblies,
particularly in his own house. Several lair rel.
atives, composing part OF his hcaschoid. had
used all their eoquenee TO obtain his PERMISSION
TO party, Just one but the old gentleman was
obduta,e. lie would take the girls to Europe,
or Saratoga, or Newport, or Nahan', get them
new sets OF iewelrv--any thing but that The
young ladies almost despaired; but finally be
thought them Of obtaining by stratagem what
they could not procure by persuasion for their
hearts were fixed upon party, and party the,
must have.
The old gentleman was in the habit Of retir-
ing very early and sleeping very soundly. and
the Girls determined 10 send. out Invitations
without his knowledge; believing that none OF
the guests would arrive until the venerable rela.
tive IN the embrace oi somnuS.
Extensive preparations were the result; an
effort was made to give one oi II moSt recherche
/ parties OF the season. The beautiful and bril-
| liant. the gay aud fashionable, the witty and
| elegant were 'hidden to the feast They came
/ The luxurious drawing rooms were splendid with
1 gas hight aud diamonds, loyeliness aud gallant
nv. The air was rich with perfumes ci Paris aud
| flowers: and the most cultivated and meiodious
voices chatted and goss,pped; and hundreds OF
4 fairy feet swept through the dance; and the
/ swell Of music was upon the evening air; when
Of sudden dreadful app,rition startled the
| ',merre cempanien as ii it had been the hidcous
Red Death OF Poe.
Tie laugh and love tone were hushed blood
sufnscd the cheeks and nude necks OF the la
dies: the dance stoed still; The instruments for
| got their airs and died in suddcn silence. What
was that horrid shapes 'Theiadies pointed thci,
| white fingers and gazcd wildly ut tie door. Was
it al other ghost like that in Don Giovanni;
or was it a sheeted form from gaping grayes
By degrees, the vision gathered shape, ant
looked as a thing OF EARTH The figure was tha
OF the "head Of the family with ho slpertuoa
clothing npon his limbs, unless single Carmen
could he so considered, standing there cane in
hand, wrath upon his brow.
He advanced into the drawing room and be
gan swearing like a Templar, and shook his can'
above mis- mead as if he would annihiiare some
body. His model artistic costume seemed t,
. strike the fair guests with horror; they covcret
their faces and screamed. Old gent swore th
louder, and moving further into the apartment
a general stampede took place. Ouomans an
, chairs were overturned, and in twenty second
the late crowded rooms were deserted.
Carriage after carriage rolled away in rapi
succession, and the house was soon darkene,
!. and, to all appearances, deserted.
: The fair relatives Of the wealthy humorist d,
: parted iron the city the next evening after tn
i coatre temps, and have not since returned.
!. The affair is still laughed at on Fourth stree
Il and the color brightens upon the cheek OF mol
Q than one belle, when she is asked 10 relate h,
a experience at the surprise party.