The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-01-13
For the National Era.
JASPER: A RIO NANCE.
BY EDWARD SPENCER.
Hom Ruth PIT on Mourning.

HQgq Ruth PIT on Mourning.
{cHAPTER NINTH CONTINUED
An hour after Mr. Digest's call, Mrs. Elem
her calm, lovely face, no tremor in her hand,
no falter in her step. She was out shopping"
as the ladies term it, and in one of the stores
into which she went she encountered Mrs.
Morninglory. Now, the reader is we'll aware
what enemies these two are, and, especially,
what great cause Mrs. Fleming had for being
angry with Mrs. Morninglory. Of course, says
the reader, they could not do less than give
each oth her the g dead cut" passing one another
with scornful eyes, elevated noses, and that
much less proximity, which is, as Mr.. Thack-
cray would phrase it, so delightful spectacle
to the philosophical frequenter of VANITY
Fair" By no means. Mrs. Morninglory was
very much of a woman and women, you know,
torture playfully, like the tigress, that tousles,
and NOUS, and pinches, and tickles, and plays
football with her victims, previously to devour-
ing them. Nothing pleased her better than
adroitly to thrust that keen needle of hers into
the quick aneath the finger nails of those she
hated. And Mrs. Fleming was far too proud
to show any pique So they met like the best
imaginable friends.
Every fine morning. How well you are
lookingI7
" Lovely weather, indeed
:" Isn't this Honiton exquisite, Mrs. Elem,
ing?"
Very neat, indeed"
" am glad You like it; l have just bought
any number of yards-for the ball, you know.
One must have something. You will be there,
of course ~
eyes, of course. l am looking for some
thing TO wear, myself"
"Ah, if l had your wardrobe" lit was a
genuine sigh, this, "a would not trouble AMY
self about shopping. By the way, have you
heard that ridiculous report that has been
started recently about your"
"Yes, have heard something concerning it, >
"Very ridiculous, wasn't it? Of course,
never believed a word of H."
All! now, how people do misrepresent
things. l heard that il originated at your
house"
"Oh no, indeed / only heard it yesterday.
" I'm glad to learn that you had nothing to
do with it; though tbs but trife, at BEST
Yes, only trife indeed. But / must 60
good day. owe you a long visit-will call
soon. Come and see me. Adieu."
THANK you-good morning"
And the two ladies salIted each other with
as much courtesy as do the flags Of two nation
alities, meeting on the ocean in the "piping
times of peace" J.
She don't know wore of it, | am sure, y re-
lected Mrs. Morninglory, es she passed on out
of the shop.
"She expected to disconeert me- smiled Mrs.
Fleming to herself sending clerk for a collar
of a certain pattern.
1t was remarked with wonder, by every one,
that, during the week, Mrs Fleming was more
gay than any one had ever known her to be.
She attended the opera, aud the various other
places Of amusement, with great assiduity. She
had herself driven about IN her carriage every
where seemed not to notice the cold shoulders
that were not unfrequently turned upon her
visited more than ever, and more than ever un-
bent from her habitual stateliness. Especially
was this the case after Mr.. Classics arrival in
town. That gentleman attired as he never had
been before-not even in his college days, when
he was heels-over-head in the widest moments
VI IdI vi HIS. (WHICH dIteT Ill
came to naught)- her constant attendant,
or rather follower, for she dragged him after her
into all places, to his intense dismay She made
him go to the opera with her, accompany her
to the ordinary IN the hotel, and ride with her
in her shopping expeditions-in fact, she had
taken complete possession of him. Acting in
this way, Mrs. Fleming failed not to strike the
enemy camp with dismay. They could not
understand her tactics, and dreaded them &C
cordlngly. And many persons, noticing her
conduct, sand she could not be guilty, else she
would not be so bold; whereupon, in contrite
reparatlon, they began to renew their visits.
But Mrs. Morninglory destroyed the effect OF
this style of reasoning, by reporting that she
had 1t from her own lips that Mrs. Fleming was
acquainted with the scandal. Surely, then, she
is very imprudeut, argued the world, or else en-
tireiy reckless, and determined to brave us
whereat the indignant world, terribly hustered
at being set at defiance, resolved 10 visit Mrs.
Fleming with its indignant wrath, when the
proper occasion should arrive.
There was one person, however, who did not
agree with the world in all its conclusions may,
came to other conclusions of his own, which
were by no means agreeable to himself. This
was Mr.. Chnquant. With the thought of the
weapons she had just now employed to defeat
nun ia Mo hio' StSp ming Ills IniHu Win us
may, and his heart with mingled rage and
shame-not shame for the deed, but shame at
having been found out-with the dread that
she might have other means concealed with
which to complete her triumph, it was natural
that this man, the embodiment of tact, should
falter and pause. She had great mind, he was
well aware-a mind superior to his own, be-
cause its CONGRATULATIONS were broader, and its
judgments more just. He had reason to appre-
bend her power. But then he was too far com
mitted now to recede- Having TO withdraw the
magazine article had cost him much trouble,
many lies, and had made him the butt of various
unpleasant surmises. Moreover, how could he
rob himself of his revenge, his sweet revenge,
which was now doubly dear to him. i'm that the re-
cent circumstances had so greatly augmented the
intensity of his hatred? No, no; his revenge he
would have, and, maugre some accident, of
which he would have to run the risk, the pres
ent was a more favorable opportunity than any.
And he and Mrs. Morninglory were constantly
together, developing and maturing the details
of the grand coup de .fondre that was to annihi-
late Mrs. Fleming, reinstate Mrs. Morninglory,
satisfy their mutual hatred, and throw all that
social fabric known as "our set " into hyster-
les.
But" the curious reader may ask, where
we're Mrs. Fleming's natural guardians all this