North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-05-23
gelsrt gtnry.
"NoT1N QUIZ Set"
BY ELLEN ASHTON.

/
everybody was looking around TO see who
was in the opera. a.
A gentleman who appeared comparative
ly stranger leaned over to speak to a lady
before him. .
"I have been SO long abroad" he said,
that | hardly know anybody. Yet never
in any opera house saw so many beautiful
faces. Who is that beautiful girl opposite ?
| mean the Que in pink, on the second seat
of the balcony, playing her fan with the
grace of Spanish woman p
ooh! that girl !" was the contemptuous
reply. That's Marian Vaughn,the daugh-
ter of retired pork merchant, or tailor,
or something of that sort. She is not in
our set, however, and know little about
her." ....
II was going, coz to ask you to intro
duce me-" said Harry Berkley, who had
been the first speaker, "but l see that won't
do"
Dear me p" cried the lady; "the girl
isn't in society, at all tell you
The truth is, Harry" interposed Char
ley Thorne, the last speakers brother, ''the
girls are all jealous of Miss Vaughn, She
is beautiful, as you see; and witty and ac-
complished also. Then, too, she's full of
character Quite independent, assure
you, doing exactly what she likes, though
she never does anything unlady like. Her
father is enormously rich, ard so she is
able to crafty all her tastes. All "our set, !"
eh Amelia? VOW she is extravagant and
try to frighten usSpoor fellows from marry
ing her. I'm very glad" he added, satir-
ically, "that some of our "irst families
have the regulations of our grandfathers
and great grandfathers to live upon; for
pom my soul, they've neither money nor
brains IN general"
Miss Thorne turned her white shoulder
contem ptuously on her brother, eyed Miss
Vaughn askancp, and commenced picking
her TO pieces, in which delightful occupa-
ton she was most assiduously assisted by
female friend "in or set who had ac-
companied her to the opera,
Harry Berkley was the match of the
season. Inheriting vast estate, while yet
in his minority, he had gohe abroad as
soon as he had completed his studies, and
had remained there. piinci pally. until his
twentv-fifth year. His return to America,
unmarried, had put all the marriageable
vunng ladies in the city into a futter.
His claims to be 4" in society,"" nobody
could deny, for his great grandfather had
been a colonial governor, his grandfather
a general in the revolution and hi father
a senator Of the United States; while his
mother and grandmother had each been ia
yorite toasts in their day, and fashionable
leaders in the most select circle oftheir ma
tive town. Hence, no young bachelor was
more courted
Bnt Amelia Thorne, bis second cousin,
had secretly appropI lated him to herself.
One so gently born, She thought, should
marry nobody less genteel; and who was
there. she added proudly to herself, with
an equal quantity of the blue blood" of
America as herself
The next opera night, however, Harry
did not invite her, as she expected, and
she was forced to press her father INTO her
service as a cavalier. Imagine her cha
grin, on taking her seat, to observe her
cousin talking to Miss Vaughn, the latter,
looking more beautiful than ever.
"Good heavens pa" she cried, " do you
see Harry? He is actually talking to that
Vaughn girl !"
"Ard hear" replied her father,uncon-
scious of his daughters plans. I" that she is
verv fascinating I shouldn't wonder if
he married her.. ....,
Miss Thorne colored with anger, and bit
the end of her tan. The opera that night
gave her but little pleasure, for she was
watching Miss Vaughn, and was mad with
jealousy. .t
The next morning her truant cousin pre-
sented himself. She welcomed him with a
sneer.
"My dear cousin, said Harry, graceful
ly taking seat beside her, "vou don't
know how you girs-the girls of our set
I mean --astonish me. I have just come
from Europe, where ] have been preaching
republican institutions and yet, the very
first thing hear, at home, is that merit is
nothing. and being 'in society everything"
"To be sure. A real lady owes il to her
self not to associate with everybody"
"By which YOU mean that YOU. and a
dozen more, pretend to be better than
those who are as cultivated as yourselves.
Let me tell you, cog, that Won lose more
than you are aware of for Mss Vaughn
and others like, who rest their social claims
on their accomplishments, are. as Charley
says, far more agreeable acquaintances tf an
'our set generally. You are only laughed
at, and, this. not merely by those you
think you put down, but by all sensible
people" "0rfyJrsr ~ "...l3
Miss Ame liza was purple with rage. She
! had never been Ia ked 20 so plainly before
and she was not disposed to submit to it,
| even for the best match of the season, and
much less from her cousin.
" Laughed at am ?'< she cried. rising
Sir, you forget who are Won speaking to
But when people consort with tailor's