Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-12-26

THE blessin' OF sill the saints be se<ut
yer and over yer whined the relieved
Bridget.
But the unceremonious closing o! The
door cut short Mrs. Tooley g showeroi
blessings and unnecessary details. Dr..
MAYNARD went slowly down the echohg,
uncarpeted stairs, with his hands In ais
pockets, spd his hrows contracted II
brown study.
As he entered his ofilcei several bloAs
below, the first thing that met his ye
was note written on perfumed pix
paper aud sealed with gorgeous hr-
aldic device In rose. colOred wax.
'Hum.m q mutteTed the doctor, le-
tween his closed lips. Mr.. Naples
compliments; pleasure OF Or. Maynar's
company to dinner on Thursday net,
at 8 o'clock. Another OF their chan
payne and turbot celebrations, el?
Well-well-these things are not muh
TO my fancy, but believe-I-will, E.
peated the doctor, thoushtfully strokig
his chin Ealhabit he often had when BIS
mind was busy st his work.
And then he sat down TO his desk aid
wrote formal note OF acceptance,Is
stiff and short as he was himself.
The Napier mansion, a snowy edifte
O, stucco and plate glass, after rathr
doubtful style of architecture, was ll
in q blaze of light and flowers when Ir.
MAYNARD arrived there on that eventftl
Thursday evening, q few minutes befoe
six O'Clock. Mrs. Napier, in a silver
green MORE antique, and quivering orna
ments of pearls, received him with smi-
ing urbanity and Miss Theodosia Agns
Napier, Ia an artless toilet OF white mu-
lin and half open rosebuds, emblematc
of her own youth, directed her sweeteit
chances towards the stiff old bachelor
doctor, whose wealth was reported to le
considerable. Other guests were aho
assembled-the elite of the city-ald
Mrs. Napier's heart thrilled with prize
and pleasure as she glanced round upon
various personages grouped about Der
room.
Mrs. Napier was Napoleon in soc al
life-an Alexander in crinoline. If she
had been a nan she would have left an
impress on ;he shores of time; being
woman, her sphere was necessarily con-
tracted Born parvenue, she had re.
solved from the very first to conquer the
whited citadels of society. Always
struggling with limited means, adverse
circumstances and unlucky combina
tions OF events, Mrs. NaEier had set
herselTto work to conquer fate, and she
had nearly achieved her purpose. Out
ward appearances we're ha' forte; snd
as to principle, Mrs. Napierwas uDscru-
pulous as any modern European states
man. Now at length she was beginning
to reap the harvest she watched and
waited so long for, and ha spirit rose
up within her exultant, in spite OF the
snperclious insolence with which many
Of her guests treated her.
They need q lesson, these foolish as.
piring UPSTAIRS, he SAID, within himself,
land this is the most fitting opportunity
for administering it,
So the tide of dinner. table talk ebbed
and flowed, and bon mots sparkled with
evanescent glitter, and people laughed
at they scarcely knew what, and the
rose. beaded champagne circ(ed round
and round the board, and Mrs. Napier
thought triumphantly to herself, 1T will
be 8 success
Just then DR.. Maynard's calm, mono
tonously pitched voice broke IN upon .
silence that had momentarly settled
upon the festive assemblage.
Mrs. Napier he said, looEing full a.
the hostess, this Is very ehgant table
CLOTH
Mrs. Napier smiled blandly, and in
clined her head, but the pearl ornaments
tinkled softly. 1t was very singular
remark, but then every one knew tina
DR.. Maynard was one of those eccentric
geniuses that nobody pretends to under
stand or criticise.
And those napkins are white as tn
driven snow went on the doctor, crit
ically surveying the double damask OF
his lap.
Again Mrs. Napier bowed Moreover
pursued the doctor, in the same calm
unvarying tone, / have bean admirin
Miss Napter's white muslin dress.
'Ah, yes simpered the gntifed man
ma. White is very becoming to my The
odosia's style
And she glanced towards Theodosii
who was playing with her Black Han
burg grapes in manner eminently ca
Culated TO display her rings.
You must have q very good laundress
said the doctor abruptly.
I believe Mrs. Tooley isquite comp
tent to her business answered Mrs. N
pier, d little puzzled, but trying to ind
cate her claims ito the best society /
expressing no symptoms ofsurprise VIVA
ever.
You are quite satisfied with Aer the
MADAME
Quite =
Then why don't you pay her for h
work Z
The elite dropped its silver forks ar
sat down its glasses OF champagne qui
uncertain whittier this singular iuves
CATION was about to lead. MIS-. Napi
turned scarlet.
DR.. Maynard l do not understa'
you
DO you not, madam Then / will e
+, deavor 20 speak q little more plain
: nrs. Tooley 10 one OF my tenants-s
cannot IA re her reBt beca1Se Mrs. Napi
, has not paid her cent fur The I've Wet
uaahiuu Sha had dime As I cannot