The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-11-16

WIN smiiinS uruenssy' sOo -"
Agnes Napier, In an srtlss toilet OF white
muslin and half opso rossbsds, sso'smst'o
Of her own youth, directed her sweetest
gl.pess toward the stif old bsebslor doctor.
whoss wealth wss rspused 10 b % consider.
able. Other guests wsrs also assembled
tho elite Of the eisy-sod Mrs. Nspisr's
heart thrilled with pride and pleasure ~ she
glanced around upoa the varioss psrsooasss
grouped about her rooms h....r
Mn. Napier was Napoleon In social
Ilife-an Alexander in crinoline. u she
had boon man she would have left an i'm
/ press OF the shores Of time; beins wo.
man her sphere was necessarily moro con-
truc,ed. Born parvenu, she had resolved
from the very 6rss, TO conquer tie walled
ci,adels Of society. Always struggling with
limited means, adverse circumstances, and
unlucky combinations efsvsuAs Sn. Ma.
pisr had yet set herself to work to sonqner
Fate, and she had nearly achieved her pur.
pose. Outward appearances were her forte
and a. to principle, Mrs. Napier wns as un-
scupulous as any modern European states.
man. Now at length she was beginning to
reap the harves, she watched md waited 30
long for, and her spirit rose up within her
oxultant, In spi,e Of tho supercilioos inso-
lence with which many Of the guests treated
her.
They need lesson, these foolish as
piring uI,startA" he said, within himself,
"and this 10 the most fitting opportunity
for administering t."
So the tide OF dinner table talk ebbed
and flowed, and bon mots spsrkled with
evanescent glitter, and the people laughed
ut they scarcely knew what, and the rose.
beaded champagne circlcd round and round
the board. and Mn. Napier thought tri.
umphautiy to herself; "lt will be a success"
Just then DR.. Maynani's calm monoto-
nously pitched voice broke In upon a 81.
lenca that had momentarily settled upon
the festive asscnblage.
sMrs. Napier" he said, looking full at
the hostess, ",his Is very elegan. table.
CLOTH"
Mrs. Napier smiled blandly and In.
clined her head, until the pearl ornaments
,inkled softly. It was very singular 70.
mark. hut then every one knew that Dr.
Maynard was one Of those eccentric gen.
fuses that nobody pretends to understand or
criiicise. ........ ...... .....g.
"And ,hose napkins are a. white ss tho
driven snow" went on the doctor, critical.
ly surveying the double damask on his lap.
Again Mrs. Napier bowed.
Moreover" pursued tho doctor, In the
same calm. unvaying tone, have been
adrniring Miss NspiPr's white muslin drss~r
"Ah yes" simpSdFed tho sratiaed mother,
"whi,e Is very becoming TO my Theodosia' q
style" .. F.y ,..r t-,. ur
And she slanced toward Theodois, who
was playing with her Black Hamburg gmpes
in manner eminently calculated to display
her rings.
.You must have ve'y good laundress," !"
said tho doctor. abruptly.
"lbelicve Ms. Tooley is quite compe.
ten, to her business" answered Mn. Ma.
pier, little puzzled. but trying to indicate
her claims "to the best society" by express.
ing no symptoms Of surprise whatever.
"You arc satisfied with her, then, mad.
ame ?"
"Qnite." ..
"Then why don't you pay her for her
work 7"
The ellie dropped It's silver fork and sat
down It's glass Of champagne, quite uncsr.
tain whittier this singular lnve,tigutian was
about to lead. Mrs. Napier turned scarlet
"Dr. Maynard, do not understand you" +"
aDo you not, madame |? Then ! will
en,lesvor to speak a little moro plainly.
Mrs Tooley Is ono Of my enants-she can.
not raise her rent because Mn. Nnpier has
not paid her a cent for the FIVE weeks
washing she has done. A ] cannot for an
instant suppose that Mrs Napier would
withhold the wages Of her laundrcss on
any other ground than thst Of inability 10
pay, can only sappose her too poor to dis.
charge her riglsfil does" .r
He was silent tnomsnt. MrA Napier
s,rove to speak, but something rose up in
her ,hrobbing thros, and seemed to choke
her. Mr.. Napier sat ss his end Of the table
aghast. H.. '"
sUnder these melancholy circumstances" J"
resumed the ruthless doctor, ~ beg leave
to suggest taking up collection at tho II.
bio for tho benefit OF Mrs. Napiers dis
trrsscd washerwoman, whose bills have not
been paid! Iput In quarter myself-will
somebody be kind enoughto pass tho china
plate :" '...'' 100
The china plate went round the table In
perfect silenre, and returned to its original
source we'll filled. The ellie, naliciously
alive to al the weak spots In Mrs. Naplcr's
nrmor, appeared to enjoy the thing. Ne.
Napier, smiling faulty, sndcavorcd to re-
rrgnrl tho thing ss = joke; hut his wife
knew that this one evening had undone the
work Of years, and sat pale and ailent. She
could cheerfully have murdered DR.. May.
nnri at thar moment aud MrA Tooley. too
"Ten dollars !" said tho doctor, deIiber
a,ely counting the change. "Just 6ity
cents more then we need; but Il will no,
come amiss to Mrs. Tooley! Ladies and
gentlemen. have tho honor to bid you .
very good evening"" .f .. .'Hr..'lir.
DIvourLY THANxyuL.-A man slightly
H.. ;...>l ,~.s sp~vsi;s,,H -, H. s>:lscSI