Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-04-12
Mrs. Van Deusen and Her Three
Hundred Invitations"
BY A. A. q

owe two hundred and fifty, and there are
as many as fifty people I've only called
upon-very nearly fifty more than l
should have called upon if | had not been
compelled to-now they must be invited.
That's the next thing and the sooner its !
done, the better. do SO want 10 get /
through the operation
A young man, with pen in hand, sat
stroking his whiskers, while he waited pa
tienty for his aunt the celebrated Mrs.
Van Deusen, TO declare her will.
Three hundred invitations!" he replied.
That's great many. Suppose they
should all come !"
SO All come May we be spared that
infiction. Oh, dear! it's dreadful thing
to be in oar position. We are always ex-
pected to give the largest and most brilliant
party of the season. Everybody expects
to be invited, and there are great many
people who are positive nuisances-new
corners for instance. There's only now
and then one n our position, but they all
soon find their way into general society, so
one might as we'll call upon them and in
vite them first as last. / might as well,
certainty, SO long a. haze sneh husband
as Mr.. Van Deusen."
He's one in ten thousand" again spoke
the young man.
"Ah, Frank, that is a standing compli-
ment--one you always have ready for Mr..
Van Deusen. surely hope he is only
one in ten thousand 1t is fearful to think
of there being nine thousand nine hundred
and ninety-nine men just like him. Who
ever comes to town must be called upon
and invited by his wife and made to feel
as happy and self-complaeent as possible
The simple truth is, he rules me-"
." He is thought to be perfect"
Yes, know it, am forever hearing
about his perfeetions, and l suppose he has
few, but where he keeps them l can't
tell.
AS Mrs. Duesen said this, she laughed
heartily, and seemed very good-natured,
although disposed to have a little fun at
Mr.. Van Duesen's expense.
This the young man, Frank, did not
heartily relish, and at once dropped the
conversation, and begun to write the invi-
tations:
Mrs. Van Duesen will be happy to
see Mr.. and Mrs. Granger on Thursday
evening.
Tuesday, August 10.'
"Lie No. One" thought the writer of
the invitation. Again the pen moved over
the paper:
Mrs. Van Duesen will be happy to see
Mr.. and Mrs. Tomlinson on Thursday
evening.
I" Tuesday, August TO-"
"Oh, you've written the invitation to
the Tomlinsons, have you /" interrupted
Mrs. Van Duesen, just as the writer was
saying to himself, " Lie No. Two" Well,
it's a good thing that those Tomlinsons
don't know my opinion of them. Mrs.
Tomlinson is very vulgar woman. She
knows considerable 1 suppose, but she has
such an abominable way of shaking her.
self when she walks. She has never been
to Paris, that's certain-neither has Mrs.
Granger. They are two as inelegant wo-
men as have ever seen moving in society,
and Mr.. Van Duesen is to be thanked
again that they are on my list of friends
But it's no dreadful thing, after all, to in
vite them once year. manage to en-
dure il, and / do it quite gracefully,
imagine"
Mrs. Van Duesen might have said that
she could not only endure inelegant women
gracefully, but that she could lie graceful
ly. She didn't say it, but the young mar
said it-said it TO himself, and wondered
that woman could be so deceitful. As
he threw off one invitation after another
he thought: "Pm glad these are not m,
falsehoods that are accumulating so fast
They'll make . huge pile before ! gel