Middletown transcript., 1870-05-21
gelett STORY.
MRS. GRAHAM'S MYSTERY.

Did you ever know anything so provok-
ing ?" exclaimed Nina Goodall, tapping a
little satin slippered foot impatiently on
the floor, as she stood before the mirror
on her toilet-table, partly attired in party
costume, flowers of the palest blue in her
hair, and her soft muslin dress resting yet
unfastened about her graceful figure.
The words were addressed to Janet
Keelder, who, already to attend the same
reunion, had entered the room to assist
her pretty cousin.
" Provoking What is provoking ?"
she asked, as her eyes rested on the vexed
features of the other. "Is your wreath of
too decided hue-or what has put you
out, dear?'
"Nothing less than this letter-come
this instant from papa. Only think, he
writes that he has just heard that an old
friend of his is in London, arrived lately
from India, and that he is going to call
here this evening. So, as papa has bust
ness which will keep him late, he says l
must stop at home and receive this impor-
taton from tho land of curry-they are
not his words, but mine It's some Ma
bob, I suppose, with face as yellow as
his gold"
perhaps he may not be quite as bad
as that" smiled Janet.
ut little matters, COZ, whether he be
or no." was the petulant response. "He
will hinder my being present at the Gra-
hams tonight, that is certain; and l did
so wish to go! When | am almost dress
ed, too! l wish l had started half an
hour earlier" !"
"Poor George Merston! He will bear
no love to his Nabob, remarked Janet,
when he finds he is the cause of your abb
sence"
George Merston, indeed !" exclaimed
Nina, with coquettish toss of her golden
curls. "Janet, musr request you will
not thus mention his name in connection
with mine He is we'll enough to firt
with, but further-why, he is only bar
rister, and suspect, brieAess. No, dear,
the true reason why am so vexed at re-
naming at home, is my being disappoint-
be there. Mrs. Graham's Mystery, call
him, for she will not tell us a word about
him, save that his wealth is enormous
while, in her lively way, she has set all
the girls mad about him, by declaring he
is yet perfectly heart whole, and is look
ing for wife so that all of US have
chance-and-and think | stand as good
a one as any"
And the bright blue eyes looked with
conscious pride into the glass.
"As good, if not better, Nina, cara
mia. You know you are the acknowledge
ed belle of our set," answered Janet, the
expression of whose sweet face denoted a
mind far above mean jealousy.
"Oh, what terrible fatterer you are
Janet-worse, I declare, than poor George
Merston! But" and the fair features a.
gain became sadly overcast, II cannot tell
how l can laugh when am so excrutiat-
ingly vexed. Not to go after have been
building up my hopes all the week Af-
ter have resolved to make conquest of
this stranger because of an Indian, too
1t is provokingP'
"Can nothing be arranged 2"
"That might go? Oh, you darling
Janet, wish there could You have
wise little head, but don't think you can
do that"
"Well, l don't know; if you think that
l could receive this Nabob as well as you,
Nina p
"You? But then yow would have to
give up the party. Oh, I will not permit
that"
"No hardship to me!' laughed Janet.
"I care nothing for this lion of the eve-
ming, this Mystery; and, having head
ache, as 1 told you at dinner, shall be
only delighted for an excuse to stay
away"
At first Nina, who was at heart very
good-natured, but rather vain, would not