The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-09-06

door and hearty voice in the passage
announced the first arrival. "Mr. Woth-
erspoonr' whispered my wife to me, with
at any rate takes care to be punctual.-
Knows no better, l suppose" When he
was ushered in by one of the imitation
footmen, he took the same view of our
proceedings as l took myself, and began
chatting me in his free and easy way
well, now, Miller, to think of you COM
ing ont in such swell fashion, What on
earth possessed you to begin giving state
parties, eh 30 But Mrs. Mller-with that
increase of dignity which the peach-color-
ed satin always gives her-cut his audaci-
GUS levity short by asking sharply, Well,
and why shouldn't we give party like
any one else, Mr.-a-Mr. Wotherspoon ?"
The assumed forgetfulness of his name
was masterpiece, and capitally done,
considering she had never practiced the
art of snubbing before. At all events,
poor Dick seemed to have the ground taken
from under him at once, and he subsidized
into corner near Patty, where he seemed
to be better welcomed.
But bark the roll of wheels" the
brazen thunders of the door soon not
intermittent, but continuous-and we are
presently in the thick of it. Kelley came
about ten, little sitter than usual; but
not till half-rast did the Eyners sweep
into the room. Mrs. Vyner overwheln-
ingly courteous and patronizing in her
black velvet dress. But she soon contriv-
ed without saying so) to mako us under
stand that she wondered we could venture
to invite her, and that she considered it no
little conGescension on her part to come.
There could be no doubt that my daugh-
ter Molly and Ellen Vyner were the pretti-
est eills in the room. Yet it was amusing
to note the difference in their style and
appearance. Molly, whose good-naturcd
rosy face above her light blue dress SEEM
ed like cherub's floating in the sky, was
radiant, full of life, and sweet as new
blown rose; but she was a little too eager
everything 90 off well. Miss Vyner, on
the other hand pale, slight, and with
finely chiseled features - moved through
the rooms a very statue of dignity and
self-possession. Quiet, perfectly well-bred,
and polite, she rather discouraged the
advances of her admirers, including Kelly;
but her very Encouragement seemed only
to make them more attentive. If she had
a fault, it was that she evidently knew her
own value SO well; she might have been a
dukes daughter instead of a brewer s.
though, indeed, l believe Vyner and many
of his business think brewer or a banker
nova days greater grandee than any
nobleman.
am glad to say the party itself, not
withstanding our misgivings, went Off
without any particular hitch. In fact, it
seemed very like thousands of similar
affairs given by people of the middle class
es who know no better. There was the
same stiffness and reserve at first since in
such miscellaneous gathering very few
of the guests were acquainted with each
other; the same gradual thawing as we got
up little dance, (Which, with hypocrisy
that deceived nobody, we pretended to
extemporize; the same intense heat in the
rooms, the same jamming in the door ways,
the same forlorn groups in the corners,
groups that looked as if they knew they
Ia, bor
not.
And when the novelty Of the position
wore off, | did not find it very difficult to
play the part of host So tried to say a
pleasant word to any guest that seemed
dull, arranged couple of whist tables for
the elderly people. and in fact, worked
hard generally at amusing everybody
NY wife, however, as the hours went on
without mishap, grew prouder and prouder
of her hired grandeur, and indeed, like old
Wellor's Shepherd, /" swelled wisibly" in
magnificence of department and manner.
In my hearing alone she told six different
persons that "there were forty-five invited
but unfortunately so many were engaged. "
81 think you ought rather to say fortu-
nately," replied that disagreeable Mrs.
Vyner as my wife made this remark to
her. "My dear Mrs. Miller, how could
you get any more people into these rooms /?
Aud a crowd is so very unpleasant" she
added, tanning herself vigorously.
When l took Mrs. Vyner into supper she
said blandly, 81 did not know, MIR. Miller
yes, champagne, please never knew
before that you kept a footman;' looking
hard at one of the upholsterer's mutes.
"Why, he is like Eyner's small ale-for
very occasional use only" l replied, deter
mined she should not have all the sarcasms
to herself, and knowing she hated any ref
erence to her husbands business.
She took her revenge, however, on my
wife by saying to her soon afterward across
the table, " How very nice these whips
are, Mrs. Miller. | must get you to give
me the receipt" OF course, the odious
woman knew very we'll that the screams,
like everything else, were furnished by the
upholsterer "who did for u.s. but she
succeeded in making my wife blush and
fee! uncomfortable for the time.
The dance was kept up with spirit till
four or five o'clock, and the young people,
at any rate, especially my daughters Molly
and Patty, enjoyed this part of the bust
ness most thoroughly. Toward the end,
however, Molly became rather sulky, be
cause Fred danced SO much with Miss
Vyner; and my wife was highly indignant
at Dick Wotherspoon's hanging about
Patty. Indeed, she would almost have
proceeded to open hostilities if had not
stopped her; and, as it was, Wotherspoor
evidently guessed her motive i'll always dis
turbing his combinations with Patty, anc
left early.
When our guests were gone we were
soon in bed, from which we did net rist
till noon. Even then Patty was very tired
and Molly had a headache-due to Miss
Vyner, suspected. l, too, was disguised
with the hypocritical pretenses and bother
OF the whole thing. Ny wife alone wa
radiant, and thought the party great sue