Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1873-09-03
SOMETHING OF A MAS0UE.
RADE.

A gentleman engaged in dressing fol
a party is by no means SO interesting a.
a lady employed in the same manner
and, besides, the gentleman in question
was decidedly out of humor at being
obliged to go.
He was so tired of parties it seemed
to him that one was exactly like another
the flowers, dresses and decorations
all after the same pattern and as fol
the young ladies, why, they might al
have been turned out of the same mould
He really believed that he would take
a trip to the plains with the next de
tachment of troops that went out there
would at least be variety and excitement
among the Indians.
And having succeeded in tying the
third cravat he had tried, just to his
mind, Mr. Philip Remington gathered
up his gloves, and, with more of frowr
than smile upon his dark, but hand
some face, bent his steps toward the
festive scene.
He knew exactly whom he should
meet there, the same silly, simperine
girls, and their elderly commonplace
mammas. He didn't know single
woman past the first bloom of youth
who possessed the least attraction moi
one could he name in the flower of ripe
and beautiful summer. What had be.
come he thought. of the type of woman
that graced the period of the Revolu.
ton? The gentle, yet commanding
dignity, the lovely, matronly grace, tina.
was the admiration of foreign courts as
of the home circle?
He had an intense love and venera.
tion for old ladies', too, when they were
disposed to follow the homely advice to
''act as sich, and behave accordin' -
but it seemed to him that the old ladies
of his acquaintance behaved more like
young ones, and attired themselves
more youthfully as youth departed from
them. He really believed that, if he
should ever encounter his beau ideal OF
an old or middle-aged lady, he should
be tempted to offer his heart and hand
on the spot, which, if she was at all
consistent, she would, of course, de-
cline.
The young gentleman had been some
what spoiled by society, which was quite
disposed to welcome his appearance
with grand chorus of "Hail the con-
quering hero comes ~ for society saw
that he possessed the tangible advan-
tages of wealth, good looks and talent !;
and, as unappropriated men of this sort
are not found in every household, So
ciety showed its most agreeable side to
Philip Remington. He did not feel par
ticularly grateful, however, and hated
the very sight of three-cornered notes
with monograms requesting the pleasure
of his company.
He could scarcely bring himself to go
to this grand house-warming of Mrs.
Farland's, the wife of great wine mer-
chant, who had just completed mod
ern Aladdin's palace, and thus called
together his dear five hundred friends
to come and rejoice with him, that he
had what few of them could ever hope
ture, with fountains and statues scat
tered through the grounds a magnifi-
cent entrance, and windows that looked
like vast, unbroken sheets of crystal
Mr.. Remington's acquaintance with
Mrs. Farland was very slight, and his
disinclination to go to her party very
strong; but some fate seemed urging
him on against his will. and he went.
He was accustomed to handsome
rooms, furnished according to the most
expensive rules of the upholsterer's art;
but he was not prepared for the exqui-
site taste that had evidently employed
unbounded wealth to the best advan-
tage. Everything was softly-toned /;
and the well selected gems of statuary.
and admirable collection of pictures,
were disposed, with sort of careless
grace, in just the places that seemed
meant for them.
Having made his salutation to the
lady of the house, Philip Remington
wandered with no particular aim,
through the magnificent rooms, until a
statue of "Eve Repentant," that stood
in the shadow of rich blue curtain,
arrested his steps, and held him en-
tranced. The beautiful face, half hid
den by the small hand, and the mourn
full grace of the dropping figure, were
more like life than marble ; and feeling
this to be far better worth his attention
than the gay, soulless butterflies around
him, the young cynic gazed and dreamed,
until, turning his eyes, he beheld, at
little distance, Martha Washington, in
veritable flesh and blood.
Yes, there stood the Mother of her
Country-fair, noble, stately, dark-eyed,
with the hair dressed over a cnshion, so
familiar to us in picture; on her cheeks
a sort of rose bloom, and in her whole
expression serene, smiling grace. Her
dress of rich brocade seemed to match
her hair in hue, and the short sleeves
coming below the elbow, with fall Of
old lace, and the square neck trimmed
in the same manner, were all IN perfect
keeping.
She, too, stood in the shadow of the
blue curtain; and Philip Remington
unconsciously stared as though she had
been another work of art, gotten up for
his express admiration.
Mrs. Farland presently approached,
and presented Mr.. Remington to her
friend, Mrs. Lorraine.
81 think 1 may depend on you," she
added, ''to entertain Mrs. Lorraine,
who is on visit to me from distant
city; for 1 believe, Mr.. Remington,
that you do not, like most other gentle
men, devote yourself exclusively to
young ladies"
Philip bowed and colored, and found
himself the next moment tete-a-tete
with Martha Washington.
"A gay party" observed that histori-
cal parsonage, "seems scarcely the place
for me but my friend, Mrs. Farland,
would take no excuse, and concluded
to be quiet looker-on. l hoped that
the young people would not grudge me
my corner"