Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-05-15
THE BALL AT DITHMAR's.

The name of Dithmar had been known
in II almost from its foundation,
and members of that family had filed
with honor many responsible positions
in its gift. At the time of which / write
the head of the family was one Joseph
Dithmar, retired manufacturer of
about sixty, gentleman of culture as
well as fortune Mr.. Dithmar's house.
hold circle, besides himself, then con-
sisted of his wife, by some years his
Junior his son, Arthur, q young man
of twenty, and two daughters, Helen
and Mary. Helen was twenty-six, and
though by no means ill-favored, bade
fair always to remain a spinster of her
own yoEtion.
Mary, on the contrary, though much
younger than her sister, did not share
this strenge aversion to marriage, and
that was, perhaps, the reason that I had
maintained for SO long my acquaintance
with and my friendship for the family.
Mary was the belle of N, and well
merited the position on the score both
of personal and intellectual beauty. She
had numerous gentlemen friends, as was
natural, but none that considered my
rivals.
There was, indeed, q certain Harry
Duff-a sort of brainless, fashionable
popiniay-who aspired to her favor, but
his pretentions appeared SO ridiculous
to me that did not give either him or
them much thought or consideration.
Besides 1 had old Mr. Dithmar's favor,
and that went a long way toward
Strengthening my position and my COM
placency. Mary, too, seemed to lean to-
: ward my side.
This was the state of affairs when
one day, In the winter of 1867, I re-
- l.. Ill vax1
mars. Now, this invitation was Moth
ing uncommon, but the fact that the
note was written and signed by Mary
Dithmar herself was significant
least SO thought.
Time wore on, and at length the event
fm evening of the ball came round, and
I was in my room at home dressing for
the occasion.
Suddenly the door bell rang, and in q
moment after, the servant announced
that Mr.. Duff was below, and wished to
see me.
He came into the chamber and threw
himself heavily down in an easy chair,
stretching his legs out upon the carpet
in front of him and resting his hands by
the thumbs in the arm holes of his waist
5 coat.
was shaving, and as turned round,
razor in hand, saw that Mr.. Duff was
flushed in the face, and had evidently
been drinking somewhat deeply. was
astonished, for knew that he too had
been invited to the ball
&c Simpson" said Duff, in thie1 Ntones,
tsbeen to dinner party and miscalcu-
lated capacity. Can't go to ball, and
SO come to pair off with you.
- Duff" said I, advancing half way
into the intervening space between us,
INV FOL l(Nrxy flf
sensesl Do you think that we are
members of Congress or United States
Senators ?''
don't think anything of the kind, u
he replied with drunken laugh, " bu
I want to pair off with you."
At first was rather amused at the
situation, and talked soothingly to the
sman, but at length, my stock of pa
fience growing exhausted, I became
slightly angry; and, turning from my
visitor, I abruptly continued by prepar
atlons for departure. WhenI was ready
to go, I said TO Duff:
,si"If You have been q fool, I cam
help it and if by pairing off you meal
that you want me to stay away from
Dithmar's tonight because you hav,
made an ass of yourself, i tell yol
frankly that / do net mean to gratif.
you. $50
I held the door open as I spoke, and
hat in hand waited for him to get up.
He did not move.
*" Duff" said ], don't you see Tn
waiting for you p
But the heat of the chamber had bee1
too much for him, and, even as I spoke
Duffs head sank forward upon hi
breast-he was asleep. I left him wher
he was, and telling the servant not t,
HfefJ1rf, him xuaDf fo The He'll