The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-10


invite her, and that she considered 1t no
little condescension on her part to come
There could be no doubt that mydaugh'
ter Molly and Ellen Vyner were the
prettisst girls in the room. Yet II was
amusing to notN the difference in their
style and appearance. Molly, whose
good. natured rosy face above her light
blue dress seemed like Cherub's floating
In the sky, was radiant, full Of life, and
sweet as q nGw.bOwn rose; but she was q
little too eager to please, and tried too
evidently 10 make everything go oil we'll
Miss VynCr, on the other hand-pale,
slight, and with fnely.Chiseled features
moved through the rooms o very statue
Of dignity and seli.posSession. Quiet
perfectly well.bred, and polite, she rather
discouraged the advances other admirers,
including Kelly; but her very discourage
ment seemed only to make them more at
tcntive. If she had a fault, It was that
she evidently knew her own value so we'll
she might have been a dukes daughter
instead Of btewer's-though, indeed,
believe Yyner and many Of his business
think brewer or O banker nowadays
greater grandee than any noblemnn.
am glad TO say the party itself, not
withstanding our miSgivings, went. oil
without any particular hitch. In fact It
seemed very like thousands Of similar az
fairs given by people Of the middle
classes who know no better. There was
the same stiffness and reserve at first,
since In such a miscellaneous gathering
very few Of the guests were acquainted
with each other; tue same gradual thaw-
ing as we got up little dance (Which,
with hypocrisy that deceived nobody, we
pretended TO eXtemporiZe); the same in.
tense heat in the rooms, the same jamming
in the dOor.ways, the same iorlorn groups
in the corners. groups that looked rs II
they knew they ought 10 DO enjoying
themselves and were not.
And when the novelty Of the position
wore of, l did not find 1t very difficult 10
play the part of host. So l tried TO say
Il pleasant word to any guest that seemed
dull. arranged couple Of whist'tables for
the elderly people, and, in TACT, worked
hard generally at amusing everybody.
Ny wife, however, rs the hours went on
without mishap, grew prouder and prond'
or OF her hired grandeur, and indeed, like
old Wcller's Shepherd, "swClled wisiOly"
in magnificence Of department and man
ner. In my hearing alone she told six
different persons that "thcrC were lorty.
five invited, but unfortunately 81 many
were engaged"
~ think you ought rather 10 say lortu'
nately," replied that dissgreeabIe Mrs
Vyner, as my vile made this remark to
her. MY dear Mrs Miller, how could
you get any more people into these rooms:
Aud u crowd Is SO very unpleasant she
added, tanning herself vigorously.
When l took Mrs. Nyucr in 10 supper
she said blandly. 81 dii moi know, MIR.
Miller-yes, champagne, pIcasc--l never
knew before that you Kept 4 IOulman :"
looking hard ut one If the uphOlstercr's
mutes.
"Why, he is like Nyner's small nle-fUr
very occasional use only" | replied, dc.
termincd she should not have ali the sar.
casms to herself, and Knowing she hated
any reference to her husbands business
She took her revenge, however, on my
wife by saying to her soon Nitcrward
across the table, "HOw very nice these
whips are, Mrs. Miller! ! must get you
to give me the receipt" or course, the
odiOus woman knew very well that the
creams, like everything else, were furnish.
ed by the upholsterer who did Tor us
but she succeeded in making my vile
blush aud feel uncomfortable for the time,
The dance was kept up with spirit till
four or five o'clock, and the young peo.
pie, at any rate, especially my daughters
Molly and Patty, enjoyed this part OF the
business thoroughly. Toward the end,
however, Molly become rather sulky, be.
cause Fred danced so much with Miss
Vyner; and my wife was highly indignant
Of Dick WotherspoOn's hanging about
Patty. Indeed she would have proceed
ed to open hostilities II l had not stopped
her; and as 1t was, Wotherspoon evident
" guessed her motive in always disturb.
ing his combinations with Patty, and
LEFT early.
When our guests were gone VIC were
soon in bed, from which VIC did not rise
till noon. Even then Patty was very
tired, and Molly had headache-due TO
Miss SYner, suspected. 81, too, was
Disguised with the hypOcritical pretenses
and bother oil the whole thing. bly, vile
alone was radiant, and thought the party
a great success, owing to her own admir-
able management. She was sure, too,
that Kelly had thanked her and pressed
her hand with q cordially most unusual
with him; and on this ground she told
Molly TO take Courage,and all would come
right.
Anc her exultatiOn was increased by
several Of our guests, who called in the
afternoon and !Isped the usual phrases on
such occasions. Delightful gathering"
Enjoyed ourselves so much" "Quite
success"
When Mrs. Vyner called, however, she
threw little damp on my wlIe's ardor.
She pretended TO praise-she was always
more malicious when she did that,
allow very good Of you to take all this
irOuhle-so unexpected, tOOf" she said.
"And how very well you did manage,
considering you were quite uuacCustOm-
ed to this sort Of thing 1t must have
been most formidable undertaking, I'm
sure. And l hope you, Mr.. Miller, we're
not very much behindhand with your
work In consequence"
Generally could give Mrs. Vyner a
Roland for her Oliver, but on the present
occasion my conscience sided so much
with her in her pOlitely.Veiled sarcasms
i mean, thought them so just-that l
really could only nlutter outsome conf
monplace answer.
"I'm afraid you are little tired with
your exertions, Mrs. Miller, indeed, they
must have been immense" continued the
merciless virago, seeing that was in no
mood for reply. "But, I'm sure, 1t was
very kind Of you to try 90. hard 10 give US
q pleasant evening. And as you are such
very old friends, l think l may tell you
, VItlo sacrat {nOk IN ahnvV un1 h0vy murh