Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-24

aheadsche-due to Miss yyner, suspected. I,
TOO, was Disguised with the hypocritical pre-
lenses and bother of the whole thing. Nv wife
alone was radiant, and thought the party a
great success, owing 70 her own admirable m an
sgehent: She was sure, too, that Kelly, on
leaving, had thanked her and pressed her hand
with a cordiality most unusual with him; and
and all would come right.
Ana her exultarion was increased by several
OF our guests, who called in the afternoon and
llsPed the usual phrases on such occasions.
Delightful gathering" enjoyed ourselves
so much" "Quite a success"
When Mrs. Vyner called, however, she threw
little damp on my wife's ardor She pretended
she did that,
" How very good of you 70 take all this
rouble-so unexpected tOo,- she said. And
how very well you did manage, considering Won
were quite unaccustomed to this sort of thing,
it must have been a most formidable under
taking, I'm sure. And hope you, Mr. Miller,
were not very much behindhand with your
Work IN consequence"
Generally 1 could give Mrs. Vyner a Roland
ior her Oliver, but on the present occasion my
conscience sided so much with her in her po-
ntely-velled sarcasms-I mean, thought them
so Just-that l really could only mutter out some
commonplace answer.
4" m afraid YOU are little tired with your
eNertons, Mrs. Miller; indeed, they must have
been immense" continued the merciless yirago,
seeing that was in no mood for reply. But
IN sure II was very kind of you TO try so hard
such very old friends, / think NAV tell You a
little secret, just to show you how much we are
indebted to You. All. daresay you know
what Ii is. Fred Kelly proposed to Ellen last
night, and 1t is all arranged-sO kind of you,
am sure, to give them the opportunity. And
you, Molly?'
Poor Molly held ont till Mrs. yyner was gone.
when she made rush to her own room, with
tear in each eye. She had scarcely left us
when double knock announced the postman.
a." III Is from WotherspOOn," said opening the
letter. 81 Do you know think our new SPLEEN
yesterday"
''Ah well, ii I am never rude to anv one of
more consequence than Mr.. wOtherspoon, it
will be no great matter, ;" she replied cOntemp-
tuously. But am grieved and vexed beyond
measure about this young Kelly. Ellen Vyner,
"Dear me!' said I, as glanced over wo-
thersPoon's letter. "Youm like to hear this
mink, Jane" So read it to her.
DEAR MILLER: / am sorry to be obliged to
cave without calling to bid you good-by, but
nave just met some friends who are going to
italy, and have decided to accompany them.
As we start to- morrow, am in an awful hurry,
ana shall be away at least two years."
And very good thing too, ;" Interrupted my
VIE. - DO you know am quite sure he would
not looked so well after her that / never gave
him the chance? / have always wondered.
James, you never would see the depth of that
man. However, we shall be safe from him for
some time, il seems"
"Quite safe" said /.
g There were one or two things that par
lcularly wished to tell YOU last night; but in
such crowd had no opportunity, and .
:. There, told you, james," broke in nv
wire again. " One of those things, you may de-
stopped it,"
All right, only do let me finish"
-" and, to tell you the truth, was little net
tied you know was always, too sensitive) be-
cause thought Mrs. Miller last night scarcely
treated me with quite the kindness due to an
ca Trend. SO ran away early and did not
say what | intended. Perhaps it is as we'll
One bit OF news about me, however 1 am sure
You Will all be glad to hear, and feel that
ought not to go away without telling you. A
few days ago, to my immense delight and as
constituent, received a lawyers letter inform
ing me that was heir at-law to a distant re-
latiye who had died in Jamaica; so that have
dropped all at once into five thousand YEAR
Rather jolly, isn't it! But won't forget all
your ve.pound notes; and ii ever you want a
little cash, old fellow, just you ask your old and
obnged friend, II. WoTHERsPooN."
Five thousand a year," grOaned my wife
now: " But how could know, James? Why
didn't Mr.. WOtherspOon tell yOu?''
"Wen, probably, dear, because Won stopped
MN SO adroitly," said j, laughing maliciously
''and perhaps he first wished to see whether we
cared for him without his money"
Oh dear, oh dear! couldn't write a note of
apology and bring him back?"
No; II know WOtherspOon, il is too late.
As yOn said, Jane, he is too deep for that"
a." All well ;" said she, quite piteously. "And
self out OF the way and going to all this expense
to give ones friends a treat''
Our motive, could not help thinking, had
not been quite so disnterested as my wife now
ties, fear, on the pure principle of Pickwick-
lan.benevolence. However, we had got les
son. and am happy to say our first evening
party was our last.-Sdint Paurs Magazine.