The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-07-04

gram, 20 huge business-iike document.
Listlessly she glanced AT each until the
superscription of one OF the largest and
most business-like caught her eye, when
she made haste 10 tear it open, and hur-
riedly, not to say eagerly, read its con-
tents. Possessed of this knowledge, she
placidly sipred her chocolate and buttered
her roll. When she had quite settled the
matter in her own mind, she impaired a
little light TO the duenna.
"You remember the old place up the
river? | gave orders some time since 10
have Ii put in repair. MY agent writes TO
tell me that the work Is going on. We
will go up there for the summer. 1t will
be ready fer our occupation"
The duenna opened her eyes aghast at
this new freak.
'"And Saratoga, and Newport, and Long
Branch?'
"They are too old a story. The novel;
ty wore off If them ages ago. am
signing for fresh fields and pastures new
and the only wonder is did not think of
IL b, fore. l shall invite dozen or two
of the people who are least obnoxious,
and they can keep each other in counte-
nance, and go on with their fiirtations as
well there as elsewhere. You may as
well make out list of articles which we
about it, order the carriage, and will 60
out TO select the carpets
No grass grew under Miss Montmoren-
els feet, or rather under the feet OF her
well-matched carriage horses, until the
furniture necessary for the complete set
ting out of her country house was sent
away under the supervision of half
dozen servants, headed by the duenna
herself, who went en- apant in order 10
prepare with all decorousness for the
coming of her lady and her lady's guests.
From the deck of the steamer Miss
Montmorenci gazed long and earnestly at
so much Of her mansion as was visible,
| listening with well-bred indifference TO
the fiattering comments of her party. A
short drive from the landing, over we'll
and well shaded, and the house came into
full view. and there stood the duenna, in
the full panoply of her lustreless black
silk, and Miss Montmorenci was welcom-
ing her guests TO the home of her Dutch
ancestors.
There were the two Misses Vainstart,
with their brother Charlie and his fancee,
| little Rose Summers. Pretty Mrs. Dun
ston. and her bear of husband, who was
as jealous as a Turk. and couldn't help
showing it. Jenny Devine, who sang so
| like a seraph as to be known among her
friends by the name Of st. Cecilia. Will
Masterson, who had set up for wit, bu-
had never yet reached the goal of his am
bition, except in his own imagination.
! Cecil Thorpe, who, on the strength of a
brigandish beard and Veronese face, had
fallen in love with art, and considered
himself sveritaLle Titiar. Besides these,
half a dozen nonentities, with their respec-
4 tive wives or sweethearts, invited more
for the purpose of filling up the gaps.
than for any good they were capable of
doing, either for themselves or others.
Miss Montmorenci never did things by
halves, and the company collected beneath
her roof was as well calculated to fuse and
become one congenial whole, as any that
could have been singled out from among
the best New York society.
The appointments Of the house were
found to be perfect In all respects. The
duenna had looked to that, and as she had
carte blanche to order what she saw fit,
there was no danger Of failure in any de-
partment.
There was French cook, with a small
army of supernumeraries to reinforce him.
There were most attentive maids and
Wallets, whose sole ambition In life was TO
facilitate ones toilet, and turn one out a
model of elegant attire.
The smooth lawns were Just the very
spot for croquet, and as rival clubs were
soon formed, the game flourished, and was
played with the scientific nicely it so well
deserves, and so seldom receives. OF
course there was boating, and fishing, and
morning rides, and evening drives, and
more than one expedition TO places Of in
terest, which were not hard to find In that
neighborhood.
They were in the full tide of summer
gayety, sometimes resolving themselves
into a committee Of the whole for the bet
ter prosecution of some scheme Of merry
making; at other times dividing up into
J separate parties, as each felt inclined to
pursue his or her own system of pleasure
|, seeking; but always meeting at dinner In
the cool and well-lit dining hall, and after
ward spending the evening together, with
, music, dancing, games or fiirtations upon
! the wide piazza, or along the moonlit
walks, which intersected the grounds in
all directions.
, Itwas not monotonous at all, this round
Of pleasure-seeking, for there was such
infinite variety In the methods employed
pour passer ie temps. that no one could
weary Of them, or do more than guess at
, sumo upon the morrow.
There was an interruption, however,
one evening, and that with a vengeance.
The railcars ran at no great distance from
{ the house, and whole train had come to
! grief in consequence of misplaced
: switch; and there was hurrying TO and
fro and CONSERVATION wild In Miss Mont
morenci's household when the fact be
came known.
Miss Laura Vainstart tainted quite away
in her sympathy for the sufferers. Three
. or four of the others were thrown into
| mysteries and were obliged to be put to
bed, and treated to course of sal volatile
and aromatic vinegar.
: Mrs. Dunston, Rose Summers and Miss