Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-12-04
The Double Surprise Party.
A STORY OF NEW YORK LIFE.

STORY OF NEW YORK LIFE.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Sinclair Hubbard
had been married ten years lacking ten
days, the lady took it into her head that
1t would he delightful to give her hus-
band Surprise Party. Not one of your
vulgar surprise parties-whcre people
you don't want nor expect come tumb-
ling i'll upon you; when the baby has
scarlet fever, and you haven't crimpcd
| your hair for wcek-but an elegant,
very select company Of the first people
in society. duly invited and prepared
for. The only person to be surprised
was her dear Sinclair.
Now, how to manage it? Pretty Mrs.
Hubbard had little money of her own
in bank-so every woman should have,
for use in such emergencies. There was
no serious difficulty in the case, except
/ 10 manage SO important an affair with
out the one most interested receiving
any hint of il. 1t is mistake on the
part OF man TO suppose that woman
cannot keep = secret. She can. Mrs.
Hubbard dld
She went around and invited the Sc
lectcd ones i'll person, with an Injunction
not To allow Il breath to be breathed
about the affair TO the unconscious per-
sonage i'll whose honor it was to be
gwen. She also went to Delmonico's ;
and orcrcd the supper. Then she pro-
ceedcd 10 Dodworths and engaged the
music. And upon the mouth of each
and every person eng aged in preparation
she placed seal. Dclmonico under
stood that the bills were To he sent To
Mrs. Hubbard. Dodworth was bound
over To make no reuark, but to have five
members ot his band at Mrs. Hubbard's
house at the appointed hour.
All went merry as a marriage bell.
Not a breath OF suspicion hoatcd in the
a!r. Mr.. Hubbard went and came in
sublime Inconsistencies OF the ap-
preaching festivities. The champagne
WAS delivered al the house during those
morning hours when the gentleman was
at lis place OF business.
Ten DAYS flew by, and the morning of
the anniversary dawned as bright and
fine As heart could desire. Ms. Hub
bard 5 spirits, somewhat depressed By
the anxlet lcst all should not be SUCCESS
fnl rs she desired, arose TO degree of
buoyancy when she opened her ewes up
on the beautiful dav. When she de-
scended to The breaktast-room there Law
upon her plate delightfully."- suggestive
morocco case, which she hastily opened
utterlnS An exclamation Of rapture as
she beheld handsome set of diamonds
OF course she Rugged and kissed her
darling Sinclair, feeling doubly glad to
think oi the happy surprise she had in
store Tor him. lie, too, was in excellent
spirits.
As he kissed her in the hall, before
going down town, he asked her if she
could not have dinner at five instead oil
six that afternoon. This lust suited her,
and she assured him that she could.
But, Sinclair, YOU do not think OF
gong ont on our anniversary night !!
she asked, alarmed at the idea that he
might absent himself when most want.
ed.
lie colored deeply, and stammered
saying: Il shall not go out unless YOU
accompany me, to be sure, Lizzie
'Oh, my dear, think il would be SC
much nicer to pass the evening at home
quietly, at home, you know?'
Very well, my precious he answred
rather obviously. 'But should like
| NOu " wal NOul 10 Rlatllk
your husband
Il will dear, with the greatest pleasure
Imaginable
Then they kissed again, and Lizzie
danced through the hall, thinking 10
herself, Il can dress as much as l please
now, without exciting his suspicious
de will think am dressing for himv
His present OF the diamonds caused
| hnr IN hn
she had intended to be; she sent out fol
large quantity OF flowers to be made
up and sent in at seven O'Clock that
evening.
L will invent some errand which will
take Sinclair out OF the house from seven
until nine. Our friends will be here
by that time, tor obtained their prom.
ises to be punctual. They will be
sure to come early in order to enjoy his
surprise
1t was rather long day to Mrs. Hub.
bard; although she contrived to spend
the afternoon comfortably in trying on
the new dress which arrived Just after
lunch-a party dress Of white silk and
pulled tulle almost as bride-like as her
wedding 'dress-and in having her beau
tiful dark hair dressed in the heipM OF
the style.
During lunch she had summoned the
three servants and told them of the
Surprise Party, under the sternest secre.
cy; they were to have the dressing.
rooms in order. the dining-room In
readiness for delmonico's men; and the
whole house was to be lighted as by
mag ic when the time came for her to
give the signal.
Gould she trust to their discretion n not
to let the master get hint of what was
going OnF
AT first, instead of answering, they
looked at each other, exchanging com
ical and significant glances; they put
their hands up to their mouths and
dug their toes into the carpet, en-.
ding by bursting into a simultaneous
giggle.
well, said the lady, frowning little,
does it seem so very funny to YOU girls
On. ,es it, do, mum, finally answered
tho parlor maid, trying her best not to
giggle again; it do seem rather funny
The master will be awful surprised,
mum! U Lordy, its good Joke! and
the three crammed their aprons in their
mouths.
You seem to enjoy it so much, 1 trust
with it,
lndade we wull, num-, broke in the
waiter-girl. 'Exchuse our laughing. 1t
struck US as so funny. La you needn't
be afraid to trust ~. Patent wringers
: conldnt squeeze it out Of u.s.