The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-09-09

/ one
Who will never come back to me.
Our Evening Party.
1 Thought, said Miller, there wat
something in the wind that cold Mon
day night when I got back from the
city and found a double supply of fa
vorite hot buttored mullins awaiting
me, and my slippers so nicely airee
on the hearth. But 1 was sure of il
when my wife said smiling, 81 hope
You like the tea, dear; put an extra
spoonful in, because it is such bleak
night for you;" and my eldest daugh
ter, Molly, laughed 30 very heartily
at my old story of the Chinese Mis-
sionary, which I think so good that
take every opportunity of repeating
it.
"Now Molly" said I, as I took down
my meerschaum after tea; "now.
Motley, what is it?"
"What is what, ?" said Molly;
but sho laughed conscious little
laugh all the same.
Come retorted, 'lct US have it.
What is it you want to coax out Of
me now?' .
We'll, Molly, as papa seems so cum.
ming at finding US out, l think we had
better tell him what we have been
talking about said my wife. well
James, the girls and 1 have been talk
ing all the afternoon, and, ahcm-
these poor things, James, do 30 want
You to give them an evening party
something little stylish, you know
like other people,
IAN evening partyp I repeated in
amazement.
oh ycsl do, papa said Molly, sit.
ting down on the hassock at my feet,
and putting her rosy cheek on my
knee. She is an admirable hand at
coaxing, is Molly.
Yes, dear, why should We not be
like our neighbors, at least sometimes
like Mrs. Vyner, for instance P pur.
sued my wife, singing out an ac'
quaintance who was my pet aversion
well, because We can't if we tried;
We haven't got the money l replied
You must surely soc what nonsense it
is to talk of our bcing like Vyner
when his partnership in Double X
brings him ia a couple of thousands
year, aud have barely as many hun,
dreds.'
well, but we mightjust show Mrs
Vyner we know what's what
When we went to bed my wife re.
turned to the attack, and did not leave
me till she was victorious. Her chief
argument now was that we ought to
give Molly a chance; and Molly
thought go herself There was young
Kelly looked very sweet at her; but
how could we expect respectable
young fellow like him to come forward
unless he saw we knew somebody,
and were not quite out Of the pale Of
good society?'
My DEAR said I, pray do not put
these silly notions into Molly's head
Kelly always seemed to me 10 be
rather spooney on Ellen Vyner, and
not at all on Molly
sAh, the Vyners always try to
make out that he is quite devoted to
them; but I fattcr myself know
white from black when / sec it-yes,
yes, think so, indeed
well, if you really think 30, we
ought to give Molly this party said
l, reluctantly.
Yes, that would be good excuse
for beginning. But I think we ought
to give one every year for the future.
/ groaned in spirit and said, 'Pray
let US get safely over this before we
talk of any more. I confess [ think
thu whole notion absurd-the ex
pensc, the trouble, the probability o.
q breakdown with such servants as
ours. But suppose you must have
your way
Accordingly, in the, morning my
wife and two daughters formed them
selves into permanent committee o.
ways and means. They decided thai
things could not possibly got ready
under month, and for the whole O
that time we were iu q state of dis
turbance. First, it was found ou
that tho drawing-room curtains were
old and shabby, and we must have
>. new ones; then, that tho dining-roon
icarpet did not suit the furniture
, and you don't wish people to thinl
we have no taste, dear I? said my wife
Now. it was my old bookcase tina
had to be showed into an unobtrusiv'
corner, where I had to 90 and hun
for my papers in 4he dark; next; on
nearly broke ones neck over q new
music.stand which had arrived tina
morning, and had been left in tn
passage, only just for q minute til
the carpet was put down. then if any
friend came in, there was scarcely {
single place where one could 81
down. In a word, all quiet, homely
; comfortable ways were at an end ant
what with upholsters, carpenters
piano tuners, andGurners, and others
!. twas just as bad as if we were fit
ting. l was heartily glad, therefore
s ;;l|when they at ast declared themselve
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