Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-08-29

clared themselves ready TO send out
the invitations"
The first name written down in all
the lists was, of course, Fred Kelly's-.
to catch whom Gin plain Englisb) our
party was given.
Next after Kelly in our common list
came the names of the Vyners-father,
mother, and two daughters-without
whose eyes to observe our success in
securing Fred, the triumph would
scarcely have been complete. ALI the
rich people of our acquaintance fol-
lowed singularly enough, there was
not q shadow of doubt about any of
these, nor about that tawny young idiot
Northcoat, who knew the younger son
lord. Two budding barristers from
the Temple were also passed, mem. con.
-"they moved in such good society,""
1 suggested asking the Prince and
Princess of Wales, but found my little
joke received (for the first time, must
confess) with chilling silence, as the
awful gravity of the occasion required.
There was also charming unanimity
about asking some of our less import
ant acquaintances. Thus poor Miss
Graham was asked, because she was so
good-natured, and "never objected to
play any quantity of dance-music.
Then Tomlins could carve, and Vickers
talks SO well. Mrs. Grubbins, too,
and the three Miss Grubbinses would
be mortally offended if they were left
out-so "there was no help for it, we
must have them"
Other names caused more discussion.
was obstinate, when I found my wife
and Molly were positively thinking of
leaving out my old school-fellow, Dick
Wotherspoon-the best of good fellows,
only rather rough in his manner, as
most of these enthusiastic artists are.
1t was not, however, on this account 80
much that my wife disliked him, as the
fact that, though over thirty, he seemed
to be making no headway at all in life,
and was himself beginning to think he
had mistaken his profession. Indeed,
he was SO poor that [ had frequently
lent him a fve-pound note. But now
overruled my wife's objections to him
and insisted on his being invited. With
his name our list of forty-five was COM
plete, that number being ten or fifteen
people moro than our rooms would
really hold but then, as my wife said,
"They would be sure, some of them,
to be engaged; and so we might as
well have the credit Of inviting them
all as not"
To be in proper form, we gave ten
days invitation, and the interval was
ruled over by the milliners. From
morning to night there was nothing but
consultations about blonde and muslin,
mauve and magenta, or critical exami-
nation of patterns, or FITTINGS on"
For my part, I undertook to look after
the tea supper, and attendance, for all
of which it was absolutely necessary to
contract, since we only kept maid-ser-
want of twenty.
The all-important night arrived at
last, and the fever of expectation and
anxiety which had held my woman-kind
all the month reached it's height.
[ had scarcely taken my place on the
hearth-rug when loud rant-an at the
door and a hearty voice in the passage
announced the first arrival. "Mr. Woth-
erspoon !" whispered my wife to me
UAUh q UOuOL VI dhOO ln llCl uOuO
she at any rate takes care to be pune
tual-knows no better, I suppose.
When he was ushered in by one of the
imitation footmen, he took much the
same view of our proceedings as I took
myself, and began chatting me in his
free and easy way "well, now, Miller,
to think of you coming out in such q
swell fashion What on earth possess
ed you to begin giving state.parties,
eh?" But Mrs. Miller-with that in
crease of dignity which the peach-col-
ored satin always gives her-cut his
audacious levity short by asking sharp
ly, "well, and why shouldn't we give
party like any one else, Mr.-a-Mr.
Wotherspoon {" The assumed forget
fulness of his name was masterpiece,
and capitally done; considering she had
never practiced the art of snubbing be-
fore. At all events, poor Dick seemed
to have the ground taken from under
him at once, and he subsidized into q
corner near Patty, where he seemed to
be better welcomed.
But bark the roll of wheels" the
brazen thunders of the door soon not
intermittent, but continuous-an we
are presently in the thick of it. Kelly
came about ten, little sitter than
usual but not until half-past did the
Vyners sweep into the room, Mrs.
Vyner overwhelmingly courteous and
patronizing in her black velvet dress.
But she soon eontrived (without saying
so) to make us understand that she won
dered we could venture to invite her,
and that she considered it no little con-
descension on her part to come.
There could be no doubt that my
daughter Molly and Ellen Vyner were
the prettiest girls in the room. Yet it
was amusing to note the difference in
their style and appearance. Molly,
whose good-natured, rosy face above
| her light blue dress seemed like q
cherub's floating in the sky, was ra-
diant, full of life, and sweet as a new
blown rose but she was q little too
eager to please, and tried too evidently
to make everything 60 off we'll. Miss
Vyner on the other hand-pale, slight,
and with finely chiseled features-moved
through the rooms very statue of
dignity and self-possession. Quiet,
perfectly well-bred, and polite, she
rather discouraged the advances of her
admirers, including Kelly but her
very encouragement seemed only to
make them more attentive. If she had
a fault, it was she evidently knew her
own value SO we'll she might have been
a dukes daughter instead of brewers
though, indeed, believe Vyner and
many of his business think brewer or
a banker nowadays greater grandee
than any nobleman.
I am glad to say the party itself. not
withstanding our misgivings, went of
without any particular hitch. In fact,
LIZ, .,f