Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-11-28

the company to pass into the dining
room for refreshments. A splendid
had been provided, con-
sisting of all the dclicacies served on
such occasions, both light and substan-
tial, with an abundance of choice
wines and rare and delicious fruits.
1t can hardly be matter of wonder
that the continued surprise of the
Athertons took away all appetite for
the dainties set forth in such tempting
profusion. They were active and at
tentive to all during the gay repast,
but partook of little themselves. o. -,
After supper, the company went
back TO the parlors. A few more CO.
tillons were danced, and then they all
retired. At half-past twelve the Ather
tons were alone. The walters who
brought in the supper had removed
everything, leaving scarcely trace
behind them.
elf this isn't dream, it's the
strangest waking adventure in social
life that I ever heard Of" said Mr..
Atherton.
"Tm puzzled entirely, added Helen.
"I can't understand it at all. I never
heard of such a thing. Like father,
I'm half inclined to think we are
dreaming"
"Who could have gotten up the af-
fair, and carried it through so adroit-
ly ?" said Mrs. Atherton. 81 tried, all
the evening, to detect some one little
more officious than the rest, but was
not able TO do so." ..-...
"lt was well managed, to say the
least of it," remarked Mr.. Atherton !;
"but, being a practical joke, the en-
joyment was all on the side of the
jokers-I say jokers, for it seems to me,
now, that it was concerted thing !; and
that all present understood each other
perfectly"
"Do think SO" exclaimed Alice,
striking her hands together in sudden
surprise.
$50 it presents itself to me-"
"You've guessed right, without
doubt" said Helen, as a light went
over her face. "Now can understand
a good deal that puzzled me. Well, as
you say, it was handsomely man
aged"
"But, as I said still farther, the en-
ioyment was all on one side. We had
none of it, 1 believe"
cit was nospleasure to me-" remark.
ed Mrs. Atherton, seriously. "My
heart was in futter all the evening
and it required a constant struggle tc
keep my real feelings from coming
into manifestation"
"That was my own case," added
Helen. "Surprise took away all my
pleasure. There has been a pressure
on my bosom all the evening, and an
still unable to breathe freely"
Alice tried to express what she fell
on the occasion, but her lips quiveret
and tears came into her eyes. Mr.. Ath
erton, seeing this, remarked:
"Ah, well, my children, let us try
and forget the whole affair, or thinl
of it with as little feeling as possible
If it has given others pleasure, let us b.
content with that"
"I have felt sense of humiliation
all the evening"" said Alice, who re
covered Immediately her self-posses
sion. "No one who had proper re
spect for us could have committed
social outrage like this-I call it by it
real name." ....
cit was certainly an indelicate inva
sion of a mans household. An intru
sion within the family circle that moth
ing can justify" replied Mr.. Athertor
seriously. "And Alice suggests truly
that, in the minds of the author O
authors of the affair, there must hav
been want of a proper respect for ou
characters and position. This is sell
7 evident. I have felt it all the ever
: ing"
! "And so have 1, most keenly," re
marked Mrs. Atherton. "Suppose,
she added, "that we had just receive
: intelligence of the death of near rels
s live, or were in some serious trouble
Q How much deeper would our Athletic
b or trouble have been felt ?"
h cor suppose" said Mr.. Atherton, g
were embarrassed in business, and
, creditor happened to go by and di
> cover that [ was entertaining lare
and gay company, would it not prejl
/ dice him against me, and put me
= great danger?"
50 Mr.. Atherton spoke feelingly.
r "It was wrong, viewed in any light
L remarked Mrs. Atherton. "Wrong-
wrong. Pleasure is well enough in i
|. place; but when it becomes an intrude
T. and boldly invades the family circl
the act is nothing less than an outrage
- Such was the state of mind produce
L in the family upon which had BET
played off the practical joke of cor
pulsory party, for the amusement of
le set of thoughtless young men al
10 women, whose knowledge of human n
= ture was too limited to teach them
. decent respect for the sacred seclusiC
y of the home circle.
y *
/; On the evening of the party, E mi
Id dle-aged man was passing slowly alol
20 the street in the neighborhood of AT
erton's residence. The sound of mul
10 and gay voices fell upon his ears, a
o he paused to listen.
All, hal" he muttered to himse
r as he moved on again. GA part
as Yes-yes. Well, I thought he h
r. something else to think of besides pi
or ties. And I suppose he has. But
travagant wife and daughters. Y
that's the secret. Hum-m-. We
IN if this is the game to be played,
ts check-mate had better come now, til
ul when there are only a. few pawns on t
of board"
u And thus he went muttering on
~ way.
ne On the next morning, when Mr.. A