Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-01-16
THE BALL AT DYTHMAR'S.

THE BALL AT DITHMARS.
The name of Dithmar has been known
in N almost from its foundation, and
members Of that family had filled with
honor many responsible positions in its
gift. At the time of which / write, the
head of the family was one Joseph Dith-
mar, q retired manufacturer of about
sixty, 0 gentleman of culture as well as
fortune. Mr.. Dithmar's household cir
Gle, besides himself, then consisted of
his wife, 10y some years his junior, his
son, Arthur, young man of twenty,
and two daughters, Helen and Mary.
Helen was twenty-six, and though by 10
means ill-favored, babe fair always to re-
main spinster of her own volition.
Mary, on the contrary, though much
younger than her sister, did not share
this strange aversion to marriage, and
that was perhaps the reason that L had
maintained for so long my acquaintance
with and my friendship for the family.
Mary was the belle of N, and well
of personal and intellectual beauty. She
had numerous gentlemen friends, as was
natural, but none that [ considered my
rivals.
There was, indeed, certain Harry
Duff-a sort of brainless, fashionable
popiniay-who aspired to her favor, but
his pretensions appeared so ridiculous
to me that I did not give either him or
them much thought or consideration.
Besides, had old Mr. Dithmar's favor,
and that went long way toward
strengthening my position and my COM
placency. Mary, too, seemed to lean
toward me.
This was the state of affairs, when, one
day in the winter of 1867, received an
invitation to ball at Dithmar's. Now,
this invitation was nothing uncommon,
but the fact that the note was written
and signed by Mary Dithmar herself was
signifcaRt-at least 80 thought.
Time wore on, and at length the event
full evening of the ball came round, and
I was in my room at home dressing for
the occasion.
Suddenly the door bell rang, and in
moment after the servant announced that
Mr.. Duff was below and wished to see
me.
He came into the chamber and threw
himself heavily down in an easy chair,
stretching his legs out upon the carpet
in front Of him, and resting his hands by
the thumbs in the arHholes of his waist
coat.
] was shaving, and as turned round,
razor in hand, saw that Mr.. Duff was
flushed in the face, and had evidently
been drinking somewhat deeply. I was
astonished, for knew that he, too, had
been invited to the ball.
"Simpson, said Duff, in thick tones,
" been to dinner party and miscalcu-
lated capacity. Can't go to ball, and so
come to pair off with you"
duff" said advancing half way
into the interveni g space between us,
"my good fellow you are out of your
senses DO you think that we are mem
bers of Congress or United States Sena-
tors 2"
81 don't think anything of the kind,
he replied, with drunken laugh, "but
Iwant to pair off with you"
At first L was rather amused at the
situation, and talked soothingly to the
man, but at length, my stock of patience
growing exhausted, 1 became slightly
angry; and, turning from my visitor, 1
abruptly continued my preparations for
departure. When was ready to go,
said to Duff
I" If you have been fool | can't help
it; and if by pairing off you mean that
you want me to stay away from Dith-
mars tonight because you have made
an ass Of yourself, tell you frankly that
I do not mean to crafty you"
I held the door open as | spoke, and
hat in hand waited for him to get up.
He did not move.
"Duff, said I, "don't you see I'm
waiting for you?"
But the heat of the chamber had been
too much for him, and even as I spoke
Duf's head sank forward upon his breast
he was asleep. [ left him where he
was, and telling the servant not to dis
turb him, went to the ball.
The sisters never looked more beauti-
full, or appeared to greater advantage
than on that night, and Mary especially
shone brilliant star.
At length supper was over. I had ac-
companied Mary to the room and from
it, and was standing again with her in
the ballroom apart from the rest. We
were conversing in whispers. What we
said will not repeat; it is enough to say
Iplayed Romeo, and that kind Juliet
was not wanting.
Suddenly at the upper end of the roora
there was struggle and some confusion,
and in the midst of it all stout, shaggy
headed, elderly man, pushing aside the
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