The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-03-30
A PHANTOM PARTY,

But how in the world are we to fix
the shccts2"
con that Is easy enough managed.
Iutt got me one and | will show YOU in
five minutes" Miss ,Ianrt answered,
and as her friend left ,hc room ghc called
after her, " Ring me n needle, some
tlrcad anvil n thimblc, too"
EV'dcntly my presence had been uuitr
forgotten, and too, bad forgotten Ihc
presence OF my companions Standing
IN the bow-window, with that beautiful
range nI mountains just before me, and
with tn" heavy red curtains shutting me
~ from IRE parIor and the two Young
'ldl"a, no wonder | had thoughts but for
the Blue Ridge, with noble pismAh how
rrlng hugh above lis fellow mounts, and
all bathcd in a beautiful sunset Iirhl for
c'cn IN January our mountain sunsets
arc often rare and rich in coIorinp. But
these laat words and the cxil Of Miss
Hastings recalled me from my own
dreams, and | hastily pushed aside the
curtains and took n seat beside Mis-,
Janet.
IT - th" Phantom rarty' we are
speaking oI Mr. Wallace" she said cot
course you are goinr9'
~ have not quite decided Do You
want me to 20, Miss Janet ~ asked.
booking straight into her bright brown
Dyes.
"Of coarse | d." she replied, 4 soft
"'lor rising to her checks, "and | promise
yo" Il charming evening. We all wear
masks, you know, and the Disguise is per
rect indeed, ii is often diniruIt to dis.
tIngLI''h II lady from n Ccntlcmnn.o
in that cas-" I may have some muse
mcnt, and pay Off an old score ut the
slmc TIME ! said, Il sudden fancy en-.
t"rlnE my mind. Mis- Janet, tell me
truly, do you object to my playing yoV
on Thursday night"
She looked at me in surprise.
Whnt do you mean p"
"DnIy,' ! answered, that if YOU will
ALLOW me after the dancing has com
m"nrcd to try to act and talk like YOU
for a while, ! will he much Obliged,
have Il friend with whom want to i've
quits, he mas several times PLAYED off
practical Jokes at my expense, and if yo,
49, l'''''' NV w I'lG'lIlHli MISS janet |
Gordon, ! am sure | can pay him back,
aud there's no telling how many soft
speeches he may pour into my ear, to say
nothing Of"
Hush, she interrupted with "A smile: |
" do you rot zoe one might infer from
your words that Miss Janet herself will
lngly listens to such speeches? pcrhaps
YOU are more truthful than complimcn.
tary."
Perhaps so,' ! said, smiling back into
the mischicyous eyes; "buL thctrnth il
Mr. Wright
"Soit il Mr.. Wright you mcan," she
i%ntCrposcd.
" Indeed it is, and | think you guessed
IT from the first. But really, may | de.
GIVE him il | can"
You have my consent" she said
Eally. I'VE him u grudgc or two my.
sell, and If you can in any way initiate
me-hut stop Here is this ring of
mnr which everybody knows. DO YOU
think you can get it on o.
II was u quantity fashioned ring, nme
old family relic, and large for Miss
Janet 50, fortunately, by dint of somc
squeezing, managed To get il on.
But are not our hands to he GOV.
cred?
"Ot course, but every one wears
stockings on their hands, ~ there is no
distinguishing them. Blythe hy. il is
very well that you can wear the ring, as
without 1t, unless you can copy my man
ncr exactly, ! fear you wouIi have Iittlc
effect upon him."
" Will do my best TO resemble Miss
Janet. ! said this in tones so ike nv
companions that she started up one mo.
m'ht IN ama1emcnt, and the next sot
down again with u merry laugh.
why, Mr. Wallace. | had m, idea
YOU were such a mimic. Do that ,r,in
please" ~
This is better any day Than lookingin
the glass she said mcrrily. "Do tell
mi how"
But here the door opened, and Miss
Hastings entered.
" am 50 sorry To have kept you wait
ing, Janet, but ! was detained. hone
YOU and Mr.. Wallace will excuse the dc.
lay"
In a lew moments Miss Janet had so
arranged the sheet that it formed an al /
most perfect draperv, and Miss Hastings ,
P.Itl'ng it On and adding "A pillow-case, I
PINNED around her head, over the long ,
white mask, was 30 completely disguised, ,
That ! am sure she would not have been y
recognized by any of her friends. Mis- y
Janet then made me put on the game ,
things, and standing before the long ,
mirror, ! wondered if il were | myself :,
or some tall young lady, stepped into q
my boots. "
This Is something new for Asheyille." -
Miss Hastings said, ~ at length Miss
Janet and ] ro-e TO take II leave. "and is
we must thank you for it, Miss Janet" b