The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-10-12
MRS. DELAFIELD'S vow.

Colonel and Mrs. Delafield had hardly
been three months married, when they
arrived III Washington and settled them.
selves for the session of Congress al
Browns Hotel, accompanied by Mr..
Ellis, Mrs. d lafield's father, who was
i'll the Seuate, and her sister, Miss
Louise, who, though very sweet aud in
terestlng, was wanting in that vivacity
aud animation which had made Mrs.
Deiafeld, when Mary Ellis, the reigning
bollo OF the previous season; and caused
NANNY Kate, who accompanied them
as waiting maid, to predict that "Jor-
dan was Il hard road to travel for them
as had to bear company with Miss
Mary" Colonel Dela6eld delighted in
his wife's popularity and felt an exulting
sense Of victory over other competitors
wiien be saw her surrounded by her last
years admirers; and her coquettish airs,
and occasional demure assumption of a
married womau's dignity in her inter
course with them, gave him as much
pleasure us the Sense of still being ad-
nlred and sought after impaired to her
Only on one question was the colonel
intrartable--h could not bear to see
her waltz; and, with little sigh of
sacriice, she promised to give it up, or
only waltz with her sister and lady
friends.
"It's very silly of him." she said to
Louise, "but then he is such dear old
goose about mo that he makes it up.
and after all it's not much to give up"
Louise thought differently, but pru,
IDENTIFY held her tongue; not so nanny
Kate, who know Miss Mary loved "thcD.
twiring Dances" and was not apt t.
deny herself any pleasure for which she
longed.
!" The Lord grant you grace to keep
your promise, Miss Many, honey" she
devoutly calculated, with the freedom
of an old servant; "but don't you
dance them waltzes at all, not even with
Miss Louise, for tell you if you once
gifts a-going you won't stop and the first
thing you know you'll be a spinning
aroun with the gentlemen; you know
you always said that there was no fun in
dancing them with another lady, cause
Your skirts was in her way, and her
skirts was in your way"
Mrs. Delafeld laughed at Kate's
oarnestness, and throwing herself on o
lounge said to her sister
"l guess nanny is half right, sis,
for always feel when waltzing with a
woman that it's eating soup without any
salt, and wish Colonel Delafield knew
how to waltz, but it's hopeless-he
won't even try 20 learn"
For several weeks Mrs. DeIafield duti-
fully declared to all her old partners
that her waltzing days were over, but
her feet would keep time to the music
and it was hard work to sit still, par
ticu!arly when an ancient rival, like her.
self now bride, arrived from New Or
leans. Mrs Larime was o creole, and
waltzed as ehA breathed, without
thought of any impropriety in doing so.
"You had better kick over the traces
at once, my friend" she said one even
ing to Mrs. Delafeld. 81 tell you it
does not do for us to let these husbands
think they can lay down laws for us; if
Colonel Deiatield forbids you to waltz,
forbid him to smoke, and see whetherhe
will obey"
"You are mistaken in supposing Col
onel Delafeld forbid me to waltz"
replied Mrs. Delafield, with a naughty
lifting of her head. He never forbids
me or orders me; he simply requested
me; 1 am at perfect liberty to waltz; or
do anything else please" I
"Oh, yes, We all understand that,
these marital orders always come in the
way of request; but if it's only a re-
quest, why can't you take pity on MIR.
Bell and yourself and take just one turn
your old blunderbuss, as you call him,
is at the Capitol, and heneed never know
it."
"Yes, Mrs. Delafeld," urged Mr..
Bell, who had joined them; "do let us
have one waltz. The house won't ad-
journ till late, and you can make it all
right with the colonel" .--.
"Oh, no, she does not dare disobey
her lord and MASTER" laughed Mrs. La
rime, as she whirled off with her part
ner.
"You are surely not going to stand
that" said Mr.. Bell.
"Indeed, am not, )" replied the lady,
rising as she spoke. 81 will just take
one turn to show her her mistake"
"But the "one turn was that ''lore-
naier pas" Nothing could stop Mrs.
Delafield, once under the influence of
the music and the motion. In vain
Louise urged her to leave off, telling her
Colonel Delafield had returned.
"Yes, run along and make your
peace" said Mrs. Larime, maliciously.
81 have no peace to make"
"Yes, you have; for if ever I saw au
angry man, your husband is one. He