Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-04-21
Selected 5(istrllanp.
THE MOREHAM BALL.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

Have you received JlcKctS Tor the
Moreham Ball p
That was what people were asking one
another just about the time that the slen-
der, green, snowdrop leaves were be-
ginning to peep, like the tiny laces above
the frozen earth in the garden borders,
and the March winds stirred the dead
leaves that hid the early violet roots.
Mr.. Moreham gave only one ball in
the course of the year, but that was of
such proportion and brillioncy that peo-
Pile canvassed for tickets for weeks
beforehand, and those who were fortunate
enough to obtain invitations, counted
themselves to be in rare good luck The
Moreham house was large and roomy,
with great ecboing rooms, halls filled with
ancient cngravings and carved oaken
cabinets, and dining saloon with a
waxed floor, big enough for fifty people
to sit do yn to dinner, and not find them
selves crowded And Mr.. Moreham
always engaged band and supper from
New York, and flowers enough to cx-
haust the supplies of the neighboring
florists. Was it any wonder that the
young people were anxious to get cards
for his bal.
The Sevcrns were among the first who
received the pearl-gray envelopes cou-
tanning the enamelled inclosurc--and
why should they not? Was not Paul
Severn engaged to Leona Moreham, the
rich mans only niece and heiress Mrs
Severn bad ordered new dresses for her
self and three daughters, greatly to the
dismay of Major Severn, whose pecu-
mary affairs were hopelessly behindhand
and had taken particular pains to haunt
her invitations in the face of her next
door neighbor, Mrs. Caption, who had
received none
"These rich people do put on such
airs" said Mrs. Caption, viciously.
But it won't last for ever Caption
does tell me there are rumors on Wall
street that old Merchants business is
getting awfully shaky !"
THAT'S all nonsense" said Mrs.
Severn. "Mr. Morchan is as rich as
Cresus."
"Ricbes have wings" croaked Mrs.
Caption. And he had great deal
better spend his money in teaching Leo.
tclegrapby, or some useful trade, than
to lay it out in banana trees and fan
palms for his conservatory, and thou
sand-dollar statues for his gardenl'
Mrs. Severn feigned to treat her
neighbours hints with contemptuous disre-
gard, but they had their effect, notwth-
standing Such inuendoes always do
have.
paul" said she to her son, when he
came home from the city that evening,
do you suppose all these rumors are
true p
"What rumors, motherY p
"Why, about old Morcham not being
quite so safe in his business as people
have always supposed"
Don't know" answered Paul, in
differently. "And don't care Let's
have dinner, mother"
Mrs. Severn said nothing more, but
her thoughts were busy all the same.
If Paul should have Invested" in this
heress, and be cheated out Of his bank Il 8
balance, after all
Miss Decima Severn, on being c.n-
suited by her mamma, expressed it as her
opinion that it was all old Mrs. Cappi-
tons spite, because she wans't invited
and that mamma had great deal better
spend her time in seeing that the train
of her-Mlss Decima's-drcss was cut
right"
Miss Louisa, the second daughter,
said, 1T was perfectly ridiculous And
she wished mamma would telegraph to
the city for her new cluster of curls
which hadn't been sent with the other
things"
And Sybilla, the youngest, had no
thoughts for anything but her white tar
letan, trimmed with swcet-brier leaves
For this was Sybilla's first party and of
proportionate Importance in her eyes
Girls are so silly" said Mrs. Severn.
But, after ALL one can't expect old
heads on young shoulders"
So they went to the party at the More
ham mansion.
As it CHANGED, they we're the first
Mr. Moreham was sitting at
his iibrary desk aud Mr. gcvorn cortd