Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-02-17
CAPITAL UNDERToNEs.
WAsnrNeroN. February 70. 1877

W ASHfNGTON, FEBRUARY II, lcf'.
Continuation and conclusion Of "a very
romantic tho lengthy story anent one Of our
thoroughbred fashionable familieS-com-
menced last week in these papers:l The neat
abode Of the family, already mentioned as being
located in the aristocFatic West End, begun to
be the centre for many Of our gay gailants who
sought it ont, on the especial " receiving
day. from n score Of other open houses, be-
cause Of the easy. graceful aud consequently
very winning manners of the hostess aud -
well, the only daughter; Miss G-r-de, was
certainly charming enough in all glrlish at
tributes TO arrest the attention OF socieIy's
4" best catches aud hold them fast, Not thai
she tried 10 do SO, except in 50 Tar as i sprung
from woman's own natural love for conque.t
There was nothing partaking Of the soTIid
which animated any such e.lurt-nor crafty
mamma behind the scenes urging on the femi-
nine attack. No nothing Of this. The
daughter. as indeed the entire household, found
her chief recreation in books-altho' nothing
10th at times. during her mothers receptions,
to fling down the glove on Cup;d'S field and
break a love-lit lance OF two with some young
Romeo. Things vent on as usual until last
winter 10 SOY The husband and father still
performed his bureau duties his Office COM
pauious-whereof only few Of the original
acknowledgements be delicate young
/ gents remaiucd-pulled tolerably well with
their senior in government harness, Sinking
+ piece Of work, however, whenever 4 chance
/ offered tie home establishment moved along
quite regularly the mother advancing in wis
1 dom. the daughter in beauty as they advanced
/ in age. The two Soas were hbsent-ia fact
/ had long been SO the one in Chicago, the other
at st. Louis, both engaged in business for
themselves.
One morning Just about year ago-per-
/ hapS little less-the fashionable society here
abuuts were startled 10 iud the - House
closed, gate, blinds, door and all. Only two
evenings previous these same spacious Parlors
were througed with the elite, while the courtly
host, and his wife and daughter had dispensed
graciously a kind hospitality, and now -- ?
Enquiries at the Bureau IN which the gentle
man was employed -eyealed the fact that on
the afternoon foleA % the evening of his en-
ter,aiument our ''eud had applied personally
TO the chief clerk Of the department ut being
after Office hours for few days lenye, stating
his having arranged for substitute II required.
The force in the Bureau was a full one, and no
Sub was required Of the gentleman, while
his own official record gave lis snpcrors Fer-
feet assurance in his ability to make up for
lost time thereafter, so the leave was granted
for-an indefinite period. The following day,
as we have SEEN society found the - House
closed. Rumor ran rampant during the mex,
fortnight. and the characters Of husband, wife,
daughter and sors were subjected to cruel cru
cibles. This worlds iashionabes--not to say
that they have any in tie next world, which the
good Lcrd forbade are like pusses, you
know: stroke them the right way, they gently
purr and rub their dowuy ears against you
stroke them the wrong way and-presto! they
utter an hyeua yoNl and turning rend you
with tooth aud nail Note the relation? So
ciety was charmed with this family from TIC
great West while this family treated society
as society deemed it should be treated. But
wh n this family closed It's hospiiable doors
upon society then society, ntteriDg the clan :
war-hoop. rushed TO the demolition Of this fam
ily's character Society could not "bide a
wee 10 know the cause which uecessitated
what it deemed an usult-society simply
cherished the idea that it had been wronged
aud strightway double-quicked, in yelling
rage TO tie feast Of revenge, the only revenge
I
tcrs the characters Of dcserteTs from It's ranks.
Lent had thrown its pail over the iashiona-
BE world when one other morning the W.
aforesaid arose to find the - House reopened,
and looking MS natural as possible. The sea-
son was over. or nearly So and therefore Mr.
and Mrs. - had 10 wait until this present
season (which will itself be ended ere this is
in type perhaps to present formal apologies
q fsf.r. Il
a few days after the return Of the family that
the three father, mother and daughter had
gone North for the purpose o! attending the
funeral obscquics of geutemau-" old
and very dear friend Of the family" the lover,
in fact, of Miss G-r--de whea, in earlier
years, the family resided near Geneva, n. Y
Here, there had lived a wealthy old man with
two sons, one Of whom was abroad, the other
STUDYING law under his ftLer. This young
man had loved the daughter Of our Burcau
friend. and lad subsequently lwhen the fami-
ly of lis ideal cmigratcd towards the setting
suul worked on lis fathers influence TO pro-
vide for him the government appointment
which Mr.. - now enjoyed. The latter bad.
until later years, given grateful credit for ibis
service to other parties, but despite assiduous
care, the truth at last became known 20 him.
And when these simple and pure minded folks
learned of the demise Of their chid's former
lover, and their beuefactor they hcsitated not
in making some little effort TO show their CRATE
iul respect to his memory.
Society is augered that its scanlalous pre-
dictiouS, in this case were not realized and has
very colIly received back Into its guild the
orriug ones.
JEAN SANDS.