The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-11-16

all the Stevenses, OF course. The sons
were fine young men then-a little wild
and fond of theit sports, but full of tai
ent and very popular.
"Of course, we had to come over to
the city and get the things for the party
refreshments, and some little things
to wear. So we set off early in the day
on our shopping tour. There was west.
erly breeze, and we got over in halt an
hour, and tnen went about the city and
made calls and purchases. Brother Tom
came over with us to manage the boat,
and Polly and did the shopping. We
started home early in the afternoon; but
the wind tell off almost to q dead calm,
the tide carried us down the river, ana
what little breeze there was, was against
us. Thus we beat about all that blessed
afternoon. Tue party was to be that
evening. The people were coming, we
had nothing for thern to EFT or drink
that ia, nothing nice, and there we ere,
drifting down toward the Narr0ws. Tom
whistled to raise a bre, Ze, and Pm
afraid ne swore a little. Polly sat and
scolded, and l cried. 1t was no good
neither swearing, scolding, nor oiying.
Our boat had but one car IN her, and the
sail was useless without the wind. l
think of 1t now, sometimes, when go
over In the swift and beautiful steam
1erry-boats in summer.
"People came early to parties In those
days. They began at early canule-lIght-
ing. The sun was going down, and the
little wind there had been went down
also, and left US helpless. But Tom
said tue tide was turning, and we
snould drift back 50 as to be little
nearer home. just as we were giving
up to despair, and thinking OF making a
supper on our useless uaintles, puff
came a sweet sea-Dreeze up the Mar
rows. The water rlppled, our sail
filled, and we went along with wind
and tide, and finally got homo just as
the first people were coming to tie
party"
Aunt Alice, you must have been a
very pretty dancer in those days"
She had the preJtlest foot ever saw,
and VAS just little proud OF it, al
ways thought.
yes, l was accounted good dancer
then. IL was before we had wallZts or
polkas; but we had dances that l shall
always think great deal finer anu more
graceful. In those days We danced the
Minuet de la Cour, which you never
saw, l suppose.
so, Deg your pardon, but have, and
it is beautitull' said |. ~ saw it danced
by Fanny E,lsIer."
"On the Stage; o, yes! but that would
give you an idea OF it. Then we had
contra dances, quadrilles, and, when it
got later ana after supper, reels and
| gs. You may be sure mat we enjoy ed
ourselves. Two fiduIers and French
norm for music-better than a full band
to my thinking; and who could compare
one of our parties to the greaI, pompous,
uncomfortable jams they have noW-a.
days~
"Aunt Alice" said l, with an idea ]
might get at the secret OF that little flush
ana that gentle sign, ''do you remember
who WAS your partner that night in the
| Minuet de la COurW
The flush came again very unmlstaka-
| bly, as she answered:
| "Remember? Oi course 1 remember.
Does one ever forget such things2 l
| danced with Bob Stevens, and an ele-
giant dancer he was, and handsome fel-
| low. Many's the time 1 nave danced
with him, poor fellOWl How things
nave changeal HoDoken has become d
| city, and the Stevens property, that peo-
| pie used to laugh about, must be worth
millions. The boys, too, grew up to be
| famous men, full of great enterprises"
There was such tenderness in the
! tone in which she said ''poor fellow ~
and sigh that followed it, that was
sure was. on the right track.
| "Aunt Alice" SAID |, iii you had hap.
pened to nave married u millionaire, ]
onder whether you would have remem
| beted me in your Will?'
| She smiled at my question, then
crossed her hands before her, and Sal
thought, III for m0ment.
"Welll' said she, Il suppose / nigh,
nave married him; but perhaps L an
| Just as we'll off as 1T is.'
| We played our game of whist with twc
| dummies, ate our cake and slipped oul
nice culrant wine, and l trIeu to beal
my portion OF The loss with as gentle
equanlmlty as always find in my good
'oid Aunt Alice.