The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-29

ought to have felt content but the mel
ancholy smile which crossed his coun-
tenance rather belied his efforts as he
gave a last survey of his neat, but not
altogether stylish toilet, sighed over the
last letter from home, which he put
carefully away, and then, unfolding a
dainty note, re-read the conditions of
the invitation, in the graceful chirog-
raphy of Kate Ormsby:
NECK-TIE PARTY.
Under auspices of the Y. L. L. Y. Club,
The Residence of Squire Burleigh, No. SO Main
Street.
April l. 1875, eight o'clock, p. N.
Gentlemen will enter Immediately upon the
opening OF the doors, and each will select, as
his partner for the evening, the lady who
wears ribbons corresponding to the color of
the neck-tie accompanying this invitation,
which he is TO wear. The two who shall be
last in performing this duty, are, as o forfeit
for their tardiness, to be responsible for the
evenings entertainment, instituting games
dances, etc., and in all respects taking the
part OF Master of Ceremonies and Floor Man.
ager.
Squire Burleigh, Umpire. Elderly ladies
and gentlemen, chaperones, etc., per order OF
the committe. KATE ORMsBY, Secretary.
DIR. Elwell repaired to the apartment
of Mr.. Wheeler, where the other young
men were assembled, among them two,
who, having come down from the city
on business few days before, were duly
lionized by one-half of the youth of the
community. Those WORTHLESS glancing
over the simple little sheet which had
cost more anxiety and study, then thev
imagined, smiled indulgently at the
transp aren't crudity of the whole affair,
and then one of them remarked:
"Now, see here, boys, the young la
dies are putting up job on us, don't
you seeP Why not circumvent them,
and turn their little game upon them
selvesP"
"But howP" queIied one or two, while
the others listened eagerly.
"Simply by changing neckties," said
the first speaker. "You perceive that
with the inherent love of harmony that
belongs to the sex-an r',1questionable
veneration for the eternal fitness of
things, as it were-the fair ones have
sent me brilliant flame color, or cardi-
nal, believe they call it, in Difference
to my somewhat strikingly brunette
style of beauty, if may be allowed the
expression, whereas my friend Jackson
here, with his forid complexion and
vivid locks, which emphatically pro-
claim his Hibernian descent, SO to
speak,"
"Here, now, Smythe, none of that"
cried MIR. Jackson, who had probably
been twitted of his fair skin and auburn
hair before.
"Dont interrupt, Tommy. As1 was
about to say, my friend Jackson is kon-
ored with lovely pale-blue, Just too
sweet for any use" Now suppose, for
instance, that we trade; no, no, that
would shock the senses too severely
hame-color necktie and cardinal hair,
coffee -colored skin and pale-olue. Dread
full, shocking" and the gentleman shud.
dered with affected horror.
The Others came to his rescue, how.
ever. with timely suggestions, and a
satisfactory arrangement was soon eff
fected.
So it came about that Mr.. Wheeler
was adorned with the cardinal tie,
which really set off the fairness of his
hair and skin pretty well. DIR. Elwell
assumed the pale-b,ue, which made him
look rather darker than usual; the city
gentleman donned the violet and Grim
son which, had been intended for them
respectively, and the others made an
equally suitable exchange tor pink,
green, blue, black, white and variegated.
''All readyP" asked Mr.. Wheeler.
" times up"
Get your ,colors by heart, boys, ."
said Mr.. Smythe.
The moment arrived. The gentlemen,
in the back parlor, awaiting the open
ing Of the double doors, which separated
them from the young ladies in the front
room.
Remember your colors, boys" "whis-
pered Mr.. Smythe, as if determined to
confuse the rest.
"Shut up," was the elegant reioinder
of Mr.. Jackson, in equally husky tones.
"Alreadyw cried the genial Squire
Burleigh, and the doors flew open.
There was grand rush, a second or
two of suspense, much laughter, and,
in the midst of it. DR.. Elwell felt his
brain whirl and his senses forsake him,
as his eye rested upon Miss Burleigh, in
the loveliest of creamy silks, with
sashes, bows, streamers and trimmings
Gd hbitatnl, of pale blue. He managed
to collect himself sufficiently to take his
place by her side, feeling, as he did so,
that he was one of the unlucky last
ones, but, as he looked up, he caught
sight of Messrs. jackson and Smythe
standing in the middle of the room,
looking about with something less than
their usual complaisance for the divini-
ties with the violet and crimson deco
rAtions.
The truth dawned slowly. Merry
Kate, in e coquettish black dress, COW
cred with cardinal bows, had a certain
surprise of her own to mediate. over,
and SO had all the ladies, therefore it
was left to the gentlemen to cry "April
Fool!" which they did, all at once, as
the fact burst upon them that there were
two more of their number than in that
of the ladies, and that the exquisites
from the metropolis had brought upon
themselves the forlorn predicament ol
being minus partners for the evening.
These latter gentlemen were, however,
equal to the emergency, and neverin the
history OF H., had a party gone off with
so much merriment and good feeling.
AS for DIR. Elwell. his spirits rose till
no trace remained of the surly tempe in
which he had of late INDUCED. Infthe
light of Edith's sunny smile he forgot
his discomforts, and, at the end Of a
delightful waltz, he drew her toward the
conservatory in very happy frame ol
mind.
AS they went they heard subdued
voices, and presently met Mr.. Wheeler
and Miss Ormsby, the former with an
expression of beatitude upon his counte.
nance, and the latter sparkling and
flushed with happiness, while tear
drop glistened in her silky black lashes
1--WE have missed you from the rooms
dear, where have you been-what have
| Won hpen doing pn questioned Edith and