Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-12-17
MRS. CABOT,s GUEST.


MRS. CABOPS GUEST.
MIR. EDWARD WINsLow left the dock
where the steamer POLYNESIA lay, dis
charging its passengers and cargo, with
slower steps than seemed becoming in a
young traveller returning home after a
years wandering in Europe. His feet
stumbled a little as his eyes followed a
carriage, burdened with trunks, which
was threading its way amongst the
drays and teams. Presently veil flut-
tered from the window, a head nodded
TO him, and hand waved a deprecato-
ry good-by, as if the dangers into which
the incautious young man was march
ing were easily apparent from within
the coach. He drew back from the
jaws Of a nervous horse, the carriage
slipped from his sight, and he made his
way now with better attention to his
steps. ..... .....N 81.
It was just at dusk of an October
evening, the pleasantest time in the
world 10 arrive home after an ocean
passage. The city had a picturesque
look in the cool light, and every house
which threw out gas or fire light from
its windows seemed to offer welcome
A warm welcome this young man was
sure to find at his mothers, where he
was expected, and the door at the head
of the stone steps stood open wide as he
sprang lightly up. The lively little lady
in snowy cap who was compromising,
in the shadow, between dignity and af-
fection, went over bodily TO affection
when her son once was inside the door,
way, and hustled with him into the
library, with her cap cooked iauntily on
one side, where his last embrace had
left it.
"Well, this is jolly,n said the young
man, Keeping off the fire with his hands
while he Surveyed the lady. another,
I'd rather see you than the Jungfrau.
Your cap just now makes me think of
that girl. l suppose after dinner we are
to sit before this fire, and am to tell
you all about itP"
"Yes; have already sacrificed So
ciety to this evening. Just before you
came in l burned an invitation for this
EVENING"
Bless you, mother, I've not forgot
ten how dearly you love parties, and
how cordially hated them. You are q
devoted mother"
"Oh, but you will have to make the
party call with me, Edward. You have
had your year abroad, and you must go
into society, and l shall be so proud to
introduce my great boy. Besides, Mrs.
Cabot is such charming hostess"
"Mrs. CabotP"
"Yes; you remember wrote you that
l met her at Saratoga.'i Ell
"Not Mrs. Cabot, of Harlemp" n
q g Yes, the very same. What good
memory you have, Edward! Travel has
improved you. You used to laugh at
your old mothers sudden friendships,
and profess to forget the names as soon
as you had heard theInn Ep IN
"Mrs. George Cabot, of HarlemP"
Yes, Mrs. George Cabot. Why
notp"
"Why notP Certainly there's no rea-
son in the world. Wen begin with her.
Wen march into Society's figured trap
this evening"
"Oh no, Edward. I declined, posi-
lively declined, on account of a previ-
vious engagement (nly engagement with
you, you see-this engagement IneVer
dreamed you would be willing to go.n
"But you see, mother. Europe has
done what you asked her to--made a
man Of the world of me. Wen get out
my dresscoat, and Mrs. Cabot will en-
joy your coming all the more that, like
the son in the parable, you said, l go
not, and went.h tt'btEttF
"But 1 can't, Edward. / haven't
any thing to wear-and my hair, too.
oh, it's impossible, just impossible. Be-
sides, l have dreadful headache.s'
My poor mother And you meant
to sit here and listen to my dull stories
all the evening, and never say word
about it You shall not go to the party.
You shall 20 70 bed. l viii go, and
give you one evening of peace before /
begin my winters torment"
Mrs. Winslow looked at her son in
amazement. Europe had indeed trans
formed him. In what city or village of
the Old World had he cast off his old
suit of bashfulness and indifference to
societyP. The young man smiled good
nAtured response to her establishment,
and went to hunt out his dress-coat.
Perhaps, too, there was something of
disappointmentrin her look. -
Mrs. Cabot had expended less rbgTeton
Mrs. Winslow's apologetic note than that
lady had expressed, and indeed felt. She
liked Mrs, ,Winslow, but her chief need
was young men. twas net SO difficult
to get very charming widows (she was
one herselD, and they were often essen
tial as chaperons; but young men!-
she would have subscribed liberalIy
TO a society for the encouragement of
young men to enter society. Her invi-
tations had, like many sent from the
suburbs, brought back very irregular
responses, and no mathematical law of
chances had ever enabled her to fore
cast the size or character of her frequent
parties. This evening she stood in the
dimly-lighted drawing-room, before it
was quite time TO expect her guests, giv-
ing few final touches, and Specializing
afresh upon the contingencies of her
company. She heard a carriage in the
street, and detected a hesitation in Its
movements, as if it we're hunting in the
dark for some thing. One objection to liv-
ing in the suburbs was that people might
come very early, and so she had always
made point of being well beforehand
hOrsef. She stepped now TO the window
20 see If she could make out ANYTHING,