The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-10-14

while before when | was Try hS 10 geJ d SlCud-
ton in a business house down town. Ihese
were satisfactory as to my character
have put the halter around my own neck
now. ~
n. B.-Suppose Morton were to find this
Quit
JANUARY co. have had my first expert
ence in my new character. had been tod TO
be ready every afternoon by five O'Clock Tor
orders Yesterday, about six in the alter-
noon | received a message from the GloDe,
directing me to go to a house in East Sew
enty-fOurth Stree, near Fifth Avenue at nine
O'Clock that evening and submit myself TO the
orders of Mr. q. X. Slater. 1t was a consol-
ing thought hat | had never heard OF Mr.. q
X. Slater, and that East Seventy-iourth street
was an unknown region to me.
Punctuallv at nine that evening | found
myself in the large parlOr of n house in Sew
enty-fourth Street, brightly lighted, and filled
with people. The centre of the room was
cleared and several people were dancing to the
strains of a band. Near the door stood tall,
imposing gentleman with gray whiskers, and
a lady in full evening dress. Doubtless my
hosts or rather my prOprietors.
What was to do! How were they to know
who and what / was? As | stood hesitating
| found that their eyes were fixed upon me
with significant glance. | Immediately went
toward them. To my establishment the lady
greeted me by my name with the utmost
suavity.
Good evening, Mr.. Valentine" she said
am delighted to see you"
Mr.. Slater murmured something that sounded
like "IIow do you dO"
| said that | was delighted to meet-see
them. Mrs. Slater turned to another lady
standing near her.
"Mrs. Rsggles, do let me introduce Mr..
Valentine. We were SO afraid that he would
not be able to come"
While | talked as well as | could to Mrs.
Raggles, | surrepttiOusly observed my host
and hostess. Mr.. Slater looked uncomfortable
There was a consciousness in his uneasy man
me- that if | was a sham, so was he. | feared
that he might give us both away before the
evening was over. Mrs. Slater, on the con-
trary, scared above any feeling Of this sort
Her party was to be success; that was evil
IDENTIFY her principal object. What a comfort
this was to me! | felt safe in her hands. OF
course it was as much of an object to her as to
me to conceal the fact that was not ia bona file
invited guest. | took cue at once. Avoid
Mr. Slater; arrange matters in such way that
Mrs. Slater could engineer me through the
evening. All the time | had sensation that
in avoiding Mr.. Slater | was avoiding an old
and tried friend. There was something
strangely familiar in his face; in the almost
courtlv wave of his hand as he directed his
guests to the refrtshment-room; in his pro
tecting manner as he walked about, first with
one lady, then another. | can not recall dis
tinctly the events of the evening. | have q
confused impression of lights, flowers, music
ana people, mucn Ike any other party yet
WIN certain differences. me GrGssiiS was
not III par 'lcuiaFlF good taote' anu inc "erihah
was i1aha%cu III ii"sI eAIr"oruI'aIl Ila"he! :
Al eIeveh 0 cioc\ the man VINO was 10 iedU r
came forward Win ahat containing scraps OF
paper. noticed that all the men went up and
drew a slip of paper They examined it, and
retired into the crowd. | couldn't imagine
What thIs ceremony meant, ana lett sure thaU
wneh my turn came / shouiu make some
irl%htInI Diunder: AS thought this, Iouhu
MRS. slater beSlde me she hurrleaiy eX-
planned to me that TINS party was one Oh a
series OF Germans given at the houses OF her
IrleIus' ara IiiaJ thefe had peeh some ieeIih%
on me part OF certain young iaules because
Others had Deeh oitencr asked 10 dance the
German and drive home atterward than they
had' IN order to 'oylate TINS system OF lots
had been arranged, by which chance alone
decided the matter Each young gentle
man, Gohc!q'led Nlrs' Slater, can DrihS any
young lauE ina ne WISHES TO Ihe party ouL ne
Is expected TO go nome with the LADY whom he
draws Ior the German nope you uhder.
stahd what is eApec eu OF you. GU Qance' OF
course, she added Win sllghtly stern
manner-the manner OF proprietor. | said
that could
Accordingly ore" my lou, ana louhu myself
the daughter OF MIS- haggles. -,
MS IS my louTt'al; no one WIZ fREaa&gTes
think Impressed every one that met. | real
lied thatOn the mere making good impression
depended my success in the future. To talk, to
da ce, to tlirt, to eat ice-cream, at the rate of
three or four dollars an hour-tor the pres
ent this was my profession. Why not elevate
it, glorify it, by doing these things better than
any else had ever done them! There was
an eXhilaratiOn in the thought. 1t positively
inspired me. ! was in constant demand, and
was presented to almost every q q Toward
the end of the evening Mrs. Slater asked me
to sing. | bought it odd for large party,
but sang my best. Oue thing damped my
spirits had been standing in the doorway,
when suddenly became aware OF two walters
who were whispering together at a short
distance. In a lull Of the music their words
reached me.
Which did yer say he was?" said one in a
loud whisper.
That's him-him there by the door the
gOod-lootin' fellow. Looks as if he di1n't
have nothin' in the world to do but stand there
all the EVENING" answered the other
"You don't say - calculated the first: Sand
he gets fifteen dollars for doin' the likes of
that: You and me has missed our vacation
Bill"
could have knocked down the in,rartipa,+
fellows, but, after all. what riqht had to do
it? 1t was all true. "No.blesse ohliga ), 7
muttered through nv cljnched tee ~. and
catching Mrs. SIater's stern yIanoe wsr+ 1, ~
do nv dntv nv taxing nv nartnnr ~ a,',,,' ~ ~
At the close of the evening Mr. Slotar can,o
I'M To me He was certaiy, dio,;eod I I,..iie
ing old fellow. but he seemed urbannv t,IVoiI
Mr. Valentine " no said uy;tb ~ e' vel
ancholy smile, t.vou have done ramorl, on =,
we'll Reen mite the lie ~ tba n''a',a.1
Trvino, tLjm,,f ~ or+r Wy VI ChI evening
~; =; ~ - 4: ''' " pa y VI ms SIZE