The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-12-30

peJec ty' echoed in a shrill solo from
Poppet, who at present lisps, being
MINIS one miik-tooth in front, but who
Will shortly be known to the news
Bell"
Then all the girls jump up and made
dash at papa, and in few moments IL
handsome old gentleman, very merry
and very proud of his handsome and
merry girls, makes q feint OF having
been elected with great violence from
the library, and the door is closed and
locked on the inside.
Mr.. Bell can hardly stop laughing to
say to his wife, Il suppose you know all
about the cards sent out?"
80 no. she answers, placidly; Il
leave social matters to the girls They re
great favOrites, father. and very attract
i've. The number of friends they have
is astonishing. It's all right"
By force of example, Mr.. Bell echoes,
cheerfully, 40 yes, it's all right"
On New Years day there was a very
rainbow of girls in the Bell drawing
room. Such tilmy, dainty -hued dresses,
such bright checks and eyes, such Il be-
wlldering tangle of glossy hair never
before shimmered around a prosperous,
beaming old father. Mr.. Bell was so
apt to be late down town, or deeply alb
sorbed in business schemes, or seeing a
man. in the library during the evening,
that he had seldom met his daughters in
grand toilette, and had never realized
what radiant creatures they were, and
that up town he was chiefly known as
1.-THE Bell girls father" He himself, in
full dress and a light overcoat, was COM
plimented by his eldest daughter as ''just
too sweet for anything" Then he
jumped into the carriage, consulted a
formidable list and began the day
work.
The first caller at the house was old
Mr. Crump-" nobody at all, you know;
just friend of mamma ages ago, when
she was young as Sissy remarked.
"Ah, exclaimed Mrs. Bell, with rap
ture, as she was entertaining him, "my
dear girls are quite leaders of society,""
Yes, madam" answered the ridcu-
lous old party; land we live III the only
country in the world where mother can
make such boast of children in their
teens"
Il know it," responded the mother,
with sigh of pious contentment, land
I'm devoutly grateful for our free insti-
tutions"
Free and easy institutions" Mr..
Crump suggested; then pinching Pop
pets cheek, he asked: ''Well, small child,
and what do y0u do on New Years
day?'
90, I retheve all dap long. 1t it'll
quite tirethome," said Poppet, gravely.
Crump, as he gave hasty farewell
nod made some strange noise under his
breath. Josie thought it was groan,
but Tiny, who stood nearest, said: at
was swear, an awful swear"
81 think" said Poppet, he it'll dret-
fullypoky, and hathn't any thyle"
The early calls were mostly from very
young men, solemn under sense of
iuvenility, or hilarious and kindly pat
ronizing toward elder people.
At eleven o clock Josie whispered to
Sissy: "What bore! | hate boys"
BY noon old married men and the
heads of families hurried in, paid elabo-
rate compliments, declared that Mrs. Bell
hadn' grown day older in twenty
years; then made Off, checking against
the name Bell in business-like way
Just at the carriage door.
cat lastr' exclaimed Josie, about one
o'clock-''at last the marriageabIe men
are coming"
They came by dozens-men who led
the German, men who drove their own
''four-in- hands" men who lounged
about clubs, men who had ''seen life" in
Paris, and watched talkative young girls
with a sinister interest.
Rather late in the afternoon Mrs. Bell
became so pleased with a tall, handsome,
dark-h haired man of about thirty-five,
who spoke in amellow voice and with an
English iutlection, that she contrived to
whisper to Josie: "Whats his name?"
"I'm sure | don't know, mamma"
answered the young lady, gayly. There
are dozens here whose faces even | can't
recall"
80, yes" Sissy chimed in, with
languid smile, ''we sent so many cards,
you know"
Mrs. Bell, who had begun to feel he
would make an ideal sOn-in law, said to
the gentleman, with proper preamble:
at is objectionable, but we have really
forgotten your name"
Montgomery he suavely replied.
"Your card came to my hotel-thc
Windsor
80, yes, certainly, of course. The
girls sent out a great many. Pleasant
custom, isn't it?'
Charming CUSTOM answered Mr.,
Montgomery, o-convenient-that is, |
mean $3.50 cordial" His eyes were
fixed in horrible stare directly over
Mrs. Bells shoulder, and he hurriedly
offered his arm. "My dear madam
Che stammered dreadfully), will you
permit me to admire" Che jerked out the
words) 1.-THE works of art in the next
room?"
Mrs. Bell turned about to see at what
he was staring in that ghastly way and
found standing behind her nothing worse
than short, stout man of forty or so,
with flolfd cOuntenance, and pleasant
smile upon it, who was waiting to pay
his New Year compliment. That duly
received, she took Mr.. Montgomery
proffered arm and went into the next
room to view large oil painting. The
stout gentleman followed them and
cheerfully offered the remark, Zine
picture" Mr.. Montgomery dashed off