The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-11-18

q message from the Globe directing me to &
TO a house in East Heventy-fourth street
near Fifth avenue, at 8 o'clock that evening
and submit myself to the orders OF Mi. 2 n
never heard Of Mr. @. X Slater, and that Eas
| Seventy fourth street WAS an unknown reglor
| to me. :,
PunctuaIly at 9 that evening found myself
| in the large parlor Of q house in Seventy
fourth street, brightly lighted, and filled with
! people The center Of the room was cleared
and several people were dancing to the strains
of a baud. Near the door stood tall, impos.
ing gentleman with gray whiskers, and a lady
in full evening dress. Doubtless my hosts, Oh
rather my proprietors.
What was to do? How were they to know
who and what was. As / stood hesitatlng,
found that their eyes were fixed upon me win
q significant glance. Immediately went TO-
ward them. To my astonishment tho lady
greeted me by my name with the utmost
suavity. r.,
sGood evening, Mr. Valentine" she said, Il
am delighted to see you"
Mr. Slater murmured something that sound
ed like "How do you doyD
said | was delighted to meet-see them
Mrs Slater turned to another lady standing
near her. l#,
4Mrs Raggles, do let me introduce MI
Valentine We were so afraid that he would
not be able to come"
Whilo | talked as well as l could to Mrs.
Raggles, surreptitously observed my
host and hostess. Mr.. Slater looked I'M
comfortable. There was consciousness
sham, 80 was he feared that he might give
us both away before the evening was over.
Mrs Slater, on the contrary, scared above any
feeling of this sort Her party was 10 be a
success; that was evidently her principal OBJ
ject. Wha. comfort this was to me- feis
safe in her hands OF course it was AZ much
OF an object TO her az TO me 20 conceal the fact
that was not q bona fide invited guest.
took my cue at once. Avoid Mr. Slater; ar
range 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 courtly wave OF his hand
a. he directed his guests TO the retreshment,,
room; in his protecting manner az he walked
about, first with one lady, then another. can
not recall distinctly the events OF tho evening
have confused impression OF lights, how
ers, music, and people, much ike any other
party, yet with certain differences The dress
ing was not in particular good taste. and the
German WAS managed IN most extraor-
binary manner. At II o'clock the man who
was to lead it came forward with hat con-
tanning scraps of paper. / noticed that all the
men went up and drew . slip Of paper. They
examined it, and retired into tho crowd. l
couldn't imagineiwhat this ceremony meant
and felt nil,1e that when my turn came should
make some ffjghtfnl blunder As l thought
this, found Mrs Slater beside me. She hur-
riedly explained 10 me that this party was one
of series OF Germans given at the houses OF
her friends, and that there had been some
feeling on the part Of certain young ladies be-
cause others had been oftener asked to dance
the German and drive home afterward than
they had In order to obviate this system OF
lots had been arranged, by which chance alone
decided the matter. Each young gentleman"
concluded Mrs Slater, "can bring any young
lady that he wishes to the party; but he il ex-
pected to 90 home with the lady whom he
draws for the German. You dance, of course!"
shs aided, with slightly stern manret-tho
manner of proprietor said that conld.
Accordingly drew my lot, and found my
- lie pArtn1. of ptely Slfi, v ~
proved to be the daughter of Mrs. RagSles.
This is my journal; no one will ever see 1t;
/ can be honest; impressed Miss RagSles, l
think impressed every one that met
realized that on the mere making good I'M
preston depended my success III the future
70 talk, to dance, to dirt, to cat ice cream at
the rate of three or four dollars an hour-for
the present this was my profession. why not
elevate it, glorify it, by doing these things
better than any one else had ever done themE
There was All exhilaration in the thought 1t
positively inspired me. l was III constant de
mand. and was presented to almost every one,
Toward the end of the evening Mrs. slater
asked me to sing. | thought it odd for large
party, but sang my best One thing damped
my spirits had been standing in the door
way, when suddenly became aware OF two
walters who were whispering together at
short distance In lull Of the music their
" ords reached me.
(which did yer say he was!" said one in
loud whisper.
aThats him-him there by the door,
the good-lookin' follow. Looks as if he
didn't have nothin' in the world to do
but stand there all the evening" answered
the other.
aYou don't ssyln calculated the first; 1and
he gets fifteen dollars for doin' the likes OF
that? You and me has missed our vocation.
Bill"
I could have knocked down the impertinent
fellows, but, after all, what right had &c do
il? II was all true. ANoblesse oblige,' II nut
tered through my clinched teeth; and catching
Mrs Slater's stern glance, l went to do my
duty by taking my partner to supper,
At the close OF the evening Mr. Slater came
up to me. He was certainly dignihel look
Jug old fellow, but he seemed unhappy.
We'll, Mr. Valentine" he said, with rather
melancholy smile, 1you have done remarkably
well. Been quite the life Of the evening Try
ing thing to entertain q party OF this size.
This IL the first time we have done it, How do
you think it went of? Your candid opinion
now"
Remarkably WELL" said.
noticed that his manner to me was secret
and confidential, as if we had entered into some
dark partnership of crime.
"Mrs Slater,' he continued, sis an am
bilious woman, and ii was her idea hav
ing YOU She wanted different style Of