The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-12-14

Its all right, papa !; we know the
customs of society,"" came the reassur-
ing chorus.
eve know the cuthtomth of thothiety
perfectly" echoed in a shrill solo from
Poppet, who at present lisps, being
minus one milk-tooth in front, but
who will shortly be known to the
newspapers as "the piquant Miss
Poppet Bell"
Then all the girls jump up and make
dash at papa, and in few moments
handsome OLD gentleman, very merry
and very proud of his handsome and
merry girls, makes 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, az suppose you
know all about the cards sent out ?"
ooh, no." she answers, placidly; "1
leave social matters to the girls.
They're great favorites, father, and
very attractive. The number of
friends they have is astonishing. It's
all right"
By force of example, Mr.. Bell echoes,
cheerfully, "0h, yes, it's all right"
On New Years day there was very
rainbow of girls in the Bell drawing
room. Such lilmy, dainty-hued dresses,
such bright cheeks and eyes, such be-
wildering tangle of glossy hair never
before shimmered around prosperous,
beaming old father. Mr.. Bell was SO
apt to be late downtown, or deeply
absorbed in business schemes, or "see-
ing man" in the library during the
evening, that he had seldom met his
daughters in grand toilet, and had
never realized what radiant creatures
they were, and that uptown he wa:
chiefly known as 1.-THE Bell girls
father" lie himself, in full dress and
light overcoat, was compiinented by
his eldest daughter as "just too sweet
for anything" Then lie jumped int
the carriage, consulted formidable
list, md began the days work.
The first caller at the house was ole
Mr.. Crump-" nobody at all, you know
just a friend of mammals ages ago
when she was young" as Sissy re
marked.
"Ah," exclaimed Mrs. Bell, with rap
ture, as she was entertaining him, IN!
dear girls are quite leaders of society
"Yes, madame" answered the ridicu
lous old party; "and we live in th'
only country in the world where ;
mother can make such boast Of chill
dren in their teens
Il know it," responded the mother
with sigh of pious contentment
land Pm devoutly grateful for oul
free institutions"
Free and easy institutions" Mr.
Crump suggested; then pinching Pop
pets cheek, he asked: "Well, smal
child, and what do you do on New
Years day."
"Oh, l retheive all day long. 1t It'll
quite tirethome," said Poppet, gravoly
Crump, as he gave hasty farewell
nod, made some strange noise unde
his breath. Josie thought it was
groan, but Tiny, who stood nearest
said: at was swear, an awfu
swear"
81 think" said Poppet, she itl
dreffully poky and hathn't any thyle.
The early calls were mostly from
very young men, solemn under a sens
of juyenility, or hilarious and kindl
patronizing toward elder people.
At IL o'clock Josie whispered t
Sissy: "What Il bore 1 hate boys !!
BY noon old married men and tn
heads of families hurried in, pai'
elaborate compliments, declared tha
Mrs. Bell hadn't grown day elder il
twenty years; then made off, checking
against the name Bell" in q busi
ness-like way just at the carriage door
AT last y exclaimed Josie about
o'clock--"at last the marriageable mel
are coming"
They came by dozens-mel who lie,
the german, men who drove their owl
"four-in-hands," men who lounge
about clubs, men who had "seen life
in Paris, and watched talkative yOunl
girls with Il sinister interest.
Rather late in the afternoon Mrs
Bell became so pleased with a tai
handsome, dark-haired man of abou
thirty-live, who spoke in a melloN
voice and with an English infection
that she contriYcd to whisper to JOSIE
"What's his name?"
I'm sure ! don't know, mamma,
answered the young lady. gayly
There are dozens here whose face
even | can't recall"
"Oh, yes" Sissy chimed in with
languid smile, "we sent so many card
you know
Mrs. Bell, who had begun to feel h
would make an ideal sOn-in-laW, sal
to the gentleman, with IA proper pre-
amble, 1T is objectionable, but w
have really forgotten your name"
Montgomery" he suavely replied
your card came to my hOtel-th
Windsor"
"Oh, yes, certainly, Of course. Th
girls sent out great many. Pleasan
custom, isn't it,"
Charming CUSTOM" answered Nj
Montgomery, "so-eOnvenient-that il
l mean So so cordial" Ills eyes wer
fixed in a horrible stare directly owe
Mrs. Bells shoulder, and he hurriedl
offered his arm. "My dear madame
(he stammered dreadfully), will yo
permit me to admire" (he jerked OF
the words) "the works Of art in til
next room?"
Mrs. Bell turned about to see ;
what he was staring in that ghastl
way, and found standing behind hC
nothing worse than short, stout ma
Of forty or SO. with a norid countenanc