Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-07-18
A DINNER CARD.
L" Madame est seduie,'

Madame tSt StdUtt,
As the low voice of the we'll trained
servant fell oa her ear, Mrs. Atherton
Hun,ley slightly turned her head and
gave one swift glance toward her jus
band
"Mr. Huntley, whom long years OF
practice had rendered perfect in his met
Ter of hos, comprehended the almost i'm
perceptible signal, offered his arm to
Mrs. Elphinstone, with whom he was
talking, and moved toward the door.
The CON )any followed in softly rust
ling procession, Mrs Huntley bringing
up the rear on the arm Of Alex. Dent,
her husbands junior partner, freshly re-
turned from China, and the guest OF the
evening. There was no confusion as to
place. Mrs. Hun,ley had reduced din
ner giving to a science, and each least
detail was carefully planned and provid-
cd for.
A nod, blithesome smile to right
and to left, the gesture of lilac gloved
hand, and each person wa. in his ap-
pointed seat at the tablc-a table spread
in the wonderous fashion Of the day and
to whose adjoining had gone all the re-
sources and the lavish appliances of mod.
ern decorative art.
The family tinted and heavily embroi-
dered cloth was overlaid here and there
with lengths Of linen, transparently fine,
and edged with priceless old lace. A
multitude of tapers, rose red and green
each with its little lace trimmed shade,
cast their glow on the low bank Of flow
ers which ran the tables length, on the
alternate fire and iridescence of many
hued glasses, and the jewelled gleam OF
Salviata decanters and salt cellars. Be
side each lady's plate stood an arrange
ment of choice roses in the form of horse
shoe: for every gentleman was bouton-
Mere of lilies and upon the napkin lay
exquisite dinner cards of white silk,
hand painted and scented with violeis.
Such dinner tables are too common in
luxurious life to-day to attract special at
,ention from those to whom they are
customary spcctacles. But Alex. Dent
had gone to China before the tide OF mod
ern luxury had risen to half flood, and
was too lately returned to have grown
accustomed to its exhibition. He ad-
mired, and spoke 'his admiration-ad-
mired the arrangement Of the flowers,
the beautiful glass, the perfect adoption
of detail to effect and Mrs. Huntley lis
tened to his eulogiums with pleasure. 1t
was an old story to her, but women do
not easily weary of hearing their house
hold goods extolled.
"What land Of luxury it has grown
to be :" he went on. "What pains are
layished on the merest trifes This card,
even''-picking up the one beside his
plate-"why, it is little work OF art,
really charming
80 it is admitted. Mrs Huntley.
''Those people at the Decorative Art So
ciety do have the loveliest things. A
great many of their designs are made by
real artists, you know"
"But don't know. There was no
Decorative Art society when | went
away" replied Alex, still studying the
silken painting intensely.
As he looked sudden thought SEEM
ed to come to him. His eyes gave out
a swift sparkle, then set as If seeing a
vision. For brief moment he was OBJ
vious of the very existence of his hand
some hostess. This was the picture
that Alex Dents mind was looking at
A room. in a stately city house a girl
seated in bay window shaded with am
Der curtains, painting flowers at little
table himself raw sensitive boy, seat.
ed near her, his hat on his knees-watch.
ing the sheen cast by the amber light on
her satin smooth hair watching the long
lashes which shaded her eyes, the slen-