The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-07-04
MISS DORIS PARTY.

millions III this great city who live by their
wits She had no settled income. no pres
ents, no visible means of support. unless
the pension of the deceased Peronet
amounting to exactly twenty dollars
month, could be considered as szch. AND
yet, she always eontriyed to live on the fai
Of the land, reside in elegant boarding.
houses, and clothe herself and her daughter
Estelle in purple and fue linen, which bore
the stamp of the most fashionable dress
makers and milliners on Upper Broadway
" 1t will all be right when Aunt Docetts
dies, said Mrs. Peronet, crossing the white
hands which sparsled with many rings, and
lifting her soft, long-lashed eyes TO the cell
ng. She is worth hundred thousand
dollars if she is worth a penny, and she
can't live forever! And if one once loses
ones social position in city like this, ont
never can regain Il"
And Miss Estehe, who was to the full as
lazy, as iong-lashed, and as aristocratically
inclined as her mother, quite agreed to this
subtle system of philosophy.
Mrs. Docetta Dorr was what the world
called livery peculiar" She was rich, and
she Rugged her gold with solid satisfaction.
She enjoyed the homage paid to her, and
she relished giving her relations an OCCASION
al snub now and then. She limited obscure.
ly that if she liked one of her young cousins,
she would adopt her, at once there
was voluntary swarm OF visitors.
Helen Howard was so "tormented,n as
she expressed it, that at the end of two
weeks she eloped with the milkman, and as
sumed charge of his comfortable little red
farmhouse in Tuckahoe. Martha Pitt en-
1ured everything, until one day Aunt Docet-
ia bought her poodle dog, bottle of bay
rum, and q comb and brush and babe her
make the dear little creatures toilet
I'll comb your hair, Aunt Docetta," said
ghe. eoloring up, "but l won't comb the
puppys name.p
Then" said Aunt Docetta, you'll leave
my house !"
Very well, them" said Miss Pitts, az
will leave it."
How do you expect you're going to sup
port yourself" said Miss Docetta Dorr.
with rather a curious expression in her eyes.
81 know very respectable woman who
keeps candy and stationery store" said
Martha, and she'll pay me five dollars a
week and my keep foi helping her keep
store"
" But that'll be going into trade" said
Miss Docetta Dorr
q Trade is better than starvation" said
Martha Pitts, who had been educated for
governess, but who, alas had found the
market overstocked. 'And it's better than
comhing puppies, too, Aunt Docetta No
otfense to you, though-and if, at any time,
you are sick or want me, you've only to let
me know, and I'll drop everything else and
come"
" Humph! !" WAS all the comment which
Miss Dorr vouchsafed to this vehement
speech.
As for Miss Estelle Peronet, she was mild
Or than sunbeams and sweeter than any
New Orleans syrup. She comhed and rib
boned Bijou, she played ceaseless games Of
backgammon with Aunt Docetta, always
taking care to lose, she smiled at the tartest
speech and famed SO persistently that Aunt
Docetta finally sent her home in despair
It's impossible to offend that GIRL" said
she. "And I've concluded, finally, to adopt
no one just at present I"
Mrs. Peronet was looking rather anxious
and perturbed on this bright Monday morn
ing when Estelle sat knitting bright-colored
woods by the window, in blue silk wrapper
xuh ho1 MI al,
laces about which no settlement Ind yet
been cohie to.
Pm afraid, my dear, we shah have to
leave this place" said she, sorrowfully.
"Why, mamma ?" said Estelle, lifting the
countenance which wore the eternal smile
which had been so aggravating to Aunt
Dorr. "Our room is very pleasant, I'm
sure, -and they have such a way of serving
up quails and red-birds. And the desserts
are quite unexceptionable, you must admit"
can that you say is quite true, my love-"
said Mrs. Peronet. But Mrs. Traviston
has been extremely rude about the trihe
owe her. am of too sensitive nature to
endure the harsh vulgarity of women OF
Mrs. Travston's type.
Certainly, mamma" sweetly acquiesce6
Estelle "By the way, Madame Backswitcb
has had the audacity to send in bill of four
hundred dollars for this last years dresses
"Exorbitant !" said Mrs. Peronet 'Why,
we only had two sea-green moi'es, one black
velvet, three summer silks, and the wrapper
you have on! !"
! houa
sighed Estelle. "B the young woman
refused to go until she had the money, SO ]
told her we would call and settle as soon as
we could get the amount from our wealthy
relative, Miss Docetta Dorr."
ibid that quiet her ?" said Mrs. Peronet
"Oh of course. I've quoted ever so
many people that way" said Estelle, tri-
umphantly.
"rm afraid it wouldn't succeed with Mrs
Traviston," said the widow
well, mamma" said sugar sweet Estelle,
"theres nothing in the world SO easy as to
get another place, with Aunt Doeetta's name
for a reference. Every one knows that rich
Miss Dorr. And what is the use of relations
If you can't make use of them p
/ Scarcely a week had elapsed after this
confidential conversation, when little note
arrived bearing Miss Docetta DORIS huge
soat of arms in red ssaling-wax.
"a dinner-party And at your Aunt
Docetta's I" cried Mrs. Peronet, with de-
Sighted vivacity. "Wel this Is kind! l
don't know when your Aunt Docetta has
given party before. And it is SO thought
tul of her to remember us. But you always
were her favorite, Estelle. 1t will be sue, q
splendid opportunity to wear the sea-green
MORE with the black lace trimmings. And
can wear my black velvet, and hire few
diamonds for the occasion. OF course yom
aunt will want MS to look genteel, and not dis.
grace her fine friends"
hrs and Miss Peronet arrived punctually
at Miss DORIS substantial old red-brick
house. in hired hack. Aunt Docetta re-
ceived them with a smile which, to speak
the truth, was rather grim than otherwise.