The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-07-07
gelert gtorg,
THE BEACH PARTY.

THE BEACH PARTY.
Il invite people to my house precisely as
7 arrange bouquets, my dear," said Mrs.
John Granger, suddenly looking up from
tbe little alabaster vase over which she had
L4en busy for the last half hour. ''Some
neonle always will insist on crowding them
selves with celebrities lovely Miss
This the fascinating Mrs. That, the dis
tinguished So and So, like bunch Of
uljns with not so much as leaf to tone
them down: and that when the lions all get
by the ears because they can't and won't
admire each other-the lovely Miss This is
pouting and the distinguished So and So in
suIks-the poor little disappointed hostess
don't know what in the least to do. She
has asked all the incest people she knew,
and she can't see why it is not pleasant.
Now | ask my nobodies first, just as | line
this shell with leaves, that against their
dark background the glories Of the roses
NAV shine forth more royalty. First, my
substantials wealthy papas, my useful
and domestic young ladies, my quiet people,
that fill up the blanks and don't expect any
extraordinary attention, and do the admira-
ton for two or three lions, who are sure to
be gracious, and do their best, because they
have plenty of room and admirers"
"Goodr' laughed l. "Now, I know
where | belong-among the quiet people
that fill up the blanks and do the admira-
ton Eh Mrs. Grainger?"
But not a whit disconnected was that
witty and wise little leader of ton.
My dear Miss Maxwell, how could you
think such a thing? I had hoped you
would do me the justice to remember that
some ! asked ont of pure selfshness, simply
because they were my most valued friends"
hope | received this somewhat senti-
mental avowal, aided as it was by cambria
handkerchief and pair of expressive blue
eyes, with proper amount OF innocence IN
my face; but in my heart [ laughed. [
had learned too long ago the estimation in
which the world holds poor and plain old
maids to be ruff1ed If Mrs. Granger in
vted me, because she wished her son to
marry the beauty and heiress, Belle Tarle-
ton and Belle would go nowhere without
me. whom she had dubbed her little Men
tor, that was Mrs Grainger's affair, not
mine was there for my own pleasure.
like the old stone house, with its cool,
wide halls and grove of pines; and though
it was so far from the beach that you could
only hear. not see, the seal who had no
beaux and was consequently y not afraid of
thick shoes or an unbecoming blush-could
at any time wander off, and feast my eyes
on something as gray and restless as my
self Then, too, | loved Belle. Our
friendship had existed ever since our school
days, when |, a member and an oracle of a
senior class, had taken under the wings of
my protection the shy, sallow, awkward
child, who had ripened into that full, fair,
Statel y brunette miracle of beauty-smOoth-
browed, large-eyed, insolently, faultlessly
lovely, as she sat twisting the heavy tassels
of her wrapper, with look that [ knew
meant secret wrath and discomfort. And
no wonder-for Arthur Grainger's S conduct
was really unbearable. He had been her
shadow all winter-his mother wished him
to marry her. | was sure, and so might he
have been, if he was not intolerably stupid,
that Belle would not say nay. [ have my
own notions about men and matrimony,
and am not exactly prepared to believe that
woman has arrived at the ne plats ultra of
human happiness when she has achieved
husband, but Belle loved him, and as Ar
thur Granger was no worse and rather
better than most men, | saw no reason why
she should not have her toy. So there we
We're, waiting, expectant- i am not certain
but maneuvering also; and the happy man
without rivals, jealous young lady or any
opposing mamma, sat by his beloved, talked,
rode and walked with her continually, and
let an almost entire season slip through his
fingers without ever once proposing. 1t
was too provoking.
"And | won't endure it., declared Belle,
passionately, to me. "Every one knows
how matters are, and I actually appear to
be waiting here till his lordship deigns to
throw me the handkerchief. You needn't
say word, Betsey. l shall leave next
Monday"
Knowing the uselessness of all arguments
did as | was told, and said nothing.
Not so Mrs. Granger She expostulated
With all the eloquence of which she was
capable; and finding Belle obdurate, lost
no time in proclaiming the melancholy
udIngs, hoping, perhaps, to bring her son
70 his senses. He had not, however, even
,ne grace to start, and, whatever might
nave been his emotions, ate his beefsteak
with perfect calmness.
You see!" flashed Bellies eyes across
the table to me.
Mrs. Granger bit her lips and drank
cup OF coffee; that done, she proposed our
famous beach party-proposal not discuss
ea-she never did that; others saved her
liie trouble. Ways and means were agita-
'ed over the coffee and toast, till the i'm
portant question, proved too lengthy to be
settled within the limits of breakfast time,
Was carried into the drawing-room. We
were to take tents with us and spend the
oay. The matrons were to superintend
Ihe nc. eommissariat department; the young
ladles were to invent style of dress which
should be as fresh and becoming in the
evening as on starting.
You and Miss Maxwell will ride with
me, oil course, said Arthur, who had been
talking with much animation. ''My mother
and the dowagers will take the barouche; !;
Nr. Galveston, | understand, takes the re-