Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-04-09


not avert. OF course, when the thing
came on it was an abjcct failure. Shoals
of refusals arrived each morning.
Every lady for miles round was suffer
ing from indisposition. The men ''pre-
sented their compliment, but would be
from home on May 81" Some took no
notice of ''R. 5. V. p" but tossed their
cards aside, answering them neither by
word nor presence.
The day was delicious as the soul of
spring. The band discoursed sweet
music. Games of all kinds courted
players refreshments, lavishly pro-
vided, were freely partaken of--by the
servants. But the company A few
country lawyers, doctors, parsons, and
their respective families, few
squircens, few towns-people from
Narbridge, and that was about all.
Not one of the cream of Cleyshire,
except young Mr. Uppingham, of Bel
toft, who, attracted in truth by Mabcl's
lovely face, accepted the invitation the
rest of his family declined, rode over in
tho teeth of his mothers fierce oppo-
sition, and for his pains was received
by his host with sarcastic politeness
that made him heartily glad to get
away again
So the entertainment was iiasco.
Mr.. Smiths wrath rose ut the insult
offered TO his daughter But for shame
Mt confcssing himself locked out, no
would have sold and left the place for
ever. Swallowing his modification rs
best he could, he carried Mabel of to
Norway for six weeks, and let his in
dignation cool before returning.
But after this nothing for awhile went
well. Mabel might rcvcl in country
life, content with all surroundings; SO
was not her father, while his child's
feminine acquaintance was limited TO
the parsons wife, who positively pat
ponizcd her (on E300 year, mostly
from titheD, and the old women of the
parish, whose respect and reverence
Mr.. Smith would gladly have bartcrcd
for an hours friendliness from Lady
Lavenham or even Mrs. Uppingham.
But these ladies showed no signs of UNI
bending.
Godfrey Uppingham certainly called
at the Towers when the Smiths returned,
but, bringing neither card nor apollo
gies from his mother, his visit was not
only not pleasant, but added fuel TO Mr..
Smiths aflront, and tingcd Miss Ma
bells manner with panied reserve that
sent the young man away very uncom-
Portable indeed.
Hang itn thought he. IL can't see
what one wants TO be SO dcucedly par
ticular for! There's nothing bad about
the old man, and his daughter
is ~
Well, what she might be occupied
Mr.. Godfrey amazingly just then. Cut
off from the legitimate road to her ac-
quaintancc, he had to seek her compa-
ny through by-ways of his own contriv-
ing. Never had he been 50 constant in
his devotons ut Tollesham Church,
though that was not the proper parish
for the Bcltoft people, and their pew,
next the Smiths, was only granted
them by courtesy The country lanes,
though not too picturesque Whereabouts,
became deeply interesting to this young
man, especially those adjoining the
Towers. Mrs. Annesley, driving with
Mabel in the afternoons, grew quite ac-
customcd to the studiedly polite greet
ing of their good-looking neighbour, and
if the accidental meeting miscarrcd she
seemed TO miss it.
So did Mabel! Even Mr.. Smith,
| NtilllE MN OINdClOlldllNs
cd him, saying "hc wasn't such u
| fool rs the rest of them" And when,
| through secret eXcrtions on Gcoflrey's
part, an invitation arrived for an APP
preaching county ball, the fond parent
fancied his child was finding his level at
last, and in return prepared to make
| himself amiable even to his enemies.
But, alas! Mr.. Smith rcckoncd without
his host. Tall, wcll-made, gray-haircd,
and of good presence, he was by no
means the least prcscntable man in the
room, and his daughter might have been
young Duchess, rs, with shy grlish
dignity, dressed uneXccptionably in
! purest white, she made her first public
appearance ut Narbridgc. There was
no candid Judgment but pronounced
her the evenings belle. Other women's
wills might deny the fact, but not their
eyes. The men held their tongues to
their partners, but in the card-rooms
and lobby freely circulated their praise
of the new beauty, coupled with many
a lamentation that she should be so
"er-well SLOPPY, you know But
that stigma hardened the Cloyshirc
clique into adamant. In three long
hours twice only was Mabcl's hand
sought for dance, though no lighter or
trucr steps than hers beat time upon
the floor Twice was valiant MIR.
Godfrey Uppingham her partner, once
in long delicious waltz, and once in n
quadrille for which, to his unspcakablc
annoyance, he had considerable
difficulty in finding u riS-d-UiS. Mr..
Smith from a lounge close by took in
the whole situation, from Mrs. Tipping
hams black looks as she sat tanning
herself furiously till the figures finished,
TO her rapid descent upon her son with
the imperative desire for their carriage
TO be ordered Immediately. She was
tired of that BALL Also was it clear TO
MabePs father why, as brougham' S
rolled off with frcighls of ladies, the
men Of these august families should
come hurrying back seeking the pleas
IRE of u dance with the till now neglect
ell star. But
| He who will not when he may,
Whom he will he shall have nay,
thought Mr. Smith, savagcly, delighted
at spiting them. Before his daughter
understood the rapid turn of affairs,
half q dozen names were on her pro-
grammc. Before the first partner could
claim her Mr.. Smith announced that he
was going, and no entreatics of tardy
admirers could induce him to stop.
Not even Godfrey Uppingham's. So
that luckless young man could only
watch Mabel being shrouded in white
fur and hurried on her fathers arm
downstairs, while he followed with
Mrs. Anneslcy, just for one more touch
of the little gloved hand, and shy
"good night" from the beautiful, half
sad gray eyes that haunted him for
hours afterward.
That ball seemed the climax of So
cieties spleen with the Smiths Soon
sundry gentlemen showed signs of soft
cning and being civil. Mr.. Smith ut
terly declined to have anything to dc
with them.
They'd ridden the high horse when
they chose. Now it was his turn. lie