Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-30

had ''never been so messed about BEFORE"
The cook had Mysteries, and entreated to
be sent back to her mother; but. happily,
by O'Clock, under Mrs. Dalmayne's
skillful management, they had all. amid
floods of tears, retracted their warnings,
and were, in their own words, "hup to
Seven was the hour for the
Dalmayne heavy tea, and it is difficult to
say which was the heavier, the tea or the
hearts of three out of the four who sat
down to partake thereof. Ermyntrude,
feeling like Lucrecia BOrgia in her worst
moments, had the fatal draught carefully
hidden away among the folds Of her
aesthetic draperies. Mrs. Dalmayne sat,
with the cOffee-pot in front of her, in the
calmness of despair; GwendOline was
simply riOtOus. The poor, innocent Elise
alone was calm, and ner usual enormous
appetite was keen as ever. At the outset
a terrible difficulty presented itself-hOw
to put the dTaught into the coffee upper
ceived This dilemma paralyZed all
operations, and the party had munched
Gods roe and buttered toast for some
time, unrelieved by anything wherewith
to slake their thirst, before Elise'S imper-
alive "COffee, please, quick!" reused the
cOnspirators to action. Fortune faVOrs
the brave. Elise had a large smudge on
her nose. Mrs. Dalmayne said, in
panied voice, "Before | can give you your
coffee, dear, l must insist upon your
washing your face. Its present condition
is very offensive to me, and | am sure
must be so to your sisters. Go, dear;
your coffee shall be ready for you on your
return" Then, as Elise, with an en-
phatIc EBOtherl7 bounced out of the
room, snow, girls, may heaven help us!
Where's the bUttle?'
With a shaking hand, Ermyntrude
emptied the whole draught into the cup
OF coffee. Then Mrs. Dalmayne had
qualms.
My loves, are we dong right? What
would h prem to us if she never awOke?"
I'VE should all be hanged" muttered
Ermyntrude.
should the worst come to the WORST
whimpered Mrs. Dalmayne, ''yOu will
have the melancholy satisfaction Of know
ing that your mother goes to the scafiOld
a martyr to the advancement of her chill
dren.'
And to advancing dear Elise step
too far-Out of the trying-pan into the
fire." laughed Gwendoline, llippantly.
''HOw can you say such dreadful things?
am in such tTemble, | shall never be
able to meet the Duchess with that calm
which has alwas been the chief character
istic of the Dalmaynes. All, my poor
children!" as a series of terrific Jumps
as Of some heavy body descending the
stairs a flight at time betOkened the ar
rival of the victim of the poisoned feast.
In two seconds she was at the table. in
two more she had drained the coffee cup
to the dregs, putting it down with an en-
phatic 'BeaStlyV
"My dear EliseW
"Perfectly beastly!" with a growl.
perhaps there was not enough milk in
it," said Mrs. Dalmayne, family. LET
me give you another cup" and it was
not until Elise had swallowed a second
supply that her companions breathed free
" again.
At eight the family retired to dress.
Soon after ten the guests might be expect
ed.
"What shall you wear, Elise?' said
Mrs. DalmaYne, amiably, as they assembled
the staircase.
Il don't know as I'll wear anything"
was the sullen answer.
"Elise!'
''In that case you had better not APP
pear" said GwendOlIne, cheerfully.
"Oh! I'll appear, and perhaps take
the wind out OF your sails, Miss ImpU-
dence.'
"Oh, shall have no chance with you
for rival, pretty dear :"
''Ill give it you if l have any more of
your cheek; see if don't"
"Children, children, don't quarrel so. Go
to your room a once, Elise. You seem
greatly OvereXcited; advise YOU to lie
down for halt an hour and rest; then you
will be fresh for the party
Lie down youselfp' shouted Elise, as
she vanished with a slam Of the door, into
her room.
Twenty minutes later Ermyntrude
dashed in upon her mothers toilet, and,
after dismissing the maid, announced in
gleeful voice the glad news that, judging
from the stentorlan snOres proceeding
from Elise's couch, the sleeping draught
had proved brilliant and unqualified sue
cess. At last the guests began to arrive,
the first being the pOetess, in an amber
Liberty" silk, which clung round her
muscular frame in way painful to wit
ness. Her establishment at the 1ashiOna-
bic appearance of the Dalmaynes was too
great for words, and became somewhat
embarrassing until the Opportune arrival
of the man who mad poisoned his wife di-
verified her attention. Thick and fast the
people came, shifting the unwonted per-
fume of the dollhouse flowers, for Mrs.
Dalmayne had indeed. so to speak, put
her best leg foremost, and spared no eX-
pense on this occasion. Thunderstruck
at the change that had come over the
salon and its queen, the habitues waited
in anxious expectation as to what allthI
might fOrebOde. 1t began to wax late. AS yet
no Duchess. Mrs. Dalmayne's heart beat
thick and fast. Could she, would she, play
her false! La Scala was there; but, as
she would only sing three songs for the
money, she was reserved until her Grace
arrived, and sat, in moody and cOntemptu-
Gus silence, while throatY tenor war
blCd out something about
Is As the milk white Arab or charger Lold
So am 1 sick for thee
a lovely thing composed by the poetess in
Liberty silk. The thrOaty tenor finished
at last and shrank guiltily away into the
background, protesting nerYOnsly. in an
swer to murmurs of applause, coming
principally from She pOetess' corner, that
it was wonder be hadn't broke down. II
generally do, you know" with a feeble
cackle) Still no Duchess. Mrs. Dal-
mayne's throat seemed to be drying up.
The arrivals had ceased, and there was no
longer any excuse to stop at the head
of the stairs. GwendOline and Erymn-
trude were ready to cry. La Scala looked
like thunder at being kept waiting so
long.
at is awful l must go soon to bet"
she threatened in broken English.
ooh, no! dear Madame La
Scala, only five minutes more
and you shall beg in. We are
expecting some great friends who are
IdtuGl ldlC3 anu II NhtN laiSSCu Oilt VI
your lovely songs they would be heart
broken. See now, Herr WinkOpstcy is
begin ming his Mort de la Nielle Nache;'
after that, your scena, dear Madame La
Scala" sOOthed Ermyntrude; and as luck
had it, Just as the Nache was expiring
IN heart-rendering agonies under VIM
kopstcy's tender care, the stentorian
tones of the hired butler ran through the
salon:
1.-THE Duchess of Armstrong and the
Marquis Of Cassiowary."
All eyes were riveted on the great lady
as she sailed into the room, followed by the
shrinking Cassiowary, who always looked
as if he had just jumped out of his skin
and did not like il.
$50 delighted to see you, Duchess"
murmured Mrs. Dalmayne.
She had just been going to say "dear
Duchess but had fortunately checked
herself in time.
Il am so glad you have come apropOs
for La Scala's great scena."
The Duchess smiled blandly, saying
how pleased she was to make the ac-
quaintance of lady Of whom she had
heard so much.
HThese are my two daughters, Ermyn
trude and GwendOline, widely ditieTiDgin
tastes and pursuit, but one in love for me-"
(sighing sOftly).
A slight feeling Of surprise, il not dis
appointment, flashed through the Duchess.