St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-26
THE RIVAL BALLS.

|
ton, that charming watering-place on the
southern coast, and his authority there was
as absolute as ever Beau Nash's was at
Bath, He laid down the laws which di-
rected and controlled the fashionable world
in that neighborhood; and he was a sort OF
a court of appeal when any doubtful or diff
ficult point arose, his decision never being
questioned. In fact, his sovereignty was
accepted by carleton society as if it had
| been founded on decree of nature.
But every absolute king, whatever his
| good qualities, must sooner or later become
a tyrant; and it was so with Mr.. Almack.
His authority-which, for long time, had
been extremely salutary in its operation,
and which had served to give the society OF
Darleton much higher tone than is charac-
terlstic OF that enjoyed by most fashionable
watering places--was, after he became
firmly seated ON his throne, perverted by
him for other and less proper purposes.
Amongst other privileges, it enabled him,
if he chose, to make almost an outcast of
any one he disliked, and he began Occa-
slOnally to use it to accomplish that end.
Every such exercise of it, however, increased
the number of his enemies, and diminished
at the same time the number of his friends,
and thus strong party of bitter, if unpro-
claimed, rebels to his authority was soon
created.
At first these secret rebels confined them
selves to private grumblings; but, after q
time, the grumblings changed into men
aces, and at length, quite unexpectedly, the
menaceS developed into open rebellion. One
morning, when Mr.. Almack was at br eak
fast, he was amazed to see in his news
paper a notice of a committee of ladies and
hoJ 10
for subscription ball for the benefit of the
| Consumption hospital at Darleton-an in
stitutiOn which Mr.. Almack fairly hated.
Now, if there was one thing more than
another in which Mr.. Almacks sovereignty
displayed itself, it was in arranging for
subscription balls, and for the charities to
whose benefit their proceeds should be de-
voted. TO get one up then, without even
consulting him, and to choose for its object
a charity it was known to everybody he de-
tested, was fragrant insult to his authority
and could mean nothing but a proclamation
| that his sovereignty was at an end.
Mr.. Almack knew that there was cOnSid-
cradle discomfort in his kingdom, but it
never occurred to him that it could culmi-
nate in open rebellion. His authority had
| been so strong and so long unQueStioned
that he had come to regard it as irresistible
and eternal. To find it all at once thrown
overheard and utterly disregarded by some
of his most powerful subjects fairly bewil-
dered him.
But he was man of resource, and, once
he had recovered from the establishment the
announcement caused him, he read it over
again slowly and carefully. AS he did so
he felt he had been attacked in his weakest
point. The Consumption hospital was I'M
doubtedly deserving charity, and he had
again and again been urged to promote
something for it's benefit. But, because he
had quarrelled with its committee, he had
uniformly refused to do so. In this respect
then, his enemies had the public sympathy
with them. Yet, if such breach OF his
authority were allowed to go mpunished
the latter would receive shock from which
it would not soon recover.
When he came to the committee list he
glanced at it even more carefully than the
rest of the notice. Name after name he
read, but every one was Objectionable.
Most of them had at some time or other
served on committees of his own. The re-
volt against him was, therefore, evidently
no hole and-corner affair.
At length he came upon a name the sight
OF which made him start. 1t was that of
|
believe his eyes. He rubbed them, and
looked at it again. No, there could be no
doubt about it, Lord Eustace Eulace it
was.
1.-THE impudent puppy" he said to him
self, grinding his teeth with rage. 1.-THE
impudent puppy-I'll make him suffer for
this. TO think that man so much in
debted to me as he is should behave in this
| Ru of n 10 m "
debtor, and his father shall know, too. If
the youths not in hot water with the mar
quis before the months out it'll not be my
fault-the treacherous young jackanapesw
| AS he thus went on breathing out threats
of vengeance against Lord Eustace, he con-
tinued reading the committee list. When
he got to the end of it further notice at
| tracted his attention. 1t was to the effect
| that cards of admission could solely be OBJ
| tanned from members of the committee, and
would be given only to such persons as were
| personally known or introduced to the
member issuing the card.
-'Oh, they're following in my steps?
said Mr.. Almack, sneeringly. ''It is to be
| very exclusive and all that, is it? But they
must know little of Eustace Euslace, or they
| wouldn't have him on the committee, if
| they wanted their ball even respectable. If
| they but knew the trouble [ have always
had in keeping him straight when he hap
| pened to be Oh committee of mine, they
would have kept clear of him."
The recollection of this made Mr.. AL
mack reflect, and his reflections gave birth
| to brilliant idea. When it occurred to
him he jumped to his feet and walked about
the room excitedly, talking to himself in an
incoherent manner At length, beaming
with smiles, he flung himself down in his
chair again.
Eyes, by Jovew he cried, cpl do it;
serve 'em right, too. And let him refuse if
he dare-just if he dare. BY Jove, Pll
make him--But there's no fear of it
| no, not the least in the world So, o, my
dear rivals, you've not quite got the better
of old John Amack yet; you haven't as yet
caught the old fox asleep" and he laughed
and rubbed his hands together in delight.
AS soon as he had finished breakfast he
set out for the club, where he knew Lord
Eustace usually spent his mornings. On
arriving there he found him, as he expected
in the smoking room, absorbed in theatre
cal paper.
When Mr.. AImack addressed him, the
noble youth looked up with guilty start.
''Ah, Almack, how do? Glad to see
YOU" he remarked in tones which belied
his words.
'I'm glad to see you, Lord Eustace,"
said Mr.. Almack, cOldly. whats this
committee / see your name on this morn
ing?"
Committee. Really, never heard-ah,"
drawled Lord Eustace, hesitatingly. Truth
is, old man, was forced upon it, all viii
resign if you like"
'sDon't think of such thing for mo-
ment," cried Mr.. Almack. ''Dly dear Eus-
tace, was delighted to see your name, 1t
will enable you to do me the greatest pos
IL Il - -. IL IL