Fair play., 1886-01-16
The Van Haydels Cr0qnet Party


Eden +. Rextord, IA Peterfons . AasaLine
THE Van IIaydens and the Wander
pools were rival families in Stephen
town. Each fumi!y claimed supe
rior over the other. which claim wa,
pish'd and pooh'd..at in all ways i,nag
Unable. a- being perfectly proposterou.
and really one of the most absurd
things ever heard OF. There were
three young ladies in each family, and
it was the height of Mrs. Wander.
pools ambition to get her daughter,
married oY before the Van Hayden
girls were. Mrs. Van Hay den. like a
trne christian, refused TO subrait TO
her rivals designs, and resolved to
secure husbands for her daughters as
be brought about. For tho last two
years both manGvering mamas had
worked to effect q marriage in their
respective families, but as yet unsuc-
cessfully.
'l'll tell you what it is, Lcitie," said
Mrs. Van HAYDEN. one day, to her
eldest daughter, "we've got to get up
some party to offset the Vande-pools'
strawberry sociablc. That was really
the stnpidest affair Of the season. If
l couldn't do better than that, l
wouldn't make any attempt, l de-
clare. could see what it was got up
for. Mrs. Vand.rpooi wants to catch
young Shelby for her Mari, and sbo
couldn't xe, h,,,. "'totl,e house in any
other way o...l.l 400 that ha VIVA
horribly bored"
"Iil tell you what" spoke up Susie,
Mrs. Van Hayden's youngest, "let's
have crequet party. Wouldn't that
be splendid? We could have tea in
the summer-housc. you know, aud I'm
sure it would take. because there's
never been ANYTHING like it here"
''It's a very good idea," coincided
Lefty. And Mrs. Van Hayden
thought 40, too. Accordingly it was
settled that next w""k. Tuesday,
they would have croquet party, and
invitations were issued at once.
"Of course the VanderpooI tribe
will be on hand" remarked Mrs. Van
Hayden" They always come to crit
icize, and make fun Of everything.
I do think they're the mos, disagreea-
bic family, taken all together. I ever
saw. Mrs. Vandcrpoors really vul-
gar. like to say things to cut her
up
Now, the fun of it was. Mrs. Van.
derpool always fancied she was saving
things to "cut up" Mr,. Hayden.
II understand what ,hev're fishing
for" she said to her daughter Maria,
when the invitations to the cr"quet
party were received. "'rhey want 70
get Young Shelby in their clutches.
That Lefty is determined she'll catch
him, if it's possible thing AMI this
party is only a bait. She tried to
monopolize him at our sociable. and I
declare I was ashamed of her, and
limited to her mother thar I thought
such boldness rather low and coarse,
and you oughi to have seen how red
she got. It did me heap Of good.
for she couldn't saw ANYTHING hack.
You'd better get you some new dress
es, g,rls. They'll probably come out
in new suits, calculating to take the
shine of YOU altogether. I think
Shelby's foolish, If he sees ANYTHING
in that Lefty to fancy"
"But he don't" said Miss Maria,
decidedly. "Iie told me he thought
she was really vulgar"
Mrs. Vanderpool was delighted to
hear that Mr.. Shelhv's opinion corres-
ponded SO closely TO her own, and
took fresh courage. Shelby was rich,
and had seemed quite impressed with
her Maria. Ii she onlv could make q
match for her with
The eventful dav came, A. dii the
NanderpooIs. in full force. Mrs. VAN
derpooi was arraycd in maroon silk,
making her look like a big. double
hollyhock. As Miss Lefty whispered 10
Mr.. Shelby. who was the first arrival.
Whereupou he laughed 4 gaod deal.
and squeezed Miss Lettv's hand. with
some indi,tinct remark about her
sarcastic wit" which made that
Young lady fairly beam with pleasure
The Miss Van,ierpools were arrayed
in new silks, likewise. much 10 the de-
light of the Van Hay ,iens, who were
in plain white muslin. and who re.
marked TO Mr.. Shelby. IN q tone III.
tended for the VAn.lerrools TO hear.
that il was strange some ps-.ous