The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-12-24

Mrs Parnell was the first to arrive
She entered the room with a very grand
air, and in full dress, as. it had been in vogue
some thirty years previously, wearing an elab-
crate turban head dress, an Adelaide colored
satin gown, white gloves and a gold spangled
fan, all a little faded and worn and soiled,
but showing that Mrs Parnell considered
that she had come to an orthodox evening
party and understood what was expected on
such occasions. W. M@
Honor hurriedly conducted her to the seat
of honor, explaining that she felt it so kind
of her to come and help them entertain their
guests, who were for the most part people I'm
humble life
Mrs Parnell looked rather disagreeably sur
prised and drew herself up little haughtily
for a moment. But she had only time to say
that although she had not been accustomed
to mix with her interiors, she had no objec-
ton to do so for once, and under the circum-
stance of being invited to assist in entertain
ing the good people, when, after a little scuf-
fling in the passage, the door opened, and,
assisted by friendly push from Sally, old
Mamie entered the room.
4 To figure as one of the guests for whom she
had helped to prepare was just at first too
much for old Nannie's philosophy There was
certainly great contrast between Mrs. Par
nell in her faded grandeur and Mamie in her
short, scant, well worn merino gown, her
plain muslin cap, her sleeves too short To
cover her bony wrists and her hands bearing
witness TO lifo of toll. Her only prepara-
tons for company seemed TO have been that
of turning down her cuffs, which were usually
turned up, putting on an old fashioned collar
with frill reaching TO her thin shoulders,
and pinned on awry, with brooch of Cam
den Town emeralds and diamonds purchased
for her by Sally in honor of the occasion.
SO far all was going on proptiously; and
no sooner was Mamie indicted into her COM
Portable chair by the fire in the back room,
where she satwith hand planted upon each
knee, and her eyes turned complacently to-
ward the well spread table, than the little
tailor and his wife-neither of them much
more than five feet high-were ushered in.
The pretty, fair-haired school mistress, in
deep mourning, was welcomed, and after her
came Johnny and his mother. No one seemed
to think Of calling her anything but "Johnny's
mother" With them came the "poor
ledger" who had not been easily induced to
accept the invitation, and who was looking
very doubtful and reserved and on the de-
fensive, so to speak, as though their motive
was as yet not quite clear to him.
But Honor's diplomatic little aside, which
had answered so well with the others, seemed
to succeed with him also; at any rate, so far
as disarning his suspicious went. In reply he
bowed low, with a few words about his esti-
nation Of the privilege of being allowed to
assist Miss Bryson in any way. But it was
enough TO show that he was a gentleman, had
be not, evidently weak as he was, and appre-
ciative of the comfortable chair assigned to
him, so courteously cndeavored to decline u
in favor of others. The threadbare clothes
which hung SO loosely about his tall, gaunt
frame contrasted piteously with his dis
tinguished bearing. At the same time there
was no trace in his countenance, which was
that Of a refined thinker, Of any vice which
might have brought him so low In the social
scais Is to desire TO conceal himself in the