New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-05-09
BAL POUDRE

nto thsP smartest set in London but in fair
way to do so before long Using her fr'e e as
mcnt she had dropped" them as careless'y as
other women discard their last season gowns Oh
their troub' esome admirers. To kno" Lazy Lang.
lev one season. to be at her smallest dinners OF Vso
select dances no guarantee that one would 9e
admitted to her social circle six months hcncc ~
must be owned that the people she dropped niu
not appreciate the process Perhaps they were
unaware that Lady Langley was only iulhiilng the
law of social evolution. The survival OF me
Gttestr expressed the whole of her orlily creed.
Time was when Sir Samuel was plain Mr. Levy
and the family mansion had been in the VICINITY OIL
Bayswater, when to see CITY Knight az ner
had been the summit of this lays ambition. Biit
tunes had changed. The husband had made big
conn on the Stock Exchange, changed his Hebrew
natronymlc entered Parliament and voted with his
party so obcdlently that he had been rewarded
with a baronetcy bv an outgoing Tory CaDinet.
trnsveiy Israelish CHARACTERISTICS now set mp for
n beauty wit and woman of fashion. she was
not objectonably pnshing. nor aid she exhibit the
mingled shvncss and pride which IS 50 often seen IN
the women of her Her dinners. well served,
well composed AMI not toe long were trinmphs of
their kind and the company was often admirably
selected The mansion in Park Lane was well
adapted for balls: and il was not Lady Langeys
fault if these latter entertainments were sometimes
n trihe mixed. OF her own choice she admitted
only the best people within her doors the rest she
quietly and politely ignored
But do what she would there was one won an
who refused TO be discarded, VINO called perth
nacionsly at all honrs of the day in Park Lame, and
inundated the Langleys with invitations. and that
was her elder sister. Rrbecca Abrahams. Mrs.
Morris Abrahams was the wife OF an opnieht
money lender who lived in Berkeley square. They
gave sunpcrs at which certain Young sprigS OF the
nobility glad to appease their host by putting
in IN appearance and where a rev dramatic ami
literary lions were sometimes to be seen. For the
last few wears indeed, Mr. Abrahams in woong
respectahlitv had avoided shady tranactiOns, aud
had even been known to lend money at twenty-five
per cent on good security: piece OF seli-denlal
which raised him. III his own eyes, to the position
of philanthrOpist and a benefactor to sncley
Now, Lady Langley's house was the only one OF
any social status into which the money lender and
his spouse had the entry. and they were herocaily
determined never 10 give up tue right which their
near relationship implied -
LADY Ian gIey was, however, equally determined
he rid of this last connection Of her former ana ana
that her society was no longer acceptaDie. MIS-
Norris Abrahams was a large o'erdressed woman,
with small black eyes, and nose 81 the most
nneqnivocal tyne; woman whom 1t was I'M
possiblc 10 cut because she semed mpervOls to the
most deliberate snubbng. SO Lady Langley
determined 10 hasten the Crisis 10y leaving her sster
This dance vas to be the event of the pre-. Lenten
season. Somehow or other Lady Langley party
had become the tonic of the hour. IL was known
on good authority that a certain ROYAL fers0nage
wonld probably look in for an hour, ana the IN
gradients of this soiyfe iptime had been carefully
chosen. 1t was to he quite small dance put all
the women If possible were to he noted beauties,
and the smartest young men IN town hau peen
beaten M for the occasion. There was 10 De
cOtillon lasting three-guarters of an hour about
which the most extraordinary rumors were rlie; ana
it was known that marvellous supper was TO ne
served At small tables tor two exactly ut O'CLOCK
| he women would all appear IN elghteenth-century
gowns with powdered locks; the men were TO take
their choice of Court dress, with whlte mar, or
correct last-century costume. Not single lsraelite
had beer invited. and Lady Langley was deter
mined that her rooms shond not be spoiled ny
the compromising nasa organ and Overcome tolee
of her sister. No. the dance was to be nothing II
not smart-she had made it a vital question She
would stand fall on the success OF nor cdl pquae.
haf,p hn Ian
called on her sister in Park Lane. Lady Langley
was smilingly bland: Mrs. Abrahams was over
whelmnrly aiiectionate, but she anged Tor an
a Merely little dance got for one or two of
my pretty grl-friends-,qnitc juvenile party.
But have taken a world of trouble to get the best
people to ether. There's that new American. you
know the Prince wouldn't come unless she was
asked"
vour own sitter not good enough for your ball"
blurtcd ont Mrs. Morris, with rising wrath
a. Nv dear don't put things in that brutal way
You must know what ieel. YOn can't come to the
dance without Morris. and Morris ls-weii' ne isn
No thank Heaven we aren't in your set. Maria:
sincerely hope your ball will he success" ana
Mrs. Morri, Abrahams swept to the door ana ,
rustled her long skirts for the last time over her
The money-lender's spouse was lyd with rage
and notification as she drove PACK TO berholty
be war to tho knife hencoforward between her
younger sister and herself
veneeance and at last hit upon plan. Having
small supper party arranged Tor the nignt oeiote
the famous powdered bal she wrote iitt,e h2te
to certain Mr.. birmingham young JOURNALIST,
and babe him make one OF her party AFTER supper,
when The others had sat down to roulette, the lady
cautiously inveglod the man of pens and ink on TO
the tonic of Lady Langley's ball. Of course Freddy
birmingham gong: was he not 10 chrohlcIe itS
success in at least two weekly papers, Mr.. Jern-
ingham was an deliberately dressed young man. VINO
went everywhere and knew everybody, ana could
tell You all about your neighbours business lie
knew hundred drol stories. ana used 10 spehd ms
evenings whispering to elderly dowagers behind
their fans.
Mrs Morris Abrahams did not think it necessary
to mention that she was not invited TO her sister
hall: but out of pure curiosity she would ike TO
have n list of all the beauties who were to be
present Did Mr. birmingham kpow exactly who
was gong or course e KNEW NJ gre her oS rs c 10
Tomorrow mgnt. Why, he had complete lst OF
the guests in his pocket sent him by Lady Langley
to assist him in his paragraphs; Yes, he could lend
Il to Mrs Abrahams Decidedly the dance was TO
be the social event OF the day. IN,
Mrs Abrahams looked thoroughly pleased Win
herself when she went up to bed that night. enc
carried IN her and n Blue Book tor 1856 ana the
famous list of her sisters guests
Tho eyentful night arrived. Lady Langley
trtne nervous but looking wonderfully handsome
in her powder and patches her brocades ana
diamonds, stood on the landing to receive her
guests. a., 1850 ..., r,;r,,.
The band was tuning up. the house was larry
ablaze with flowers and electric lights ana or
Samuel was surveying the last arrangements IN
b;s nsnal pompons way, when the namo of the first
arrival was bawled on the stairs 1t was tmid
voung Guardsman in pale blue and silver Who was
| obviously terrified at finding hllnsen alone WIN
Iis bosfess at the door of the empty ballroom with
IFS shining loor and bare walls He was followed by
a dapper young man from the Foreign once, VINO
| Looked more at ease in his Court dress and white
Wig: and then by Lord Cecil Fitzroy u hopeful
Youth who was fast runing hsmself on the turf.
By / o'clock the hostess was surrounded Dy at
| least thirty dancing men, put hot i""' vas "
| he in the room.
Lady Langey's pretty smile began to grow hard ard
and mechanical Horrible forebod.ngs seized her
| arn onnid II meant Where were all the lovely
girls and dancing matrons she had hidden to the
ball nj. a., ,o o,,,
| ron,an p, Isned Lord Cecil to the Guardsman.
S Cant stand any more of ths Won't some of you
snortsmen come round to my diggngs and have
| b. -and-sf I'm off,"
o.,n.L LII. liz lorlshin slnnrd down stairs. and