The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-23
arrived. Poor Miss Boston! She had not
vet learned that to be asked
TO DINE livery INFoRMALLYn

foT one. With some niisgivings she de-
seconded 10 the drawing room. Mrs. Van
S henck met her at the door with a warm
and hospitahle greeting. taking in the white
gown aud its wearar III one sweeping glance,
aud then pre-e ted 70 her man standing
by-a most immaculate being in the perfec-
ton OF evening dress, even 10 the boutol-
Mere Of blue hYdrangia and maiden hair, TO
Inatcl exactly his iaWeled studs OF sap
phires set in diamonds. This was the happy
individual who WIS TO take Miss Boston
into din err, and while be was lmpartlng
the information in a slow, drawing English
voice, the Young woman slowly regained
her senses ana began 70 look about her at the
brilliant scene. The long, low room
was lighted only by lamps ard candles,
with ROSY shades, for Mrs Van Schenck
held, with the rest of her set, that nothing
in the world was quite such bad form Rs
gaslignt, or quite 50 unbecoming. A dozen
persons were scattered about in little
groups talking and laughing in gay, hut
sUbdued voices, among them several young
girls dressed as if tor a ball in very decol-
lette gowns of tulle and lace. and one Or
two glittering with many diamonds The
hostess herself was charming in pink tulle,
which displayed great deal of her plump
person. There was rlviere of superb Gla-
monds about her white throat and II d.
ding pink feather in her golden hair, Her
dazzsed cousin regarded the splendid ap-
partition fnrtiyely, as her heart sank within
her, and she felt that her own modest gown
was quite out of place among all this mag
nificence.
An apoplectic butler appeared at the door
and announced with "A suspiciously Irish ac-
cent, Madame est servi.n He drew aside
the silken curtains and disclosed the dining
room to the delighted eyes of Miss Bosto T.,
who joined the proce sioA that quickly
formed and turned its steps tnither, as il in
a dream. II was indeed a charming apart
meat, even for Newport, aid won many
praises for its fortunate owner. 1t was
large, with walls richly carved and panelled
in old oak, except on one side, which
opened cut on veranda by
large French windows of plate glass
The verandah was shaded by awnings
of red aud white striped cloth, Transformed
into bower, with tropical plants and hang
ing baskets. It looked out upon the ocean,
which stretched cut illimitably into the dis
lance, like a sheet of silver in the moon
light, on this particular night. There was
a monstrous fireplace, with a chimney piece
gorgeously carved, and there were stained
glass windows and polished floor, in the
mid-t of which stood the table, like a
cleaning jewel, with its lights and flowers
and silver and cut-glass. This was a pink
dinner. A garland OF American beauty
roses lay diagonally across the table,
tied at each end with a broad pink rib
boa. AT the plate of eaca lady was a bunch
of the same roses, tied with the same ribbon,
and every man had a boutonnere. a single
rose with bit of maidenhaIr. The silver
candelabra held pink candles, with pink
shades and they stood on mats of pink
plush. The b0nbons were pink, in silver
dishes, and there were little cakes in the pink
frosting ON plates of Sevres. The whole
effect was exquisitely dainty and pretty,
and the keynote seemed to have been given
by the hostess in her pink gown, which ap-
peared particularly fetching as she sat at
the head of the table, smiling and talking
with great volubility.
Miss Boston's man proved very entertain
ing, and she quite forgot her unsuitable
gown as the excitement of his conversation
and the excellence of the dinner, which was
far beyond anything she had ever known
before. Il was served by the irreproach-
allie butler, assisted by two small footmeu,
who managed the party of fourteen ad
mirably with just the proper interval be-
tween courses and the most English ceft-
ness, and noiselessneSs Of tread. To begin
with, there was muskmelon, instead of
oyster, those delictoieS i'll the shellfish line
being out of season. Half a muskmelon
was served to each person, dellciously cold,
filed with cracked ice and eaten with a
Spun. IcpptI anu odlG NGIC DdSSSu lOI
those who liked to add such condi-
ments, and the glasses were filed
with SauteTne Then came soup and
sherry, the former a white soup, seasoned
as only Frenchman can season, and 50 APP
petizng that one was almost tempted TO
break through all known rules of etiquette
and ask for more. Then the third course,
oyster riSSoieS, tiny turnovers of puff paste
containing an oyster or two or three IN n
ktI1a1fOio,,e
Boston's man, with the gusto OF a guarmet.
and, Delicious. indeed!' echoed Miss Bos-
Ton, trying to make hers last as long as she
could Next, chicken chartreuse-a gloli-
fed dish which battles description and
needs TO be tasted to be thoroughly enjoyed
and comprehended. 1t is compounded of
chicken, and sweetbreads, and trufnss, and
mushrooms, blended with a white sauce
into one harmonious whole-the most tooth
some ambrosia ever served since the days
when
THE GODS DINED TOGETHER
in high Olympus. After this was dis
patched, moistoned by draughts of Chateau
Margaux, there came champagne, and the
niece de resistance, not, for a wonder, the
everlasting fillet OF beef with mushrooms,
but a shoulder of lamb, with potato balls
and string beans. Then an entree, sweet
breads in a rich brown sauce, and so good
Then a course Of stuffed peppers, which the
men liked, but which made the women cry
out softly. they were so hot and fiery. Miss
Boston thought of Becky Sharp and her
first dinner at the Sedleys, when she tried
to get up foGduess for chil!s to interest
that returned Indian trave.er, Joseph Sed-
lev, and gave hers up with SICILY smile.
Next came Roman punch, prettily
served III the hearts of pink roses; then
baby partridges done to turn, aud toma-
toes with mayonuaise dressing. and Bur
gundy for wine; then ices. frozenlike
peaches and apple and pears and the pretty
pink cakes The butler filled the sherry
glasses again at this point Last OF all,
there were apricots and nectarines, Ham
burg grapes and California pears, and
finger bowls of bohemian glass, worth each
n small fortune, in which there was rose
water and a few rose petals floating Mrs.
Van Schenck gave signal, and the ladies'
rose. like flock of brilliant birds, tutterilg
into the dra Bing-room 70 have their flee,
while the men remained behind to smoke
their cigars and toss off thimblefuls Of
hu1or in the dainty glasses meant for Char
treuse and Maraschino.
Miss Boston's head was in a whirl The
talk at table had been broader and spicier
than ANYTHING she had heard at home, the
stories very fisgucs. But she had enjoyed
il all immensely and began TO think tnat
her own shoulders would look well in a
gown that displayed them lavishly, aud that
her tongue once unloosed, she could say
things as bright aud as naughty as any OF
NJ, tba lea van