The Newtown bee., 1888-10-19

acquaintance l still kept up.
 Our life during our time of mourning had necessarily been very quiet and se- cluded, but we were beginning to bright en up a little now and looked forward hopefully to the future. Dick was ex- pecting to graduate soon and become doctor, as his father had been and I was working hard at my music, hoping soon to be able to teach it; when Dick and I both became self-supporting, mother could give up sewing and we could live very comfortably on our united incomes. We had nearly a week to talk over and get ready for the party and during the interval it was the chief subject of our thoughts and conversation; Dick had been so much impressed by the beauty and stateliness of Miss Vanness, that he seemed able to think of nothing but the prospect of meeting her again. AS had the honor of being on terms of intimacy with the wonderful creature, found my suggestions treated with more than usual respect and had my advice asked and talk en upon several momentous points; as 1 was still in semimourning, my own toilette was not of so much importance but that I could spare some consideration for his.
 The 18th at last arrived and at suit able hour Dick and I made our appear ance in the handsome parlors of the Van ness residence. We were received with all the distinction my sensitive soul de- handed. It was quite evident that the admiration Dick honestly confessed for Miss Vanness she fully reciprocated and ! l, though not the rose, was near it and thereby basked also in the sunshine of her favor. We were introduced right and left to Katharine's fashionable friends and Dick carried off his honors very com posedly, but I could see that he felt them and was in his gayest, most froliesome | spirits.
 How handsome he looked and how ad- mired he was, that six-feet-tall, 20-years- | old brother of mine and how proud I was of him! was myself quite eclipsed by his glory and was very willing to be so. | Icl SOO to DC OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES anu Uo Uillo day remember little or nothing of the evening except as Dick was concerned in | it.
 There were various amusements, but I recall chiefly the music, in which my | brother bore a prominent part. 1 had not much voice myself, but played the piano pretty we'll and Dick said I was an excellent accompanist. l was for him, at any rate, for we had practised so much together that 1 knew how to give his voice exactly the humoring it required and he never sang better than he did that evening.
 When supper was announced, as there was preponderance of ladies, was as- signed the second arm of the gentleman who escorted Miss Vanness to the dining room; this gentleman was so strong an admirer of my stately friend, that he could spare very little attention to me. I was young enough and shy enough to feel this rather relief than otherwise and very willingly found my own enter tainment in watching the others.
 Dick had been appointed the escort of a dark, stylish-looking girl, remarkable for her wit and high spirits and between them the part of the table at which they were seated soon became the center of the fun and merriment.
 The supper itself was all that could be desired; profusion of light, flowers and delicate viands and, with all the rest, champagne was freely served; the pop ping of corks and the tinkling of ice and glass seemed to make the scene still mer-
 rier and brighter.
 I do not think Dick had ever tasted champagne before; am sure that nev- than taste it upon the present occasion
 but my brother, less prudent or more
 reckless than l, emptied his glass and
 had it refilled as quickly as any of the
 older men did. The effects of the potent
 stimulant were soon visible all around
 the table. Tongues hitherto silent were
 loosed; laughter became louder and
 more frequent and badinage and repartee
 seemed to flow naturally from the lips o1 ; all
 Of course Dick became exhilarated, as
 the others did; more so, perhaps, for ht
 was naturally nervous and excitable. He among others, was called upon for s [ speech and, to my great dismay, he. rose to his feet promptly. I had no cause fol alarm, however, for he spoke fluently ant | well, much better than had any idea ht could do; his remarks were full of wit , or what passed as such, and kept every one laughing. He wound up by singing
 verse from a popular ballad, of whicl l the words were very well suited to thu r occasion and which he sang beautifully He was encored enthusiastically ant Kate Vanness leaned across the gentle man who sat between us to whisper t, me, "He is splendid fellow, Anne would give the world to have such
 brother.''
 My cheeks were still flushed with tn 8 pride and qualification these words hat {; awakened, when touch upon my shoul l der called my attention to another per son. It was Grace Everett, also one o Q my old school-mates at Madame Des , champs.
 "Come up into the dressing-room witt Q me, Anne, that's dear,'' she whispered e "Some one has trodden on my dress ant l torn it fearfully."
 7 Of course complied and we two girl q slipped off out of the crowded room quit : unnoticed. The fracture proved nor
 serious one than we had supposed: it re