Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-03

pold, sftsr . pause, 81 feel this rsspon-
sibility 10 too much for ne. Let MS put
the cards in cur pockets, and distribute
them personally, when We 60 out by and
by"
"At the club---yss, that's all very we'll
for the men but what about the girls?"
Let each fellow bring his own" re-
piled the other, with . mischievous
twinkle IN bis eye; "but We must have
no Lady X. B's compliments
Capital aud il old Mayne gives n
good supper, and his wine is up TO the
mark, l warrant their ball will be the
talk OF the town."
Mrs Msyns fsnced that her patrouess
must have forgotten her, 90 few were the
replies from people she did not knew
that she received to her invitations. All
her own friends and those OF her daugh-
tiers had accepted immediately, for the
news had got about somehow that the
party would be mentioned in the papers
Preparations ut Colchester Terrace pro-
ceeded at the most munifceDt rate !;
Papa Msyne had given carte blanche as
TO the supper and decorations,
the wine-merchsnt should be hidden
to tho fcstiviiy. in order to secure
. per cent. discount of the ertraordi-
nary champagne be had undertaken to
provide. "And besides, my love-" no
said TO his wife, "Tom owipes is q most
prescntabls fellow, with highly aristo-
cratic connection, and he has already
nj - f.fx t..n b..
tells me that several Of his clients are
coming. though for the life OF nee can
not think who they are"
LADY Eosamunds friends, of course,
goose ! know she deals with him be-
cause he subscribes to the 'Tofee-
dropG'"
At length the evcntfuI evening ar
rived. The girls descended from their
dressing rooms in I'LL the glory of the
most divine gowns. Emma, the cook,
thought that Miss Victoria looked the
best in her pale pink while Elizabeth,
the housemsid, was certain that who
ever beat Mas Alstsndra's light blue
would be tho belle OF the ball Mrs.
Mayns herself, in brocsded brown, and
q new set of cameo jewels, was s hand
somely sttired as becomes . mstronly
hostess launching her offspring upon
London society, while her husband, in
the tightest OF white gloves, was beam
ing over with satisfaction that the
guinea be had paid for the announce
ment of "Mrs. Mayne's first dance"
under the head OF Arrangements In a
daily paper, was as well laid out as any
money he had ever spent In his life.
The guests seemed 10 dribble in, to
begin with. There was long pause be-
tween the first conner and his successor,
but sfterwsrd they tumbled In, sppa-
rently arriving in bus losds, and when
the music sounded q preliminary extra
valse there must have been fifty persons
present But Mrs Wayne and family
were far from happy yet, because none
OF her expected unknowns had arrived.
Surely Lady Rosanund had not foriskcn
her2 No for there were her two sons,
Nicholas dancing With Victora, and Leo
pold with Alexandra and even II NO one
else appeared, was not this as much As a
fond mother could expect-her two
daughters dancing with two such noble
blooded and good looking scions of the
aristocraoy? Goodness knows where
her joyful, hopeful. maternal thoughts
took her to. At any rate, her inclina-
ton and city friend OF her husbands
took her to the refreshment buffet, and
by the time she returned to the ball
room the crowd was very considerably
augmented
who is that charming girl in brown,
with the diamond necklscef"
What u smsrt-looking woman that is
in the white terry velvet. What pearlsl"
GLOW well that stoutish girl IN gray
does dance, to he sure"
"Whst beautiful jewelsl Just a little
too decollete, don't you Think"
These are few of many similar re-
marks that were going round the ball
room. And they were justified. A change
had come DER the spirit Of the entertain
ment. The ordinary persons who con-
shtuted tho Mayne family's stock guests
had sunk almost beneath the level of
observation. drowned in the brilliancy
of these gayly -spparslled ladies and gem
tlemen, whose very names their host and
hostess did not know. That they had
been invited by Lady Bosamund Broad
stairs there was no doubt, but it was
somewhat strange that no one should
have introduced them, though any one
could see, and every one old see, that
they were persons OF quality, "their
manners are 80 natural, one Miss Mayne
observed to the other.
Presently Mr.. Nicholas Broadstairs
4
and he assured her that this was the
most enjoyable dance Of the season.
~ expect some more people present
w." he said, latter the theatre. BY the
way, forgot to give you my mothers
message. She sends her love, but did
not feel we'll enough to come out.
"Nothing serious, thrust. Please good
ness she will be oil right tomorrow.
Can YOU tell me who 10 the gentleman In
the white waistcost talking 10 the lady
III mauvs
THAT is Lord Marennes. the Earl Of
Whitsstabls's eldest son, = FRIEND of
mine. really ought to have presented
him to you. but you we're away when
they arrived and the boy with the car
roty hair is Lord Cheddsr-hell be Mar
aus of Stilton when his father goes out;
that man walking round with your
daughter is Reggie kedlight, OF the
Guards there is Sir George Drawbridge
talking to Tommy Swipes, the wine mer-
chant They are sill 90 much obliged to
YOU for your hospitality. Mrs Mayne.
This was something like society, IN
deed Two lords, baronet, guardsmen,
and no end of swells. Mrs Mayne in
wsrdly returned thanks to the provi-
dence that, through the medium OF the
"Toiieedrop and Shsrbet Association,
had brought her this good fortune. Ger
tsinly she would liked to have been IN
trodncsd 10 these aristocratic young gem
tlemen. "And the ladies9 Who are
they with your friends ?" she asked.
All more or less connections OF the
gentlemen VINO brought then. Mrs.
Mayne. Don't dancer Do try q turn.
No? Well, an repoir" and Mr..
Nicholas turned upon his heel, leaving
his hostess to convey his intelligence, TO
I'll. NNwW