Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-02-13

she was taken at her word. The
Maynes, determined to do the. thing
handsomely, forwarded 200 gaudily
printed invitations, informing Mr., Mrs.
or Miss (blank to be filled I'M that Mrs.
Wayne was .At Home--Dancing'i ona
certain evening at q o'clock, and res
in orthodox foreign abbrevi--
atoms that the said Mr.. Mrs, or Miss
would r. S. V. P. It had been consid-
cred whether, under the circumstances,
"Lord" and Lady" should not be print
ed on some of the cards; but on the mo-
'tion of Mr.. Mayne the amendment was
ultimately negatived as ''too avarici-
ous."
When they arrived at Broadstairs'
house, Lady Rosamund sent for her two
sons ..tf fsS SIS ~
boys" said she, "I have promised to
help, Mrs. Wayne with her. party. am
much too busy just now. Will you take
sort Of people one wants at a Dance" I
"Who lis Mrs. Mayne, mamma ?,y'
asked Nicholas Broadstairs,s a smart
youth, aged about s22s 81 don't know
her, f
Eyes, you do. You met her and her
girls at the "Tofeedrop' reading. She
is one of the, most valued assistants in
the society, and her husband is very
rich, and subscribes handsomely"
care you going to this dance, ma Z"
asked Leopold Broadstairs, who was a
year younger than his brother, and
supposed to be reading lard for his
army examination.
81, my dear? What put that into
your head? My dancing days have
been over many years. Now 90 away,
both of you, and I'LL up the cards with
my compliments, and leave me to my
writing"
The boys retired with their stock OF
glittering stationery, but the awkward
ness of the position Immediately oc-
Cured to them. Who on earth were
they to invite to ball given by some
one they did not know? Like other
young men, they had plenty of friends
of both sexes, many of them not includ-
ed in their mothers visiting list. For a
bachelor dinner or a supper, or even
for Bohemian ball, they would doubt
sort of people these Maynes were, or
whatso of people they desired should
see them "At Home-Dancing," neither
Nicholas nor Leopold had the slightest
notion.
'I'll tell you what, Nick" said Leo
pold, after pause. II feel this respon-
sibllity is too much for us. Let us put
the cards in our pockets and distribute
them personally, when we 60 out, by
and by"
Sat the club-yes. that's all very well
for the men: bat what about the girls p"
Let each fellow bring his own" re-
piled the other, with a mischievous
twinkle in his eye; "but we must have
no Lady R. BIS compliments
Capital and if old Wayne gives a
good supper, and his wine is up to the
mark, | warrant their ball will be the
talk of the town."
Mrs. Mayne fancied that her patron
ess must have forgotten her, SO few
were the replies from people she did
not know that she received to her inv1-
tations. All her own friends and those
OF her daughters had accepted immedi-
ately, for the news had got about some
how that the party would be mentioned
In the papers. Preparations at Col
chester Terrace proceeded at the most
munifcent rate. Papa Mayne had
given carte blanche as to the supper
and decorations, making only the stip-
ulatiOn that the wine merchant should
be hidden to the festivity, In order to
secure per cent. discount off the ex-
traordinary champagne he had under
love-" he said to his wife, "Tom Swipes
is most presentable fellow, with
highly aristocratic connection, and he
has aIready heard glowing accounts of
your ball. He tells me that several of his
clients are coming, though Tor the life
OF me cannot think who they are"
Lady Rosamund's friends, of course,
goose | know she deals with him,
because he subscribes to the 'Toffee
Drops"
At length the eventful evening ar
rived. The girls descended from their
dressing rooms in all the glory Of the
most divine gowns. Emma, the cook.
thought that Miss Victoria looked the
best, in her pale pink; while, Eliza
beth. the housemaid, was certain that
whoever beat Miss Alexandra's light
blue would be the belle of the ball.
Mrs. Mayne, herself, in brocaded
brown, and new set of cameo Jewels,
was as handsomely attired as became
hostess launching her off
spring upon London society; while her
husband, in the tightest of white gloves,
was beaming with satisfaction that the
guinea he had paid for the announce
u01t Oh NILS. M8Vn0 s. nrSC dance,
under the head of Arrangements in
daily paper, was as well laid out as any
money he had spent in his life.
The guests seemed to dribble in, to
begin with. There was long pause be-
tween the first conner and his successor,
but afterward they tumbled in, appar-
emily arriving in bus loads, and when
the music sounded preliminary extra
waltz there must have been fifty per-
sons present. But Mrs. Mayne and
family were far from happy yet, be-
cause none of her expected unknowns
had arrived. Surely Lady Rosamund
had not forsaken her? No for there
were her two sons, Nicholas dancing
with Victoria, and Leopold with Alex
andra; and even if no one else ap-
peared. was not this as much as fond
mother could expect-her two daugh-
ters dancing with two such noble
blooded and good-looking scions of the
aristocracy :? Goodness knows where
her joyful, hopeful, maternal thoughts
took her to. At any rate, her inclina-
nation and city friend took her to
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