Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-25

given by the wealth of the father, aud the
aggression and self-coDhdence Inherited
from the mother went far to cover up the
cruditv of mere country ex xperience. As for
Mrs. Clincher, she was equal to every occa-
sion, and met all comers, even some who
would have INDUCED in sly sarcasm at her
expense, with easy kindliness, while the
Hon. Jehu, well fed, crammed .uH of pride
OF property, said little, looked wise, and so
made no great hlunder. Miss Clincher had
the honor of first dance with Lord Lock
ham, while Miss Valeria Clincher was mated
with Count Liston, and so they were literally
whirled into the ianermest circle. During
the whole OF this wild first night, the girls
were surrounded by diplomats, army and
navy young men, and others who assume to
be The cream of Washington male society;
and other young ladies who had been accus-
toned to attract the best of the beauX were
furious with jealousy.
The Hon. Jehu Clincher accepted all the
apparent homage OF the mob simply as his
due. He had no other idea than that money
made thu man. Years before when he had
employed a private tutor for his elder
daughter, whose early schooling had been
nothing more than that of a little hoyden
running about in rags and dirt, he had
made vet famous reply TO the teacher
when the latter informed the indulgent
"Well. confound it, man, can't you buy
her one?" was the reply that has passed into
history.
The assurance givsu by the conscious
power of riches, which had developed the
girl without capacity into a strongly self
reliant Young woman, had also transformed
the shrinking farmer into a complaeent and
almost dictatorial citizen who owned so
much OF the land aud humanity OF his
III L i l.
Filled with this spirit the Hon. Jehu made
no question OF the means by which the sud-
den and brilliant entrance into society was
accomplished. With the young ladies it
was different They were aware of the
small esteem in which ordinary Congress
men are usually held BY the people who
make up the "court circle, and we're as
founded at their reception.
However did you do it, mammal" ex-
claimed both the girls when they and Mrs.
Clincher entered their chamber in the small
hours.
"Why, nv dears, it is but a deserved
recognition worth and beauty" said Mrs.
Tabitha Clincher.
WELL" said the girls doubtfully, that
may be true, but-well, no matter. 1t was
glorious anyway"
At each succeeding reception the hold of
the Clinchers on society appeared to
strengthen. If they exhibited rawness at
times, the young ladies were always so
frank, and natural, and so unfailingly
cheerful, that they seemed to bring health
and good feeling in their train. They kept
themselves exclusively or the most ex-
elusive crcle. They wasted no energy on
any who were not OF the very upper crust of
the social pastry. Through the conniyance
of Mrs. Secretary Simpson they even dined
en- amille with the President, an incident
which was reported at great length in all
the home papers and which resulted In a
worship of the Hon. Jehu almost to the point
of dedication among his intelligent con-
stituents.
However, nobody paid such assiduous
court to Miss Clincher and Miss Valeria as
Lord Lockham and Count Liston, both of
whom had inherited impoverished estates at
home and were forced to accept posts in the
diplomatic service of their Government TO
earn an honest livelihood. Not only were
they attra eted bv the millions OF the Iather,
but in nearly great degree by the fresh
beauty and genial natures OF the daughters,
whose simple minds, suspicious of foreign
ers, and especially OF foreign diplomats,
kept the suitors well at bav, determined |
they should not be made mere means of
amusement or these adopts In the art of |
fattery and Irritation. While the young
really fascinating fsg ends of a small no.
bility, all protestations of regard were so
cautiously received that it is not i'm probable
the youthful Lord and Count would have
had all impulses toward more serious rela-
tions FRI zen on their lips, mad not accident |
brought matters to a crisis.
1t was near the close OF brilliant season |
in which the Clinchers merely marched from !
one victory to another. The frost was out /
of the ground, the soil was firm and the i
spring atmosphere OF Washington was full /
of that mysterious vitality which induces /
flowing languor that is not repose, even |
in the organization OF the most Jagged states
man.
a great 'paper hunt" was on. This was |
the fashionable substitute for fox chasing, |
and had been only that season introduced |
by Lord Lockham. Representive Clincher |
had bought for the use of his dau- -hters two |
OF the finest thoroughbred hunters to be had |
for money, and the young ladies vino began |
their eQuestrianship p when they were wont |
TO bestride the farm horses OF their child |
hood with bare feet and legs were perfectly |
at home in the saddles.
They sat their hunters magnifcently. If |
they had rivals in the drawing room they |
certainly were peerless in the saddle; and as
Lord Lockham and Count Liston were ad- !
mitted to be the most graceful and daring |
Of the gentlemen riders, the Misses Clincher |
and the two diplomats were naturally at |
tracted TO each other in the cross country |
canlers.
On this day Lord Lockham was the "fox."
He was riding a new hunter which was |
restive. and from whose eyes rather too !
vicious fire flashed. A gayly decorated bag |
swung at NV lords side, in which were the |
bright-colored bits OF paper which were to |
be strewed along the way to mark the trail |
of the ''iox." At every movement of this |
bag the hunter would rear and snort, and |
when Dockham gave him the word he shot |
away like an arrow from its bow. After |
lapse of few minutes the hounds" which |
were comprised of the very elect OF the |
seasons society, were given the word, and |
started in hot pursuit. More than o score OF |
elegantly costumed, splendidly mounted |
ladies and gentlemen put spurs to their |
thoroughbreds. The ground trembled and |
the noise OI their feet was like thunder. !
They kept we'll together up to little beyoud |
the place where the "fox' had disappeared |
from view, aud ther the scent was mo- |
mentarily lost. There was scurryiEg to and |
fro until one OF the "hounds" was heard 10 |
give tongue" that the trail was discovered, |
and the scattered riders again thundered on, |
riding close, until again the trail disap- /
peared. Whether it be true as has been |
whispered at times, that Lord Lockham had |
given Miss Clincher tip in regard to his |
course, does not appear in the annals that !
social year, but certain it is that ter keep |
ing well with thes' s'pack" ior a while this |
young lady gave rein 10 her horse and soon |
left all the others far behind. On she rode, |
up hill and down dale, jumping bitches and |
fences, plunging through Rock creek re- |