Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-08-06

utterly lmpOSSlDle!' cXClalmS MIS-.
Bassett; hes in Italy-no, Spain"
"Pll tell you what" says Mr.. Bassett,
presently, with burst of enthusiasm,
''why not take the bull by the horns
and call yourself? 1t will look as If you
were returning their call. Swells like
that forget who they've called upon, and
will think it all right"
Not bad idea" assents Mrs. Bassett;
there's nothing like asserting your
self in this world. You never hear of
the keep-backs anywhere. Yes, well
call this very afternoon. Thank you,
my dear, for the suggestion
Its very odd" remarks Mr.. Schuyler
Van Wrinkle, that same afternoon, as he
and his wife and daughter are together
in the drawing-room at Grassland Park,
awaiting the stroke of five for tea to be
brought in. He has been coming over
long shee of paper which he holds in
his hand, and takes off his eyeglasses
as he looks up.
what is?" asks Mrs. Van Wrinkle.
"Why, that the Blennerhassetts
haven't called upon us"
"Do you mean the people who live al
Oakden Manor?"
"Yes."
Haven't they called upon us? No,
remember now, they have not. They
are the only people, though"
81 can't at all make it out" goes on
Mr.. Van Wrinkle; 'every one else has
called. Why shouldn't they?"
perhaps they have heard we are
Americans suggests Miss Julia.
THAT should be no reason" replies
her father
There are some English people who
don't like Americans, I know. Don't
you remember those people at Cannes
last year, who refused to be introduced
to us, or, rather, refused to allow us 10
be introduce to them? Nasty, hateful
thingsr'
Mr.. Van Wrinkle winces both at the
uncomplimentary reminder and at the
pronounced American" in his daugh-
ter's concluding words.
Eyes, l remember them" he replies,
loftily; "but ] don't altogether blame
them"
"Why, papa?'
"You forget the sort of Americans
they had constantly before them, my
dear Julia. Vulgar, purse-proud, push
ing people. They supposed us to be the
same, no doubt I'm sorry they did not
give us the opportunity of showing
them the contrary" he adds, drawing
himself up.
But, my dear, haven't we carefully
IL lot H.
known? ! thought you said we were
not to tell any one we were Americans, y
says Mrs. Van Wrinkle.
Certainly said So" says Mr.. Van
Winkle; latter people got to know us
thought would be time enough to tell
them what we were.''
"Im sure I've told no one" urges Mrs.
Van Wrinkle.
"Nor have L. adds Julia.
81 feel confident that no one has
found it out from me-" says Mr.. Van
Wrinkle, proudly.
ut is certainly very strange" OBJ
serves Mrs. Van Wrinkle; 1.-The house
agent told us they were the incest peo-
pie in the neighborhood, next of course
to the Portcullis family"
At the moment the rumble of car
riage-wheels sounds on the gravel of the
drive.
perhaps it's the Blennerhassetts
now" says Julia, rising quickly and GO
ing to one of the windows, as a carriage
drives past In the dim light without;
Eyes, it's brougham and pair with
coachman and footman, with cockades
in their hats. OF course it must be
them. Talk of the et catera, ct ceterd."
81 trust you have not instructed Wat
kins to say not at home, says Mr..
Van Wrinkle, as he pulls down his shirt
cuffs and wipes some specks of dust from
his coat-slceve; taking at the same time
glance at his scarf in the mirror over
the chimney-piece. II am most anx-
ious to meet these people"
Before Mrs. Van Wrinkle can reply,
the door is thrown open and the butler's
lips move in the articulation Of an an
nouncement whose phonetic effect upon
the ears of his listeners is:
"'Assetan' IS 'assetw
''Ah!' murmurs Mr.. Van Wrinkle to
himself, as Mrs. Bassett and Dora march
majestically into the room; 1.-THE
Blenncrhassets at last"
After mutual greetings of int nsest
British frigidity in the utterance OF
its hand-shakings, both sides doing
their best to appear English to the
other party, Mrs. Van Wrinkle says:
cit is so good OF you TO come and sec
u.s."
YES, we have been wondering why
you didn't call" Julia adds.
Mrs. Bassett and Dora exchange
glances.
"Of course IL is some new English
custom for strangers TO call first"
thinks Mrs. Bassctt; 81 mustn't appear
to be ignorant Of it, How lucky we
camel"
"YesY' she says aloud Its very good
of you to say SO, I'm sure We should
have called before. but several things
prevented"
1--WE are so anxious to sec Oakden,
remarks Julia; Its such fine place we
he
"Well, yes; II isn't bad sort of place, "
replies Dora: 1--WE should have PREFER
She stops short at a glance from her
mother, prefaced by the usual admoni.
tory and premonitory "A-hem!"
81 beg your pardon?" demands Mr..
Van Wrinkle, bending forward in his
chair to listen, much TO Dora's discom.
future, for she doesn't see her way out OF
the faUr pas she has all butmade
II don't know what It is,r she says TO
herself, "but IL must be something
wrong, from mammals face"
Her mother comes 10 her rescue:
DO you mean to say you have ncvor
teen thore?' she asks; show very odd
Mrs. Van Wrinkle is vaguely conscious
that Julia's remark was an inopportune
one, and favors her daughter with a
glance in accord with her feelings In
consequence.