Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-06
DEAR EU G. ENIA
WRITTEN EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE EVENING
STAR BY ANNA VERNON DORSEY.

TNHE TEA WAS EVIDENTLY AT FULL
Il blast As handed my card to the footnar
at the door and fingered a moment in the hal
before entering the drawing room, whenc,
arose babel Of voices bethought myself Of
two lines of Heines:
Were Ghenzfs Khan. oh. China, low IN dust hsds
thou been lyingi
From thy cursed tea came parties. and Of them I'm
slowly dying"
1objurgated teas in general, and Washington
teas In particular, as being opposed to the whole
tenor Of the masculine intellect. Conscious OF
my own lack Of self confidence / called myself
IN idiot for Drawing the ordeal of a room full oil
people. half Of whom would be strangers and
the other half totally forgetful Of my name and
existence during NV seven years absence. So
ciety had shifted ard changed during that
time. and i, If / lived at all in the memory Of
any Of its habitues. was remembered merely as
. species, ensign of the genus. naval officer.
NV timidlty ending. with most bashful
men. in a state Of nervous boldness. entered
the doorway and found myself in the glare and
chatter Of a crowd. nv first Washington crush
since my return Seeing several familiar faces
and summoning all nv once facile society man
ner started upon the tour of the room, pausing
here and there for recognition
why, Mrs Lewis, how glad am to see YOU
again. And this is your daughter? did not
hope TO any one / knew. Well, judge you
here also! This is delightful And you also,
Mrs. Jackson" Wound up like machine, 1
was Just on the point of adding to nv hostess,
And dear Mrs Thomas? This is a surprise ~
when my course was fortunately checked.
Appearing from behind large man. who,
ike Finner whale in a shoal of porpoises
had stopped the current toward the dining
room, lady suddenly grasped me by the hand,
saving:
Mr.. Hilliard-of all the people IN the world
The last time i saw you was at Mare Island.
You don't look q bit as if you knew me-"
'Of course ! do. 1t is impossible to forget
Mrs BoydtOn Grey"
She was tall. with features like George Eliofs,
her white hair was brushed back and she had,
since last saw her, accrued a set Of false teeth
"Flatterer. but you always were charming
Come to see me. i want to have long talk
about old times Provoking that can't sta v
now. but dear Eugenia Is waiting for me. I
with me, whom you must know. Where are
You staying!
gave her my card. She raised her lorgnette
TO her keen, small eyes, gave it an approving
glance and said:
That's good. Always stop in fashionable
neighborhood if you wish to be in the swim.
An, still holding my hand, you are such a
clever fellow. so simpatica. Come to see me
Tuesday Dear Lillian" to an expanse Of
white neck and blonde head, ''are you receiv-
Ing here! Where is the Secretary? You
naughty girl. why didn't you make him Gomez
She was swept away by the tide and could
only see the lilac bow Of her bonnet beyond the
shoulder OF the stout man, who had begun to
move He was evidently celebrity. for a little
woman IN blue, towing him along, was calling
shrilIy, Count, oh. count, come this way,
want to help you to some punch" to which ne
pantingly and automatically assented.
The next day among my mail. directed to the
Metropolitan Club, found the following card: