Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1892-08-18

III tell you what, Nick" said Leo
pold, after a pause, II feel this respon-
slbiIity is too much for us. Let us put
the cards in u pockets and distribute
them personally, when we go out by
and by"
"a the club-yes, that's all very
well for the men, but what about the
girls?'
Let each fellow bring his own,n re-
pied the other, with a mischiayous
twinkle in his eye; "but we must have
no Lady r. BIS compliments"
Capital! and if old Mayne gives a
good supper, and his wine is up TO
The mark, l warrant their ball will be
the talk of the town"
Mrs. Mayne fancied that her pa
troness must have forgotten her, so few
were The replies from people she did
mol know that she received to her in
vitaiions. All her own friends and
those of her daughters had accepted
immediately, for the news had got
about somehow that the party would
be mentioned in the papers. Prepare
IONS at Colchester Terrace proceeded
at The most muniiicent rate; papa
Mayne had given carte blanche to.the
supper and decorations, making only
the stipulation that the wine merchant
should be 5idden 4 the festivitv, to
order IN secure a 5 per cent discount
oil the extraordinary champagne he
had undertaken to provide. ..And be-
sides, my love- he said TO his wife.
"Iom Swipes is "A most ~presontablc
fellow, with a highly a~ristoeratic con-
n%ection, and he has already heard
glowing accounts of your ball; he tells
me that several of his clients arc COM
ing, though for the life of me | can not
think who they are"
"Lady Rosamunl's friends. of course.
goose! know that she deals with him
because he subscribes TO the 'Tolree-
drops"
AT length the ~eventful evening ar
rived. The girls descended from their
drcssing-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 Elizabeth,
tie housemaid, was certain that who
over beat Miss Alexandria's light blue
would be the belle of the ball. Mrs.
Mayne herself, in brocade gown, and
a new set of cameo Jewels, was as
handsomely attired as becomes a ma
tronly hostess launching her offspring
upon London society; whilo her hus-
band, in the highest of white gloves,
was bcaming over with satisfaction
that the guinea he had paid for the
announcement of MRS. Mayne's first
dancc,'' under the head of Arrange
ments' in a daily paper, was as well
laid out as any money he had ever
spent in his life.
The guests seemed to dribble in, to
begin with. There was Il long pause
between the first conner and his sue
cessor, but afterward they tumbled in,
apparently arriving in bus loads. and
when the music sounded n preliminary
extra valsc there must have been fifty
persons present But Mrs. Mayne and
family were far from happy yet, be-
cause none of her expected I'M
knowns had arrived. Surely Lady
Rosamund had not forsaken her? No;
for there were her two sons, Nicholas
dancing with Victoria, and Leopold
with Alexandria; and even il no one
else appeared, was not this as much
as q fond mother could expect-her
two daughters dancing with two such
noblc-blooded aud good-looking scions
of the a~ristocraoy? Goodness knows
where her joyful, maternal thoughts
took her to. At any rate her inclina-
ton and a city friend of her husbands
-o1k her TO the refrcshment buffet,
and by the time she returned to the
ballroom the crowd was very consid-
crably augmented.
.'Who is that charming girl in
brown, with the diamond ~necklaccp"
..What a smart-looking oma that
is in the white terry velvet. What
pearlsrn
.'lIow we'll that stoutish girl in grey
does dance, to be surei"
What beautiful jcwelsl Just a lit
tie too decollete, don't you think?'
These were a few of many similar
remarks that were going round the
ballroom. And they were justified.
A change had come DER the spirit of
the entertainment. The ordinary per-
sons who constituted the Mayne's fam
ily's guests, had sunk almost beneath
the level of observation, drowned in
the brilliancy of these gayly-appareled
ladies and gentlemen, whose very
names their host and hostess did not
know. That they had been invited by
Lady Rosamund BroadStairs there was
no doubt, but it was somewhat strange
that no one should have Introduced
them, though any n could see, and
every one did see, that they were per-
sons of quality. ''Iheir are SO
natural, one Miss Mayne observed to
the other.
Presently Mr.. Nicholas Broadstairs
found leisure to talk TO Mrs. Maync,
and ne assured her that this was the
most enjoyable dance of the season.
81 expect some more people pres
entity" be said, .'aflcr the thUater. BY
the way, 1 forgot TO give you my moth
er's message. She sends her love, but
did not feel well enough to come out.
Nothing serious. | trust. Please
goodness she will be all right to-mor-
row. Can you tell me who is the gen.
tleman in the white waistcoat talking
to the lady in mauvcP"
THAT is Lord Marennes, the Earl OF
Whitestable's eldest sou, a friend of
mine. Ireally ought TO have present.
ed him to you, butyou were away when
they arrived; aud the boy with carroty
hair is Lord Chcddar-he1l be Marquis
of Silton when lis father goes out;
that man walking round with your
daughter is Reggie Rcdlight, of the
Guards; there is Sir George Draw
bridge talking TO Tommy Swipes; the
wine merchant. They are all SO much
obliged to you for your hospitality.
Mrs. Mayne.'
This was something like society, in
deed! Two lords, a baronct, guards
men. and no end of swells. Mrs.
Wayne ~inwardly returned thanks to
the providence that, through the me-
dunn of the ..Toffeedrop aud Sherbet
Association had brought her thi,
good fortune. Certainly she would
have liked to be introduced to these
aris.ocralic young gentlemen. And
the ladies? Who are they with your
friends?" she asked.
.'All moro or less connections OF the
gentlemen who brought them, Mrs
Mayne. Don't dance? Do try a turn.
Mop Well, au rcvoir," and MIR. Mich
olas turned upon his heel, leaving his
hostese 20 convey his Intelligence 10
her husband, who, of course. ielt
equally flattered with herself. But 1t
at supper that her triumph was
complete. When this substantial nleai
at its height there arose IN ms
place none other than Lord Marennes,
before referred TO, aud proposed the
health of the lost aud hostess in The
most complimentary, if occasionally
II ,Lantad thpm for