The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-25
HER FIRST DINNER.
CHARACTERS:

CHARACTERS:
MR.. VAN LUYDAM BEEDAM.A Society Nan
JACK Miss AshhuFsts Proshsr
ALIt Friend
scene-A coupe. in which the debutante, BE-
wlderiBg mass OF white satin and furs. IL
being driven rapidly % her destination.
Debutante in a funk oh. dear. how cold my
hands are And my thrOat's 50 dry rave 20 swai-
low every FIVE seconds I've forgotten sll Jacks
advice too What shall do? Good gracious.
here we are lBreathes silent prayer. grIhs her
gloves fan, etc. frantically. and yanishes With
in a brillisntly-lighted mansion
Lackey iOpening dOOrl-Second hoor, 'front.'.
IDebutante r,rshes past him w the stairs. fsar-
fnl o. being late, and hursles s into 'fs
dainty gowns. but brushes by theF, Do
livious Of everything-l lii
Alice Tout two yearsl-Nhy, hafiaE. dOn yoh
know me? Is this your first dinner: AREN'T YOU
frightened! But no, YOU look as calm IS an 0ld
campaigner. want you % meet Miss 49, In
trCduces her to the others.I
Debutante blowing and smiling uervOusiy =
am glad YOU think. Alice. I look calm. FranslY.
its all | can do to keep my teeth from CHATTER
ing.
Alice-What nonsense. But what are we wait
ing fort Let's go down. The debutante trails
reluctantly in the rear.
yoices-Iiow do YOU do2 How are you? Let
mc present . Allow me 20 introduce. etc
Hostess-ih! Miss Ashhurst. 50 glad 10 80
you Allow me to present Mr.. Van Luydam Bee
dam.
Miss Ashhurst lwho wonders vaguely why she
thinks at that moment II Jack in Of bis
tempersl How do you dOy
Mr.. Van Luydun B-ed1rn-Miss Ashhurst.
believe l have the pleasure Of taking you IN 20
Mis- Ashhurst is saved from the aywar,lress q
reply bv dinner being announced
Mr.. Van Luvtlam Beedam % himself -She's
pretty. but. JOye I shall have 10 wiring every
word out Of her know that sort. lAiousE 1t
Us consider Miss Ashhurst. that have discussed
al fka.r
last new bOOk-Jnd lets promote ourselves % a
more intimate understanding and discuss each
other. We viii each give personal sketch.
Now YOU begin
Miss Ashhurst WHOM nobody could put at her
easel-NO. please: / can't. really; YOU begin
Finds that she Is the last girl 70 draw Oh her
gloves and tugs away frdnticailv.l
Mr.. Van Luydam Beetldm IresignedlvI -Weil.
I'll account for myself u give you cJurags.
I nothing IL not commonplace. l 1--we IN a
most respectable quarter u the town, with a
most unimpeachabie parent, and al my sHr-
r0undings from childhood have been Of eS-
trene proprety and sp0tess virtue.
Miss A-hhurst 10 heTselfl-HeJvenst I've used
some other fork instead OF tine oyster 'Drk. WHIT
shall do I'm sure he sIw IT, A'nd.I Tel m
some nlore-do-
Mr. Van Luvdau BcetIari raltteradI-Such en-
vironments ought 70 have been NY ruin, Eut
was far too lazy, and ana al present merely
harmless butterfly.
Looks lt his companion and encounters a stony
stare Of horror. What can be the natter
with herr Is she i'll? Goes On talking.
brlyeiy. il di-connectCdlgI
Mis- Ashhurst TO herselIl-W hat Is that creep
ing up my neckg Follows it cautiously with her
hand. AID encounters atom % on insect Why
did she wear those yiolets:i
Mr. Van Luyd3m Beed1m 70 himself ~ h1nS
heavens she has taken IF that IJ6. Mould
Now. really 10 Is your turn
Miss AshhuTst living retSI--5'g FIVE bsCn our
three years J used 70 D. faIri.iIl- nervous aud
easily ratified. but I've gotten over that entirely
I Again that feeling On her neck l. cant Pc
/ but 10 isl
Nr Van Luydam Beedam 10 himself Most
extraordinary Young person There's that express
sion again. Aloud Please g on. you're dJirg
finely
Miss Ashhurst seizing opportunity. wien her
neiglbor Is helping himself % something.
to take of her violets and drop them un-
der the table
Mr. Van Luydam Beei1m rtsrrirgI Why, Mis-
Ashhurst where are your vJlets.
Miss Ashhurst bIushing They were tdsd. 81
I threw them away
m Van Luydln Beejam Ito himself That's
a lie. [Al0Cd. Excuse me for beng PERSONAL,
Miss AsiIhurst. but yoa have eaten absolutely
Miss Ashhurst who shivers at the mere men
ton Of foodi-WhAt an idea: I've eaten e11r-
Mr.. Van Luvdan Beadam Ito himself -Iorr.
That's another. Nloud. Aren't sou gong %
throw any more light your ,h-sac'er3
Miss Ashhurst-NO, really. there d nothing els,
t. tell. To herself. On whore j. nv slipper I
kicked il Of because Il hurt. and E'W can't
fud it, Peers desperately under the table
YOUR glove. OF anything Let me get &C. .St9oPs
down.
Miss A.hiurst TO herselr-Hs mast rot fni
It, Aloud No. iEdged. here they both are.
Holds her gloves Up ,agerit-t
she sees her hostess give the signal tJr def-
rarturc She 9lr-t conceal her i1s-. Npts
sdieu 70 Mr. Van Luvdam BcedIm aud
hn,is out % her ,1sJ that there j.
difference between French heel ard NJ
slipper
Mr. Van Luyd1m Bertlam TO himself a. lie
lights 4 cigar and signs Cautsutedlv j wun.ier
IL that walk OF hers IS natural. or cultivated:
Seere-Thc dr4wiuz-room. The gentlemen
have Joined the ladies. and talk flows IN
smoothly. The door is opened. and on the
thrc-bhsld appears the sizid figure Of she
butler. bearing tray. on which white
satin slipper .-ureIy a No. 80 rests con-
sDcu1usy. Ttblcau-I
scene.-y7Ss A-LLur-rs home. TjHe-mid-
night.
Mrs. Ashhur~t rCorrs7rtng q weeping figure T.
Don't cry. Marian. The first piugr is always the
coolest.
Miss Nshhurst between -5h-' -uh- InIg1uli,--
is there-arc therc-auy bi-guI~-in-thc house: