Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-02-09
NUMBER 6.


lunch with some one or some one
would iauch with Us at the Aloorings.
Afterward there would be drive,
calls to E:ake. perhaps two or three
wonderful "at homes" or concerts,
with grelt singers and entertainers
from New York. t2-eity minutes rest
ard then scramble TO dress for din.
ner. with dinner dance" to follow,
or aua.e,lr thcatricals.
CT ooGrse as haven't been pre-
seuied yet AMI don't know anything
About Whit TIE se.IsOI IS Ike In town.
Except what Vie has told me. ! can't
irCg' %! thp Ll~erencps at first hand,
Lt.e th!l Vic has told he aslot. and l
have :ieIrd Stan and Lovcland talk.
il2 ldeS ore seems to know ones own
co,,:!,.y AID country people by instinct
without harip2 actually to see what
they do. ard I'm sure that even I'm the
smartcst set ut home they don't dream
Of bothcring their heads to think OF
such original entertainments as In
America.
In England there are just two or
three kinds Of parties. You give a
crush. which Is grand II you have
big house, or you ask few bright,
particular ones and enjoy yourself. or
In the country you have house party
and pick out the men because they
can shoot and the women because
they are pretty, or else, II it's winter,
you hunt and you have theatricals.
But the Americans at Newport turn
up their noses at that slow. old fash.
ioned kind Of thing. They lie awake
nights Q'm sure they must to think
of something so original that nobody
else can ever have had anything the
least like II before. II Is better too,
to have 1t very sensational and star.
Ting. II you are invited to q party,
you never know bit what 1t will be
like. whether you will dance in q
barn and eat your supper on horseback
out Of decorated managers. whether
there will be captive balloons at a
garden party, whether q Noah's ark
will have been rugged up on a minia.
ture lake or whether you will have Q
pair of skates provided for you and
find yourself cutting figures on the ice
in gorgeously Illuminated skating
rink. with the thermometer up to good.
ness knows how many degrees outside
OF course. in Il place where every.
body gets nervous prOstration trying
to outdo everybody else In originality
and extravaganza, ii wouldn't be like
Mrs. Ess Kay to let herself fall behind.
She simply made up her mind that
her big entertainment should be the
affair OF the season before she decided
what form X should take. She thought
instead OF sleeping for several nights
and began to wear the expression on
her face which have In motor cars
when | think we are going to tele.
scope with something twice our size,
and am trying to prepare for eternity
with pleasant smile on my lips. She
ate scarcely anything. telephoned
good deal and took phenacetin in hot
milk Then suddenly 1t came to her
| mean the idea.
We were ut lunch when she thought
Of it, and luckily there were no visitors
except Mrs. Pitchley and Carolyn,
Mohunsleigh and Tom Doremus. II
was bad enough even with them, for
she half sprang up, then sat down
again first going red. then going pale,
and we all thought she was getting
rrady to faint. But as soon as she
could speak she said. when we shrieked
ut her. IFS nothing-nothing. I've
JUS; thought OF something. that's ALL"
Afterwn"d. when she and Sally and
Pot,e" AMI were alone together. she
tn'G - tina. 1T last she had got the
Inspiration for her big entertainment.
1t was two days after the violet tea,
so il was quite time she should get II,
she aid. and she had been dreadfully
worried because the invitations ought
to go out almost mt once. The famous
pink ball at the Casino was for the
ODD. and she wanted to have her party
lie night before. SO that everybody
would he worn out, and the ball would
fall fiat
But we've got our cards all right
now" said Potter. "Why do you want
10 queer the show?"
Il intend to show Mrs. Van der
Windt what can do" she answered.
Suppose lot Of the people you
want refuse you. so that they can be
fresh for the hall?" Sally suggested.
"They won't" said Mrs. Ess Kay,
Awhen they have seen what shall say
IN the invitations"
Then she got up. went to her desk,
took out some engraved cards which
she had ready, all but filling In the
date. and wrote something In one cor
ner. What do YOU think Of thatf'
she asked Sally.
sally took The card. looked at 1t FOR
a minute. laughed and passed 1t on 10
me. while Potter came and stared over
my shoulder.
She had written across the card:
Fancy Dress. with Masks. 4 Visit
to the Maze: and Aladlin's Cave"
"Do you think that Will bring
themT she inquired. with a triun-
phant and mysterious air.
81 think 1t will" said Sally.
"You know your business. old GIRL"
remarked Potter They'll want to
know what 1t means, and they'll be
bound to come and find out. What Is
your Idea, anyway
"Ill tell you another time," said
Mrs. Ess Kay. II should like 1t TO be
a surprise for Betty, just rs 1t Will be
for the people outside. She'll enjoy IL
more"
I didn't tease to know the secret,
though I was really curious, especial
ly about Aladdin's cave, which SEEM
ed to promise something gorgeous.
The mystery was religiously kept, bus
there was plenty Of excitement In
sending out the invitations.
fro BE CONTINUED
Surprise For the Thief