GRACE DEARBORN'S PARTY.
The evening of Grace's birthday party arrived. A large number of
invitations had been sent out, for Mrs. Sheldon had a large circle of
acquaintances and friends The daily papers had already mentioned the
forthcoming party as likely to be one of the most memorable of the
season.
Mrs. Sheldon determined to spare no expense to make it so. She was not
vulgarly lavish, but there are occasions when she thought money should
be spent freely. Moreover, she was determined to do what she could to
secure a brilliant matrimonial alliance for her niece, of whose beauty
she was justifiably proud. Indeed she was a natural match-maker, though
she was compelled not to allow Grace to see her maneuvers too plainly,
as nothing would have been more repugnant to the niece than to think
she was set up as a prize in a matrimonial lottery.
A professional confectioner was given _carte blanche_ for the supper,
which was to be _recherche_, and the decorations were put into the
hands of a man whose taste was unimpeachable.
"Aunt Caroline," said Grace, "I am afraid you are going to large
expense on my party."
"Why should I not, my dear?"
"It seems wasteful. How many poor families could be relieved by the
money it will cost!"
"What a quixotic idea, Grace! In my opinion the poor have quite enough
done for them. Would you have us give up all amusements for their sake?"
"No, I won't go so far as that. Still it ought to check undue
extravagance to reflect that we have so many that are destitute among
us."
"They shall have their turn, Grace. I am sure you spend a great deal of
money on the poor."
"Not half enough, aunt."
"Then spend more, but in this matter don't object to my spending what I
like."
"I know, my dear aunt, it is all done for my sake."
"And very properly, my dear. I have no daughter, and all my interest
centers in you. By the way, I met Major Ashton in the street yesterday."
"Indeed!" said Grace, indifferently.
"Poor fellow, he looks downcast. Your repulse has wounded him sorely.
He loved you deeply."
A silvery laugh from Grace greeted this announcement, made with due
solemnity.
"Really, my dear aunt," she said, "I can't conceive of Major Ashton
loving anybody as well as himself."
"You do him wrong, Grace."
"Perhaps so, but I do not believe it."
"He is coming to the party."
"I supposed he would," said Grace, shrugging her shoulders.
"And I do hope, Grace, you will treat him kindly."
"I shall treat him politely, Aunt Caroline, if that is what you mean.
That is my duty, since he is to be our guest."
"Major Ashton could marry brilliantly."
"Let him, then."
"Everybody considers him an eligible _parti_."
"Then there is little cause for me to pity him. There are plenty who
will have compassion on him, and console him for my coldness."
"You must admit that he is a thorough gentleman, Grace."
"My dear aunt, I am rather tired of Major Ashton as a topic of
conversation. Suppose we drop him. I am ready to admit everything you
desire--he is elegant, a good match, fascinating, if you will, but he
will need to carry his fascinations to another market."
"She seems resolute," thought Mrs. Sheldon, "but she may change her
mind after all. Who was it said it is always best to begin with a
little aversion?"
In fact, Mrs. Sheldon had gone so far as to encourage Major Ashton, and
led him to think that there was hope for him after all. He was very
ready to accept this assurance, because he desired to do so. There was
no danger, however, of the major breaking his heart, for it was Grace's
fortune he was in love with, not herself. In fact, he was so far from
romantic that the idea crossed his mind that if the niece refused to
have anything to do with him, he might perhaps take up with the aunt.
"Mrs. Sheldon is a well-preserved woman," he reflected, "fifteen years
older than myself, perhaps, but her fortune is even greater than Miss
Dearborn's, and would set my affairs right at once, besides insuring
my comfort for the balance of my life. She must be worth at least a
quarter of a million."
Thinking, then, of the widow as a _dernier resort_, he treated her with
a flattering deference and courtly politeness that prepossessed her
still more in his favor, though she had not the faintest idea of the
direction of his thoughts with regard to herself.
At last the evening came. The house was a blaze of light and splendor.
Carriage after carriage rolled up the street and deposited its load at
Mrs. Sheldon's door.
Presently the rooms were well filled with elegantly dressed ladies and
irreproachably attired young men, who, in turn, paid their respects to
the givers of the party.
Grace was tastefully and even richly dressed, but suffered herself, in
the matter of attire, to be eclipsed by more than one of her guests.
Her aunt insisted on her wearing a superb diamond necklace belonging to
herself, but she declined.
"No, aunt; I don't want to array myself in borrowed plumes," she said.
"The necklace is yours; wear it yourself."
Which Mrs. Sheldon did at last. She was ready to lend it to her niece,
but was not insensible to the glances of admiration which it attracted
when displayed on her own neck.
"It must be worth twenty thousand dollars!" thought Major Ashton.
"Really, the old girl is radiant. If she ever becomes Mrs. Major
Ashton, in place of her niece resigned, I shall slyly substitute a
necklace of paste and convert the jewels to my own use. It is sinful
that so much good money should be locked up."
It was well for the major's popularity with Mrs. Sheldon that she could
not read his thoughts. Her necklace was her most valued possession, and
nothing except actual need would have induced her to part with it.
Grace looked about from time to time for the young artist.
Finally she saw him approaching to salute her.
"I am glad to see you here, Mr. Vernon," she said, with a smile of
welcome. "You are late."
"Yes, Miss Dearborn. I hope you will excuse it. As you are aware, I
have few acquaintances here--indeed I do not often stray into such
fashionable surroundings--and only came for a brief space, to show my
appreciation of your kind courtesy in inviting me here, and to offer my
congratulations on your birthday."
"Thank you, Mr. Vernon, they are welcome. I hope your mother is well."
"Very well, thank you, and I am sure she will feel proud of your
inquiry."
"I believe most of my guests have arrived, and I may venture to leave
my duties as assistant hostess. If you will favor me with your arm, I
will walk about a little."
With a flush of gratification the artist tendered his arm, and the two
promenaded through the elegant parlors, attracting general attention.
"Why, I declare!" said Miss Framley to her escort; "do you see that?"
"See what?"
"Miss Dearborn, promenading with that young man?"
"Why shouldn't she? He is quite distinguished in his appearance."
"Distinguished?" repeated Miss Framley, with a sneer. "I guess you
don't know him."
"He isn't a cook, is he--or a waiter?"
"No; but he is a poor portrait painter. Why, he painted my picture for
twenty dollars, and he was glad of the job," said Miss Framley, who was
innately vulgar.
"Poor devil! Then he must have been hard up," said the gentleman,
to whom it occurred that this was an illustration of Miss Framley's
meanness.
"Oh, yes, he was poor enough; but I believe he is doing a little better
now. Still, it is singular that Miss Dearborn should single him out as
her escort from so many. I wouldn't promenade with him!" continued the
young lady, tossing her head.
"I ought to feel flattered that you prefer me, Miss Framley."
"Oh, you are quite a different kind of person," said the young lady,
with a coquettish smile.
There was another who saw the two pass him with equal disgust, and more
dissatisfaction. This was Major Ashton.
"Upon my soul!" he said to himself. "What can Grace Dearborn see in
that beggar? I'll soon separate them!"
He stepped up with his usual assurance, and, bowing, said:
"May I venture to relieve this gentleman of his pleasant duty, and
substitute myself in his place?"
"Not at present, Major Ashton," said Grace, coldly; "unless Mr. Vernon
is weary of his charge."
"Far from it," said the young artist.
"Presuming puppy!" muttered Major Ashton, as the two passed on.