ust his foot. Torm Hartman's leg's right off to
his hip, and he's got a fat look to him. Mr. V.V.'s sorry like he wanted
to do something, and something in him knewed all the time he
couldn't ever."

"Somep'n in him knewed--jever hear such foolishness! I'll take the broom
to this floor. You go along to bed now. Didn't I hear you promise him?"

"Mommer, I'm going. Only I druther of went to the party," said Kern.

X

A Beautiful New Year's Party, and who spoiled it, and how;
how Something is done, after all, for she tells the Man
plainly that he mustn't speak to her any more.

By eleven o'clock the festivities approached their height: even the
ultra-fashionable had arrived, even the ultra-conservative had not
departed for bed. The affair was none of your wholesale routs. Old Mr.
Beirne, who had long claimed the eve of the New Year for the hospitable
repayment of his social dues, had lived to see the list of his friends
shrink fast as Old Years ticked out. Nevertheless, the scene now was
indubitably inspiriting. Lively groups decorated all the purview. White
shirt-fronts gleamed: white shoulders did the same. The fragrance of
flowers filled the air, filled likewise with the gay hum of voices. From
behind a coppice of shrub and palm Professor Wissner's band of select
artists continually seduced the feet. Toward the dining-room regions
rose the sounds of refined conviviality. Servitors moved about with
trays. Mrs. Clicquot's product fizzed, for the proper ceremonious
induction of another year.

It was a most enlivening ensemble, full of pleasant attractions to the
senses; and through it moved Carlisle Heth, the most beautiful lady,
with a look like that of a queen in a book. In that gay company she was
the proudest figure, the object of all most captivating to the eye, save
one; and that one, an Olympian in evening dress, sauntered splendidly
at her side.

Mr. Canning to-night made his debut in the local gay world. Constant as
had been his attentions for a number of days, he had hitherto held
steadfastly to his valetudinarian stand against general society. He had
gambolled, indeed, but he had gambolled strictly _a deux_. In his
present willingness to break through his invalid rules, and appear as
her acknowledged squire before the flower of her world, Carlisle's
heart had recognized the crowning proof of his interest. Small wonder if
in prospect this victorious evening had been starred in h