Whatever opening there was for a pun, there was in audible whispers round the throng, which had recertainly none by which Mr. Ketchum could es- ceded to give place to the equipage of the beaucape. The resolute manner in which he was hem-ties. Piper extended one long leg towards it, but med in, caused an uproar, which brought the obse- bashfulness, or some equally potent cause, arrested quious Mr. Snipper to the door of his establish- the natural impulse of bringing up the other, and ment, where he stood bowing and waving his hand, like the manager of a theatre, desirous of gaining the attention of a riotous audience before making any useless expenditure of breath.

“Gentlemen,” he began, "excuse the liberty I take in requesting you will give over this strife-I am fearful it may lead to consequences injurious to some of you, and detrimental to my credit-I entreat as a favor that you will disperse."

While Mr. Snipper was delivering this address, Mr. Ketchum had by some means made his escape, and his figure presented a ludicrous appearance,scarcely a button being left on his coat. Mr. Snipper beckoned him into the shop, where he remained.

there he stood, like a gigantic pair of compasses,
ready to describe some geometrical figure.
Miss Juliana next inquired for "gloves.”
"What color!"
"White."

"I'll swear," cried Piper, changing his position of extension, "she's going to Mrs. Shooter's party—white gloves!'-does not that look suspicious?"

A long enumeration of articles, all white,' succeeded.

"She is evidently preparing for Mrs. Shooter's party," again exclaimed Piper—“ I see it all—she is to appear as Innocence-white-robed Innocence."

"Her choice is judicious," remarked Tubman, "for let her, or any young woman of the present day, assume that character, and she will be completely in-cog."

By this time the crowd began to discover that they had committed themselves by their overanxiety, and a stillness as of death reigned among them, occasionally broken by a whispered sentence, Piper looked as if he could have demolished the audible alone to the ear to which it was directed. speaker, and said to some one near him, that it Mr. Snipper fearing that the re-appearance of "was fortunate that Dr. Tubman's observation was Ketchum might create a re-action, earnestly re- general, for had it been applied solely to Miss Metquested him to decamp by the back-way. Before calf he would have called him to an account urging this advice however, he began untying a for it."

parcel of "the freshest, softest, and most elastic Miss Juliana's taste was fastidious-the clerk's articles, in the way of gloves," he had ever met arms were ready to succumb to the effort of elewith, and which, he solemnly assured Mr. Ketch-vating heaps of goods to the carriage window for um, "he would sell to him lower than he could the inspection of the young beauty, who at last afford them to any one else."

While this bargain was in operation at one end of the store, at the other, standing before the counter, which was piled with fancy goods of all colors and descriptions, were stationed Mrs. Peabody and her daughter, carrying on a dialogue which they intended to be in a whisper.

consented to alight and suit herself from a more extensive assortment, than could be otherwise shown her; and followed by her sisters, she proceeded to the store.

The younger ladies appeared to shrink at view of the crowd, but Juliana's eyes, as they ran hastily over it, rested an instant on Piper, and a slight

"You had better not be in a hurry my dear; wait smile of recognition passed over her features. until you are invited."

66

"O I am sure Mrs. Shooter will invite me," answered Priscilla, "she bowed very pointedly to me this morning."

Pi

per not emboldened by this flattering distinction, stood with his back to a sign-post, shivering all over.

"Here come the Miss Metcalfs," said an ac"Well, I don't know," said the cautious old mat- quaintance to Priscilla, "let us see what they will ron, “but I think I would wait. You cannot afford buy, before you have that yellow crape cut!”—and to throw away money at this rate. If you are re-the friends placed themselves like guard-ships close solved upon buying, get something cheap."

"If I don't get the white satin and yellow crape," said Priscilla sullenly, "I'll just march off without any thing at all.”

The wheels of a carriage at this moment rattled over the pavement, and stopped before Mr. Snipper's store. A face radiant and lovely as that of the Queen of Love, appeared from one of the windows, and a voice soft as the tones of an Eolian harp, asked Mr. Snipper's young man, who had skipped to the door, for "white gauze."

to the fashionable trio.

"Twenty yards, did you say ma'am?” repeated the shopman after Miss Juliana, in order that any error made by his auricular organs might be rectified.

"Yes, sir."

"And twenty of the pink"-" And as many of the violet," added the younger sisters :-" Not one of them has chosen yellow," said Priscilla, casting upon her privy counsellor a look of unutterable gratitude, at having been spared the misfortune of "Miss Juliana Metcalf, and her sisters!"-ran buying a dress, neither white, pink or violet.

"What ladies are those ?" asked Ketchum, as Ketchum, as hastening from the shop, he returned they went out. to his lodgings.

"Is it possible you do not know," said Snipper"Is it possible!-Why the Miss Metcalfs-the The blank faces seen the following morning in three graces-as they are called," and Mr. Snip-R, were neither 'few, nor far between.' Emper continued in a strain of encomium that might barrassed salutations were exchanged among achave awakened the jealous fears of Mrs. Snipper, quaintances; for those whose bosoms harbored the had she been present. dread secret of not having an invitation, shrunk from the fear of exposure, and from the triumph and exultation that must announce the more fortunate aspirants. Poor Piper was thrown into such an agitation at seeing Dr. Tubman advance with a scrap of paper in his hand, that his legs formed obtuse angles, and his arms horizontal lines, as they were stretched forth to claim the aid of a neighboring wall.

As it had been foreseen, the re-appearance of Ketchum at the door acted like fire upon gunpowder. There was an instant explosion, and a general rush towards him. Mr. Snipper's doors flew forward on their hinges, and were locked and

barred in a moment.

Whether Mr. Ketchum was, or was not in the possession of any thing calculated to throw light on 'the clouds and darkness' resting on Mrs. Shooter's party, is uncertain, but he declared, "sink or swim,' he would keep the secret."

Night began to spread itself over the streets of R―, without the crowd showing any disposition to disperse. Like an army under an experienced general, they had planted posts and taken up positions.

"I am a little unstrung this morning," he said to Tubman.

"Yes," returned he, "I perceive your legs are not screwed up to concert pitch."

"To be candid with you," said Piper, whose sensations of mortification yielded to the necessity of unburdening himself of the weight of his sorrow, "I have not received an invitation to Mrs. Shooter's party, and I thought that perhaps you held one in your hand."

Mr. Snipper's decoy flags, comprising remnants of calicoes, bombazines, and bombasettes, still remained floating to the breeze, while Mrs. Snipper's "And do you think that I would run about with head thrust through an upper window, like a great it like a madman, if I had received one? What gun from the embrasure of a beleaguered fortress, care I for Mrs. Shooter's or Mrs. any-body's parwas ready to discharge a volley at the first who should attempt violence, "to the banners of her lord."

A ruse de guerre seemed the only alternative in effecting the escape of Ketchum; and while a couneil of war was holding on the occasion, an unexpected circumstance at once changed the aspect of affairs.

The scattered fragments of the crowd were seen flying in the various directions of their homes, as the liveried lacquey of Mrs. Shooter, mounted on horseback, trotted past Snipper & Co's. dry-good store, bearing on his arm a basket, from which peeped, something, resembling billets.

Here then was sufficient proof to have hung Mrs. Shooter, had the affair been of a criminal nature; for that these were notes of invitation there could be no doubt. Some even ventured to affirm having seen their fold and superscription-others, the strands of silk confining the important documents. According to the common propensity of mankind to store futurity with that most agreeable to their h ́pes and wishes, all who had the slightest acquaintance with Mrs. Shooter, had fixed in their minds the certainty of an invitation. No wonder then, that the crowd which had lately been almost ready to cover the premises of Mr. Snipper with redoubts and entrenchments, should have so abruptly disbanded; for each individual, in imagination, was hastening to receive the confirmation of his longindulged expectations. Similar feelings actuated

ty?-there are fools to be met with at every step, without the need of a special summons to meet them," and he walked off, muttering as he went, that he "never saw a man make such an ideot of himself, in all his life."

"Well," said Piper, assuming a brisk air, and addressing every one that passed, "I suppose you are in the heat of preparation ?”

"Not I"-and "not I"-were successively answered.

Piper began to breathe again, and, as he felt the buddings of hope, his figure gradually assumed the perpendicular. Mr. Dashwood's assurance of knowing nothing about the party, was a final quietus to his fears, and he experienced sensations akin to those of a condemned malefactor, whose sentence of death has been unexpectedly revoked.

Mrs. Shooter's party continued to be the undying theme of conversation. Neither the sun nor moon in eclipse were ever scrutinized with more curiosity, than were the movements of that lady's servants. In short, the town of R-— had become a complete nest of Paul Prys. The toils of its industry, the efforts of its talent, the soarings of its genius, alike forgetful of their legitimate ends, approximated to one common centre.

Those of the female part of the community at that period of life when imagination is brightest and hope the most ardent, had already commenced the work of extravagant preparation. Band-boxes filled with every species of finery with which young

women take pride in adorning themselves, were seen flying in every direction; so that the ladies, as Ketchum remarked, were actually "boxing the compass."

The apparition of the tickets of invitation still remained a riddle; but the human mind, ever fruitful in conjecture, found no difficulty in assigning causes for the non-distribution of the contents of the basket.

Dashwood, who all along had predicted a "Fancy Ball," was seen at the milliner's, hung round with silks and satins, in order to decide which would become him most, in the gorgeous dress of the "Great Cham of Tartary."

"There goes the carriage," said Miss Peabody to her mother, who instantly comprehending why the definite article was used, hobbled to the window to get a peep at it; but before her high backed chair was left three steps in the rear, Mrs. Shooter's fiery-footed steeds had whirled their gay burden out of sight.

"Good morning, Miss Priscilla," said Ketchum, penetrating the disguise of the poke bonnet and old cloak belonging to her mother, in which the former had ensconsed herself before leaving the house to make some final purchases," how do you do, this fine morning?"

The only reply to this salutation, was a quick Envy, that bane of society, began its work in step-but Ketchum overtaking her, again repeated breasts hitherto strangers to the passion, and sev-it. Priscilla finding there was no reliance to be placed on her strong holds, looked up and bowed. "Well, how come on your preparations? I hear you are to be 'Iris,' arrayed in the seven primary colors."

eral young men, whose liberal taste for expense was restrained by their narrow fortunes, aroused themselves like lions, determined to dispute the prize with every competitor for fine effect and dazzling magnificence.

66

Seven," re-echoed she. "I have only three colors in my dress, violet, pink, and white." "White! that's no color at all-there's no white in the rainbow."

"I should like to hear you prove white is no co

At the corners of every street, knots of persons might be heard canvassing the merits of different costumes, or balancing the probabilities of when these costumes might be required. As one of these groups moved slowly forward, Piper, who made lor-at any rate it is the color Miss Juliana is to part of it, halted, with the sudden exclamation-wear." "By Gracious! there come the Metcalfs-I feel as if I had not courage to meet them to day." "Why not?" said Ketchum-"I am sure we have all met calves before."

"You had better leave off sir," said Piper, "if you know when you are well."

"Now in Heaven's name, my dear fellow, what, have you to do with the Miss Metcalfs ?-something more than friendship must be at the bottom of thiscome, confess."

Good

"Oh, if not to be found with the beau, it may with the belle-the argument is unanswerable. morning, Miss-Peabody."

Dashwood beckoned Ketchum across the street. "What's in the wind now?" said the latter, as they shook hands.

"There is something deuced strange about this party of Mrs. Shooter's," said Dashwood. "Though not disposed to view small things with the microscopic eye of Piper, yet I own, there are circum"He has nothing more to confess," said Dr. stances which puzzle me—this one, for instance— Tubman, “than that Miss Juliana, besides having (though as Piper is my authority I ought not pergreat expectations, is an heiress in her own right—haps to place much reliance on it,) I met the fellow a subject on which few gentlemen are sane; and shortly since, in such a trepidation, that if he his head is so filled with odd fancies about it, that reaches home without breaking his neck, I shall it is quite surprising"wonder. He is always on the qui vive you know, "Not at all surprising," said Ketchum, "that and this morning he discovered Delanoy overa Piper's head should run upon crotchets. But whelmed in preparing the costliest and most exquisee, the ladies have gone into the jeweller's-site confectionary. Piper immediately smelt a rat, another sign of the times."

But where was Mrs. Shooter? Like royalty, she was seldom visible to vulgar eyes; but when she did appear, no sovereign, ancient or modern, was ever attended by a stronger body-guard. In alighting from her carriage, her feet were rarely permitted to touch the ground; for, like a citadel ready on every emergency—she was continually under arms. If she dropped her handkerchief or glove, gladiatorial feats ensued for the prize, and for the unspeakable felicity of restoring it to its owner; and the echoes on the lake of Killarney were less wonderfully multiplied, than were her sayings and opinions.

and began questioning him, but could obtain no satisfaction, and was hurried out with no over-abundant share of ceremony, though not before he had caught a view of Mrs. Shooter's trays. Piper says he would swear to the trays in a court of justice." "These are really omens, and may lead to discovery," said Ketchum.

"That is just what I was going to remark. Let us undertake the enterprize, without enlisting any other in it."

you, the interest I have taken in it from first to
last and the great expense I have been at, have
resulted from motives foreign to the ambition of
being one of the most striking objects of the great
whole. It is at Mrs. Shooter's, that I expect the
happiness or misery of my life to be decided."
"How! in Heaven's name ?"

Remember, Ketchum, this is confidential; and to deal no longer in oblique hints, I purpose on that night-to address Juliana Metcalf."

"And to win her by dazzling her senses," said Ketchum, with a sneer quite unusual to him. "I have," said Dashwood, without seeming to notice his ill-nature, 66 reason to hope I shall be successful. However, I ought not to boast while putting on my armor, but wait till I am throwing it off."

"That I would advise and since you have been so frank with me, I will be equally so with you. It was my fixed purpose to have offered myself to Miss Juliana on that very same night.”

“You !—but you are not serious, Ketchum ?” "Indeed I am. Though our acquaintance is of brief date, it contains as many incidents in the history of love-making as would fill a volume." Dashwood started, and looked aghast.

Oh, confound sentiment; I confess I went for the money-love in a castle. She is playing a strange game. I came to the knowledge of a curious secret this morning;—I am not at liberty to say in what manner. Do you know that Piper has a billet from the same fair lady, leading him to believe that at Mrs. Shooter's party she will give him some public proof of her preference? Piper has it Istitched to his flannel dicky next his person-perhaps as an amulet against that 'hope deferred, which maketh the heart sick.'”

"Cease, I beg you," interrupted Dashwood, impatiently, "let us leave the subject for the present, and devise means to get the secret of the party from Delanoy. Bribery, I think will do.”

66

Yes, it has unlocked stronger things than the jaws of Delanoy ;" and the rivals, arm in arm, bent their steps to the confectioner's-Dashwood, with

"I plainly perceive she has been trifling with renovated hopes since the communication about you," he said.

"Why not with you, sir ?”

Dashwood's eyes were instantly rivetted on Ketchum, and the reality of his being handsome both in face and figure, occurred to him for the first time. But then his unceasing folly and laughter surely Juliana could not be so deficient in judgment, as to think of him.

"Mr. Ketchum," he began rather warmly, "there must be some strange misapprehension on your part, or, if this be only an attempt to play upon my feelings, I shall think my confidence badly requited. I have the firmest reliance on Miss Metcalf's sincerity, and shall resent any liberty taken with her

name."

Piper, convinced that the young beauty was only gathering the laurels of her numerous conquests to wreathe them around his triumphant brow.

"Delanoy, you are like a bee, surrounded by sweets of your own making," said Dashwood, as they entered sans ceremonie into the back room of the shopthe sanctum sanctorum of the confectioner.

"And bless me, my good girl," said Ketchum, to one of the assisting handmaids, (who at the moment of their entrance was vainly trying with outspread petticoats to conceal an artificial nest of eggs,) "Are you hatching those eggs, you are striding over like a flamingo? Why, Delanoy, there has been foul play here."

66 As you please, sir," said Ketchum, also grow- "Can I serve you to any thing, gentlemen!" ing warm, "though I rather suspect, if you will said the confectioner, endeavoring to usher them coolly investigate the matter, you will find that I to the front of the shop, where customers were am as much entitled to act the part of Miss Met- usually served--but regardless of his gestures they calf's champion, as yourself. Let us not quarrel-kept possession of their vantage-ground. she is evidently a coquette. You say you stand high in her good graces-I was foolish enough to think I did. You have undeceived me, allow me to undeceive you,”—and as he spoke he drew forth a note, which he presented to him.

"You have excelled yourself," said Dashwood. "This tree is beautiful, and bears fruit that would not shame the garden of Hesperides. For whom are all these preparations?" The operative looked disconcerted, and still tried to draw them away; Dashwood read it, and changed color; then ral- while the confectionary began hastily to disappear, lying, also produced one fraught with equally as through the active exertions of the attendants to many flattering words. "Courage, my friend," remove it from further inspection. At this moment cried Ketchum, slapping him on the shoulder, the young men caught a glimpse of a lady richly "faint heart,' you know-we will run a race for the dressed in an adjoining apartment. hundred thousand."

"You are avaricious," remarked Dashwood,

gravely.

VOL. VI.-9

"Who is that?" said Ketchum. "Not Mrs. ShooI trust."

ter,

These words were uttered in a stage-whisper;

and forthwith emerged the stately form of that prancing off to his lodgings to see if an invitation very identical personage. had been left there for him, his feet flew up and

Dashwood and Ketchum could not forbear start- down he came, in a sitting posture, on the hard pavement, which showed him little mercy.

ing.

"Your curiosity is unbounded, gentlemen," she said, with a ghastly smile. If you were to exercise it upon a more laudable object, you would doubtless derive advantage from it."

"I confess," said Dashwood, endeavoring to assume an air of nonchalance, "that I am a little curious about the preparations that are in progress here."

"How uncommonly well you look to-day, madam," said Ketchum. But his flattery, successful at other times, was too shallow for the present occasion.

"Thank you, sir," answered Mrs. Shooter, "I generally enjoy good health. If you are under the impression that these things are ordered for me, you are vastly mistaken"-and bridling up, she made her exit.

Spite of his excitement, Piper felt the pain; and a passenger who assisted him in rising, inquired if "he was much hurt?"

"I'll warrant his os coxcygis has felt the shock," said Tubman; but it's no matter, he has an invitation to Mrs. Shooter's, which is a salve for all bruises."

"You don't say so!" said Piper. "Where?— when?-but I cannot stop to hear;" and off he ran, and in less than a minute returned, clutching the delicate note as if fearful of its taking wings. The invitations to Mrs. Shooter's party were very general. All who were included in, or approached the pale of gentility, were thus honored. Ketchum was among the sufferers. Unprotected by the golden shield which had turned aside the shafts of Mrs. Shooter's malice from Dashwood, he was left

Dashwood and Ketchum stood gazing at each to rue the fatal consequences of his curiosity. Not other after her departure.

"We have done for ourselves," said the former. "Completely so," replied the other; "I can give you no consolation-I need it myself."

all his puns could avail him, and he had made two excellent ones in that lady's hearing only on the previous day. Piper could not disguise his satisfaction at the disappointment of Ketchum, who

"But she will not surely leave us out of her party was restrained by policy from seeming to notice it, for this?" said Dashwood. as he wished to appear cool and indifferent on the occasion.

"Yes, she will though. I saw vengeance flashing from her eyes. Depend upon it, neither of us will escape, but we must keep our own counsel. This will make a fine laugh at our expense should it leak out; and how Piper would chuckle at it, for he fears you, and hates me, as he does the devil." The crest-fallen pair then separated.

The company were requested to come in "fancy costume." Tubman and Ketchum-fortunately for the latter-had not provided themselves with dresses-the rest, were complete minute-men."

"You have the consolation of not having thrown away your money for nothing," said Piper, looking as if he grudged the disappointed man the solitary remnant of which he had reminded him.

Since the mania of Mrs. Shooter's party had spread abroad, there was scarcely an individual in The entertainment was to take place at Mr. the lower ranks of life, who did not repine at their Peter Shooter's new house, by far the largest and lot, and envy their superiors the happiness in per- most splendid that had ever been erected in the spective of being guests at the approaching fête. town. Artists and upholsterers were putting the While these humble denizens were indulging in last finish to it. The floors were painted in fairy these unamiable feelings, the objects of them were scenes and mimic flowers, and the walls and ceilno less racked with care and disquietude. Evenings decorated in a style of elegance the most perthe wealthy Dashwood, the star of fashion, was fect that taste and art could devise. Tray after not exempt from either. He had never doubted | tray, and basket upon basket, poured from the luxuthat his pre-eminent advantages would secure him rious hoards of Delanoy, and were borne in the an invitation, but since the mal-apropos rencontre at Delanoy's, assurance had yielded to apprehension. Thursday was the appointed day, and there As for the poor confectioner, he had to barricade wanted only two to pass before its arrival. Yet his doors and windows, and work like a miner by each of these seemed equal in duration to those of lamp-light. the hyperborean regions. But however wearily At last, surmises, anticipations, and expectations, time appeared to lag, Thursday at length broke were put an end to by the actual announcement, over the impatient expectants in floods of golden through cards of invitation, of the great event light. The weather was indeed delightful, and the which had so long been "casting its shadows be- air cool and refreshing. fore." Dr. Tubman was the first on the list of single men who received one, and chancing to meet Piper showed it to him.

66

direction of the anticipated scene of festivity.

The spirits of Dashwood rose to fever-heat, while those of Ketchum sunk below zero. latter thought at one time of pretending urgent

The

Great, gracious Jupiter!" he exclaimed, and business from town, but reflecting how transparent