LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 43

LADIES' GOSSIP.

• . • The young Duchess of Marlborough has occasioned some surprise at Blenheim by the business-like manner in which she checks the household bills and other accounts relating to the domestic arrangements in her palatial home. An excellent bookkeeper, of the true Vanderbilt school, the Duchess goes through every item herself, devoting two hours a day to the work, the smallest mistake being instantly detected bj her Grace. The Yankee duchess has already susceeded in. impressing the small army of servants on the estate with a wholesome and stimulating belief in the advantages and blessings of economical methods, and she has managed to do this without in the least dagree alienating the goodwill of her dependents. She seem? to have a perfeot horror of wastefulness and wanton extravagance, and this would appear to be the secret of the rigorous supervision she is now exercising over domestic expenditure at Blenheim. As a matter of fact, the home polioy of the duchess Ia regarded with favour by many of the older servants on the estate. For the extravagance of the latter-day Oburobills has ba«a prolific of bo muoh trouble and sorrow to everybody connected with them that the n«w era of careful management is welcomed sis a blessing in disguise by those who can recollect tha periods of " tight money " afc Blenheim. It iB to be feared, however, that the English relations of the Duchess, all o£ whom are constitutionally Inoapable of saving money, do noj; regard her conduct; as quite worthy of the traditions of. Blenheim Pa) ace. • . • Until the last Bradley-Martin ball, the record for extravagant entertainment was held by Mrs W. H. Vandarbilt, the mother o£ the Duchess of Marlborougb. Her fancy dress »sll ia 1883, for which 1000 invitations were Issued, coofc between £40,000 and £50,000, and fche drasses of the guests cost at laast aft'tnucb more. The Bradley-Martin ball cost £60,000, &nd the expenditure of the guests on cofstum.es amounted to £40,000. That is, an entertainment lasting six hours cost £100,000. The contract for the sappers wu at £5 por head. No one, however, seems to have remembered s. famous " cotillon dinner " which the Bradley-Martina gave at Delmonico's in 1890. That little affair, to be sure, was a mere bag&tell* fco this year's batf, but it cobs £20,000 all the came. The dincar was tLe mos'o sumptuous that even ths ; famous. Delnaonico's had ever served. At ttae ball which followed the very favours whioh •were distributed cost ssveral thousand pounds. The chief expanse, however, was for flowers, the profusion of which was simply bewildering. • . • The Parisian lady of fashion has evolved a new perfumery fad. She takes & ' dose of her favourite perfume directly after | her bath, an;l it will last fully 24 hours. By : the aid of a morphine injector the perfume I assimilates slowly with the blood, and after tome time is ejected from the pores of the body. The process is injurious, both because the majority of perfumes consist not only of unwholesome vegetable matter, but also contain large quantities o£ pure alcohol. • . • Waitzaa are prohibited at tha Court of ; Berlin, as well as afc the Courts of most o£ the minor lulsra of Germany, and, consequently, a great, sensation hos been created among the younger generation of the Teutonic Empire by the announcement that henoeforth the ban against the waltz is removed so far as the Court of Wurtamberg is concerned. This is due to the influence of the young Qacec, wbo is psssioEately fond of dancing, and, who hao been backed wp In tha matter by youog Priacees Paulloe. The Quean and ths Priac&ss joined in tho waltzes at lha laafc Court, ball at Stuttgart with manifest enjoyment, and hopes are entertained at Berlin that ihs example thus will be followed afc the Court of Emperor William. For the present the polka and a slow sort of gallop are the only round dances tolerated there, the waltz having been forbidden ever ainoe i one of the young princesses was tripped up | by her partner and fell at the very feet ot the ! late Empress Augusta while In tbe act of : wallzing. The E uprens, who was a terrible ! despot on lbs score of etiquette, could nor. ! bear the idea of a dance which could have | the effect of placing a princess of the blood j in such an undignified position, and turning a deaf ear to all arguments to the effect that the mishap was due rather to tha awkwardness of the dancers than to the dance itself, vetoed the appearance of the latter henceforth on all programmes of Court balls. • . - The Queen dislikes the smell of fnre, and especially of sealskins, very much indeed, and when she invites anybody for a drive they have to leave such wraps behind. • . • At Marlborough House there is more ceremony, socially speaking, than at Sandringham. A number of oervants herald your arrival or departure, and there are usually two servants standing outside your room door when you are staying in the house, uncl a man behind the chair of every guesb at; meal-time. .• . The health of young Prince Alfred of

Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, which has always been : very delicate, and a few months back caußed bis parents eveu more anxiety than usual, is now completely restored. . The other evenIng, at the Court ball in Berlin, the young Prince waß the most indefatigable among the dancing men, and his good spirits and general activity were much ramarked. This j young Prince 1b one of the most popular youths in ,tha Fatherland, and no wonder, for he possesses most of the qualities which j ensure popularity. He is very good looking, and haß that sad dreamy expression of the j BomancfEs in his eyes, which, of course, he inherits from his ma. He is very clever, an admirable musician and linguist, and, above all, has the most frank and generous nature, warm heart, and winning and unaffected manner. * . ■ The costliest dress in the world belongs to Mrs "Oelia Wallace, a Chicago lady, and is worth £10,000. The principal material of this wonderful costume is heavy duchesse satin of cerulean blue. The court train (two and a-half yards long) and the full skirt are lined with heavy satin. The skirt is trimmed at the sides and front with two great shawls of Brussels point lace, a yard wide and three yards in length. It is adorned with diamond pendants, and the lace is held in place by diamond sunbursts. The lace itself cost £5000. • . • Apropos of afternoon teas w hava the lady readers of Ladies' Gossip ever offered eweet sandwiches for the delectation of their guests 1 They are most excellent, and can be easily made from nuts and stoned raisins, obopped very fine, or candied fruits, cherries', plums, or preserved pineapple. All make a most delicious sandwich when minced finely, moistened with milk or lemon juice, and spread evenly between thin slices of bread and butter. Sugar can be added if necessary, and, where wine ia not desired, & spoonful of whipped cream to work the fruit into a paste may be used to great advantage. These sandwiches can be cut into heart and diamond shapes, and, unlike sweet cake, can be held with impunity by the most immaculately-gloved hand. • . ■ The great display of jewels by women of fashion on both sides of the Atlantic has been severely criticised, even by those who could well afford to wear them if they deEired to. But if the precedent of history furnishes any justification for this fashion, the jewel-wearers of the present day are thoroughly justified. According to Pliny, Xiollia Paulina, the wife of Caligula, wore on her head, arms, neck, hands, and waist pearls and emeralds to the value of l,680,000dol ; Faustina had a ring worth 200,000dol ; Domitiahad one for 300,000d01, and Ca33onia had a bracelet worth 400.000d01. Seneca bewails that one pearl in each ear no longer suffices to adorn a woman ; they musfr have three, the weight of which ought to be insupportable to them. There were women in ancient Borne whose sole occupation was the healing of the ears of the belles who had torn or otherwise injnred the lobes with the weight of their pendants. Poppsei's earixings were worth 750,000d01, and Cees&r'B jwife, Oalpurnia, had a pair valued at twice that sum. Mario de Medicis had a dress made lor the ceremony of the baptism of her children which was trimmed with 32,000 pearls and 3000 diamonds, and at the last moment she, found it was so heavy she couldn't wear it and had to get another. But men led in the splendour of the Middle Agsa, and Philip the Good of Burgundy often wore jewels valued at 200,000d01. When be walked along the streets the people climbed over each other to get a look at him. The Duke of Buckingham wore a suit at the Court of St. Jameß which cost' dOO.OOOdoI. The dress of the nobles during the Middle Ages was literally covered with gold and precious atones. — San Francisco Chronicle. • . • Old Madame Oliveroß, who died the other day in Paris, leaving her large fortune to. numerous charities, was a well-known personality in the French capital, for she used to dress like a beggar and at the same time drive in a very sumptuous oarriage. Her husband amassed his large fortune solely by the utilisation of one creature, and that one of the most harmful and hideous in nature — namely, the shark. Old Oliveros bad for many years almost the monopoly of the shark trade, and used to be fond of expatiating at hiß delicious and , famous dinner parties on the usefulness of this cruel fish. According to him — and doubtless it is correct — the liver of the shark contains an oil possessing medicinal qualities equal to those of our old friend the cod. The skin, after being dried, takes the polish and hardness ot mother-of-pearl, and being marbled and resembling fossil coral, is largely ueed by 'jewellers for the manufacture of fancy objects, by binders for making shagreen, and by cabinet-makers for polishing woods. The glue from the fins is used by brewers, IBnglish silk manufacturers, &c. Madame Olivoros has left 12,000,000fr— all made out of shark. * . • The newest band shake in America is called the " double twist." It is such a complex performance that it is only just reaching perfection. This is the way the shake works : Two persons meet and clasp hands in the ordinary way. Then, still holding hands, -there is a perceptible pause of a few seconds, and each is apparently inspired by a Budden impulse to make the greeting more cordial and less conventional. As though by an after thought, the two draw each other closer, and give each other's hands a hearty squeeze. A. very perceptible interval between the clasp and shake is indispensable to the proper carrying out of the new greeting. That is where the trouble comeß in. If one shaker understands this, and the other does not, a bumped nose, a bruised head, or twisted iiack is liable to follow the sudden jerk. But if both understand things are somewhat equalised, and nothing more or less than a healthy vibration of the whole body results. •„• Any number of girls in New York Tinder 17 years of age have taken up with the iad for- grey hair, the idea being to appear very intellectual and thoughtful. It 1b managed by leaving a lock of one's natural hair at a wigmaker's, with instructions to somewhat match it by shades of grey hair, not at first too far removed from the original colour. A toupee affair is purchased, to be worn a la false bangs. The grey hairs are carefully intertwined with the dark locks, and one is perfectly up-to-date. • . The Earl of Rosebery is bringing up his two daughters and two sons as if they

1 were a pair of twins. Lady Sybil and Lady Margaret, notwithstanding the difference between their ages, are to " come out " at the same time, as they were confirmed at the same time. Again, Lord Dalmeny and the Hon. Neil Primrose went to Eton together, and will no doubt accompany each other to Oxford. * • . • The wife of a workman has just been condemned at Magdeburg to a month's imprisonment for Use majeste. It was known that she had seen the Empress very closely. Another woman asked her if Ihe Empress was really as beautiful as she was represented in a portrait which was shown her. The woman replied : " No, she does not resemble the portrait at all 1 " and she began to oriticise pretty- freely tbe features of the sovereign. A quarrel sprang up between the two women, with the result that one gave information to the court, and the other was put in prison for a month. Can tyranny and absurdity go further ? ■> • . • The two sons of ono of Scotland's greatest employers of labour ware recently, on the eve of their marriage, admitted as partners, and the only clause in the partnership agreement (beyond stipulating tha share each son was to get) waß to the effect that j they must never, under any circumstances, ! talk about the affairs of the business with i their wives. Wise clause (remarks an English trades journal), as tbe vanity of the wives of partners has ruined many a prosperous establishment. • . • A very -pretty novelty called the bracelet slipper has been introduced in Paris. The shoe, out very low in front and much higher on the instep, is fastened with a finelychased gold bracelet set with emeralds, diamonds, pearls, or rubies, according to the taste of" the wearer. Another expensive novelty of the same kind is the Andalusian boot, made of black satin and having lace ruffles down the centre, seam, fastened with real jewelled buttons. Another very pretty conceit for the embellishment of dancing shoes is a somewhat old fashion revived, that of wearing tiny bouquets in place of buckles or rosettes composed of primroses, snowdrops, forget-me-nots, rosebuds, ice, which make a charming effect. Violets are very much in request, and daisies are jnst coming in. It seems hardly possible, under existing atmospheric conditions, to believe tbat in other hemispheres sunshades and parasols are in request ; but so it i?, and a very dainty and altogether charming fashion touching the same article of toilette has been introduced there. Composed of the finest white silk, they are entirely covered with natural flowers, the colour and variety being naturally in accordance with the taste or to match the dress of the wearer. The bamboo handles are extremely light, and quite rustic in shape. One of these floral curiosities, sent as a present to a oride, was of Parma violets of the palest and most delicate shade, with a thick border of white jessamine imitating lace. • . • The" Queen buys all her coffee from a grocer at Cannes. When her Majesty was at Grasse some years ago she was'struck by the excellence of the coffee, and, finding it had been bought at a local English tradesman's shop, *h«» promptly made him. her purveyor. • . ■ A bathroom costing £2000 will be part of a suite of rooms which Miss Spreckles, daughter of the kmerican" sugar king, has designed for her own use. The bathroom will be only 7£ft wide by B£ft long. The floor is to be 'covered with encaustic tiles of small dimensions, in neutral tintß. The sides and ceilings are to be of tiles 4inby sin, and each panel will represent bathing bcenes from the classics. The tiles will be of solid gold. • .■ In an article on the servant- girl question a writer in a Home paper saya :— -" Bab is not this the natural consequence of the up-bringing of the average servant, who is transplanted from a home where few of the refinements of life are observed to a house where all the arrangements are strange to her 1 If mistresses demand skilled servants they must organise some means of training them. At present the feminine idea seems to be that domestic work shonld come naturally to a woman, nor can repeated failures of this theory in practice diminish tbe surprise and disgust of the mistress at each successive instance. We feel convinced, however, that the constant 'friotion between mistress and maid is very largely a matter of nerves. The employer and his clerks see each other for specified hours every day ; the maid and the mistress are constantly crossing each other. On the maid's side the nervous tension is increased by the lack of freih air and leisure, which is the chief drawback to domestic service. The daughter of the house does not ecpect to keep in goad health without hei daily ride on horse o»bicycle. The servant, made presumably oE similar fleth and blood, and on the same plan, has only her evening out a week, and suffers* accordingly. If mis^ tresses would remember that fresh air and s certain amount of uninterrupted leisure art necessary for health they would find thei: servants far better tempered." • . • Housewives in Norway and Sweder have started a scheme to encourage servanti to remain in their places. Mistresses pa] into a general fund whatever they can afforc for every servant that has remained witl them for 12 months. The money is regis tered in the servant's name, so that when ag< overtakes her, and she can no longer work she has a comfortable annuity to fall bad on. • . *To improve red hands, beat fcogethe loz of clear honey, loz of almond oil, thi juice of a lemon, and the yolk of a raw egg Apply at night to the hands, and cover witl old gloves slit across the palms. .■ . The Queen's ponderous black velve bonnet, with its snowy plumes, does duty oi all state occasions when her Majesty rideß ii a carriage. The shape has not been cbangei for 25 years, and one lasts through severs seasons. • . • The Parisians are all delighted witl Sir Edmund Monson, the British Ambassadoi and his State carriages. Anything in th nsture of the picturesque appeals to the keei artistic taste of the French, and the splendou of the English "Lor Mare," with his gorge ous equipages and amazing footmen, i still spoken of with enthusiasm. And ye it is ten years since Sir Polydore d Keyser decorated the Hotel de Ville wit his unparalleled splendour. On that occs sion the Prefect of the Seine, when h came down the steps to welcome his distir guished guest, shook hands respectfully— t

I their great embarrassment — with the Lord ', Mayor's flunkeys, under the impression that they were the alderman of the historic oity. ' . ' Lingerie of solid lace has, says a Home paper, often been dreamed of, and now and then an approximation of it haß been actually seen. Always, however, the lace garments 4iave been wJbite. But in the very latest developments of fancy lingerie the garments are not only of solid lace, but the lace is black. Black lace underwear is not nearly no sombre as it sounds, and the effect is positively charming. It speaks for itself las being of Parisian origin. A typical set of black underwear has a patticoat that is as pretty as a dream, if itis of unrelieved black. The foundation is of some delicate diaphanous stuff, and upon this are placed a succession of narrow ruffles of the finest black silk, wrought in exquisite designs, and the whole petticoat beiDg literally light as air. Of course the corset cover worn with this matches it exactly. Flounce a£ter flounce of lace in graduated widths haog from the lowcut neck and droop over the shoulders. If this combination appears to the wearer too dreary in hue it is lightened by touches of rod or lilac ribbon, which are used to draw in both waiet and skirt. Of course, lingerie of black lace cannot extend much further than this, and ybt it would never do to combine white garments with these outer ones of black. So it is understood that black corsets must accompany them, being preferably of black satin with embroidery in delicate colours. Then, of course, the tiny undervest must be of black silk, as must also the daintily-embroidered stockings. • . • In Siberia and Arctic America ivory dolls, clothed in furs of beautiful workmanship, are found, and in- Peruvian graves are dressed dolls of clay, while in Africa the girls play with wooden or clay figures. • . • The parasols styled " Marquise," so popular in 1840, and revived during the fciecond Empire, are again to make their appearance in Paris in the Bpring, the wheel of fashion as it turns having brought them to the front again. They are exceedingly light, easily carried, extremely pretty, being made in all colours, in all materials, plain or figured, trimmed with very deep fringe or lace, have folding handles, which are at times ornamented with gold and silver, or encrusted with precious stones, and form handsome weddiog presents. The folding handles are extremely convenient, and the parasols, though small, are not only quite large enongh to shelter the face and to protect the delicate shade of ribbon or feathers adorning the bonnet or hat from the too ardent raya of the sun, but take up much less room than sunshades, it being frequently impossible for two ladies sitting side by side in the same carriage to hold up two of. the latter without inconveniencing each other. The Empress Eugenic particularly affected the " Maiquise " parasol, rarely using any othsr ; indeed, green ones, of which ahe was very fond, were a distinctive mark o£ her presence, her carriage being easily recognised from among otbers by the coiour of her parasol. The latest fad or fashion just now anoat ladies' underclothing is not only of a funereal description, but, to my taste, positively ugly. To be quite up-to-date, it is neceseaty that such undergarments should have a deep bordering of black embroidery ; indeed, aoma of them have rows upon rows of it, always of the very finest description ; and, as if to accentuate the lugubriousness of the effect, bows of black ribbon are added here and there ; the buttons of each garment being also black. ' Black is very much used, too, as a trimming for petticoats, either as embroidery, silk, or lace, as the case may be. SOCIETY EPISODES. A Sekies of Short Stoeies by Lord Molyneux, Bachelor. Maud Seton is a great friend of mine, but .she is undoubtedly frivolous. When I first made her acquaintance she had ju3t emerged successfully from the ordeal of having had her hair " put up " — and very i pretty hair it was, too, by the way. Therei fore I determined that last Sanday I would usurp the privileges of an old friend — I always take a kind of fatherly interest in Maud — and point out to her the errors of her ways. Her behaviour at the Hatherleys the other night was positively scandalous. Her mother was in bed with a headache when I called. " Maud," said I, alter the usual formalities, " I've called to talk to you on a very painful subject. I feel in a parental mood to-day." Miss Maud carefully selected a large lump of sugar from the sugar-basin and offered it to me. " Don't be impertinent I " I said severely, i "It was merely symbolical," pleaded Maud. I waived the point, and Jack, Maud's poodle, absorbed the sugar. "Do you know you have been out four years," I began, " four whole London seasons — this next one will be your fifth— and that you aren't- married yet ? " " I can't — I really can't, Lord Molyneux ! It's no good throwing out hints. You're too old for me in the first place." It really is very hard to talk seriously to Maud. " You're a disgrace I " I protested. " I wouldn't mar " " Now don't be horrid, or I shall cry I I hate having to refuse people 1 " she said, flourishing an absurd pocket-handkerchief, which the poodle eyed longingly. I maintained a dignified silence. It is the only plan I know of subduing Maud when she is in this sort of mood. Occe give her a chance to talk or argue the point, and Heaven help you. But silence, dignified silence, reduces her at once. I helped myßelf to cake, and the poodle, escaping from the sofa, helped himself to a platefal of jam sandwiches, keeping one eye on his mistresß the while. Maud glanced at me furtively once or twice, and looked penitent. (We are the best of friends really, but we always quarrel in the first 10 minutes.) I pretended not to notice, and went on with my cake. Presently a subdued iittle voice from the sofa reached me. "Don't be unkind, Lord Molyneux. I'll be good." There was a suspicious catch in the voice at the end of the sentence which quite > ' startled me for the minute,

" There, there, it* all right," I said soothinglj, and repented it the next instant, as Bounds of subdued merriment reached me. " I was positively ashamed of you at the Hatherleys on Wednesday," I continued. "The way you treated that poor young Beverley was — was inhuman. It was worse — it was improvident. He'« got £6000 a year of his own, and will come into the title when his uncle dies, and yet you left him standing in a, corner the whole evening. You're simply ruined the temper of a naturally well-disposed youth. It was awful to see the way he glared at you. I nearly sent for the police to avoid a scene." " It was all his fault," she said. " I see," I replied. " And so you were forced into dancing the whole evening with Allan Dent 1 " " Only five," interrupted Maud. " Eight, and supper as well," said I, " I counted." "I really think it was only five," Maud persisted . " Still I snppose you know best, as you took the trouble to count." " YYoyou — you — to use a word I detest— flirted disgracefully with him the whole evening ! " " Lord Molyneux 1 " protested Maud indignantly. •' You did — you know you did J " I repeated. " I was pained and disappointed to see it. I was quite sorry for the poor boy." Maud looked vaguely surprised. "He — he — enjoyed himself very much. He told me so." " Ah ! So you admit that you did behave badly 1 " I said with a triumphant smile. " I don't admit anything at all," replied Maud hastily. " You didn't mean it a bit, did you 2 " I asked. Maud wag silent. " You merely used him as an instrument of torture 1 " 1 persisted. The outer corners of Maud's mouth began to curve upwards, and she scratched Jack's left ear meditatively. There was latent wickedness in that smile. Just at this moment the front door-bell rang, and the j sound of voices reached ns faintly from the hall. Maud listen 3d intently. I roae leisurely and gathered up my gloves. " There is somebody coming," said I. " I shall ba off ; it's getting late." Maud soizad me by the coat sleeve. " For goodneas' sake, don't go," she whispered. " It's — it's him I " " Well ? " said I. 11 He'll — he'll be silly if you leave me alone. ! I know he will. I had to stop him at the j dance, but Oh, Lord Molyneux, please sit down, again I " I laughed. •' Confess," said I, "or I'm oft." Maud literally pushed me into a chair. i "It was to punish Mr B9vorly," she whi'S- ' pered. "He wanted suppressing, and "—" — - — "Mr Hallin Deat 1 " said the butler, throwing tb.B door open. The youthiul Mr Dent entered effusively ; but, catching sight of me, metaphorically laid hold of himself, and pulled up short. I looked at Miss Saton and smiled, but she was busy making a perfectly unnecessary and unseemly clatter with the teacups. The youthful Mr Dent looked at me askance. I held out my hand. " I believe we have met before," I said. " Surely you were at the Hatherleys the other j njght?" Maud cast an agonised glance in my direction, which I promptly ignored. " I thought it was rather amusing," I ventured. -» J " Ripping 1 " said the Dent boy unwarily, j " That is — cr — yes, not at all bad. They played a trifle slow, though, don't you thiDk2" " I don't know," I replied. " I don't dance myself. Ask Miss Seton, she ought to know." If Maud had had it in her power to kill me I believe she would have done it»on the spot, and gloated over her crima afterwards. As it vras,f(iute de mieux, she set herself tp snub the luckless Mr Dent unmercifully. " I think," Bhe said deliberately, "it was quite one of the dullest dances I have been to for a long time ; they had hardly any men there at all. I saw lots of girls standing out." | Now, I really couldn't allow this- sort of behaviour. Goodness knows she had treated the unfortunate youth badly enough as it was. He was a tnfle foolish, but really quite inoffensive. And it wasn't fair at all. "At any rate you didn't 1 " I said with emphasis. " You seemed to be having an excellent time." Dant looked grateful, and Jack yelped with pain, owing to the fact that Maud's left heel ■was slowly grinding bis tail into the carpet by way of a safety valve. "By the way," I continued, " didn't I see young Baverley there 1 " " Was he ? " said Maud, with an elaborate indifference. " I didn't notice." Now, awkward things will happen at times, and the Fates decreed that just as Maud spoke I should look over my leffc shoulder. The principal object in my field of view was Beverley himself, looking just about as silly and uncomfortable as he well could. What had happened I discovered afterwards by judiciouß inquiry. Bsverley waß a great friend of the Seu>ns, and hearing that Maud was in, and that her mother was in bed with a headache, had, to save the butler trouble and for other reasons, signified that it was unnecessary to announce him. That he had overheard the tail-end of the convorsation was obviouß. "Oh I " eaid Maud. " How you startled me! " He had, you know. Beverley came forward and shook hands, and the conversation became languidly general. -Dsht'B face was wreathed in beatific

smiles. He was enjoying the situation. Bsaring in mind the circumstance! of Beverley'B entrance, it was natural that the atmosphere should be a trifle strained. Is the middle of an awkward pause he began fumbling in his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. But — and this is unadulterated tragedy — with the handkerchief cams a small jeweller's case, richly upholstered in dark blue velvet. He made a frantic clutcb, and missed it, and it rolled into the open space in front of the tea table and stood on ond. There was a breathless silence. Maud turned crimson, positively crimson. Ifc is unkind to say so, because her complexion is naturally a good one ; nevertheless Bhe did. Dent glanced alternately at Beverley and the small bine oase on the floor. Beverley collapsed, and I laughed. I hated myself for doing so— it was unkind; and I have apologised to Beverley since. Still the fact remains I laughed out loud. I couldn't help myself. But there was worse to come. Jack, who, beiDg vary young, considers that everything is done for his special amusement, took it into his silly, black, fluffy head | that there was a new kind of game afoot. With an incipient bark he pounced from j under the tea table, and his sharp white teeth ' closed on the soft covering. I heard some- | thing go with a snap, and then the Bpring i must have given way, for out rolled a magnificent half-hoop of diamonds. It trundled slowly across a yard or two of carpet and disappeared under the eofa, whilst we four Btared and watched it go. Jack remained in undisturbed possession of the case, which he proceeded to gnaw in a business-like manner, growling aof ely to himself the while. Dent grabed his hat — which for some unaccountable reason he bad brought up into the drawing room with him — and fled from the houie, hardly stopping to say good-bye, Poor boy 1 I was sorry for him. I waited three minuteo for conventionality's sake, and then I also left. I would have given half my year's income to stay, and I hope the fact that I left them when I did will be counted among my better deeds. The next morning I met Maud and her mother in Bond street. " Well," said I, " did he find it ? » Mauri laughed and shook her head. " Finding's keepings," she said, and held up a small nngloved hand for inspection. Mrs Seton smiled indulgently. "I hope he will be able to keep her in order better than I can, Lord Molyneux." " He will deprive me of a great deal of amusement if he doeF," I replied. Mrs Seton looked puzzled; but then she didn't come down to tea on Sunday. — Home Chat. Cup Descriptions of balls, &c must bo endorsed by elllier tho ball committee. The MS. or any correspondents who'do not comply with this rule will be sent to tho sucrctnry Tor endorse uieut prior to »ppciring.— EMMKLilNi:. To ensure publication in tbe forthcoming issue, letters should reach tho Witness office if possible on Saturday night, but on no account Intel' thnn Itonil y nliht. WEDDING AT BALD HILL FLAT. Dear Emmelinh,— A very pleas&nt wedding celebration took place on Wednesday, sth nit., at the residence of the bride's uncle, Mr Falconer, Speargrass Hotsl, the contracting parties being Miss J. ITyland, second daughter of Mr M. Hyland, Waitaki, to Mr W. Vallence. The bridesmaid was Miss Falconer, cousin of the bride, whilst Mr W. Nicolson (Ettrick) acted as groomsman, tha Rev. Father Hunt officiating. The ceremony was performed in the dining room, several guests being present. The usual toasts were proposed and responded to. The bride looked very nice attired in navy blue vdvet trimmed with shot silk and sequin trimming, with the usual wreath and veil. The bridesmaid wore a handsome lustre dress with white vest. She aho wore a beautiful gold bar brooch set with vubica (the gift of the bridegroom). After all tha good wishes had been said, the wedding party started for a. drive amidst showers of rice and old slippers (Mr Adair. Ettrick, accompanying them with bagpipe music). The presents were both numerous and useful. At night a social waa given by tho bride's aunt and uncle in honour of the occasion, the local schoolroom being taken. Refreshments of every kind were provided and done juutice to. The costumes were pretty and varied, and about 100 gue3ts were present. Dancing was kept up with great spirit till daylight. Music was supplied by Miss B. Falconer (piano), Mr Adair (bagpipes), and Mr A. May (violin), while Mr J. Carrol made an efficient M.O. The party .broke up with three hearty cheers for Mr and Mrs Falconer and the bride and bridegroom, everyone going home delighted with the night's enjoyment.— Guest.