The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-09-16
MISCELL ANY.
THE BALLROOM AND THE
DARKROOM. 8

/ A&.4tOOMs
Louise Phillips was the belle of the
ballroom. True is was only rustic ball,
and Louise was but a rustic belle; vet the
gas light seldom falls on brighter eyes or
roster cheeks than were gathered at the
simple village dance; and we venture to
say, no city belle ever swayed more I'M
disputed sceptre. No princess born in
tho purble ever wore honor with queen
Her grace. Nor were courtiers lacking to
do her homage. Two grown up brothers
were never broader than when their Sis
ter vouchsafed to them her hand for a
dance or promenade; gallant cousins laid
possible emphasis on their kinship, and all
who were bold enough, srtove for foot
ing within the fairy circle of her smiles /;
while many stood without, content to wor-
ship even at distance And there were
this is no fiction) red lips that never
pouted, and fair brows that never frowned
when lovers or brothers joined in praise s
of the dark-eyed beauty. The wonder
was that Louise had not been spoiled
Some did say she was light and vain.-
Perhaps it was true. She had certainly
spent whole hour before her mirror that
night; she had brushed and smoothed
the wavward tresses, plated them into
broad braids and wound them about her
head in moro than one witching fashion,
stopping now and then to try the effect,
while little Maggie smilingly, hold the ex-
ira glass for better view. Maggie said
it looked swell enough; plenty well
enough" but the fastidious beauty had
not learned to lot well enough alone; so,
twisting her pretty features into an aston
ishing grimace, she pulled them all out,
tossed the brown locks all over her bare
white shoulders, then quickly dividing
them, she scattered on, the while her lily
fingers played hide and seek among the
ripping mass.
Il like myself best in curles after all
don't you, siss And doyou know fam
cy it is a sort of ingratitue not to wear
them when my hair was made on pur-
pose. There, must clip that one, and
let it fall over my check trihe-so.-
Now the buds, Maggie. Aren't they pref
ty! Would You wear them this side p
Try the other; no, little higher up
Yes that's right-"the perfection of un-
studied grace, ma'am,' rs Mr.. Benton
says. "Now, my spencer" and she tuck
ed her pearl shoulders into the delicate
muslin-knotted the sash coquettshly
around the plump waist, and then with
Maggie's hand in hers, danced lightly
down stairs to give mamma a good look
at her pretty self, before she was cloak
ed and hooded for the ride.
"Shall | do, mamma?' was her blush
ing question, dropping courtesy as she
presented herself for inspection. A proud
smile was the only answer, MS the good
lady wrapped the cloak closely around her
daughters form, and babe her ''not stay
very late"
"Ycs, I'll come home as early as can,
and Maggie will have both sides of the
bed warm, especially mine-won't you,
sis? Good night"
''Good night Loo" and Maggie put up
her cherry lips for kiss, laying one hand
against her sisters cheek, while with the
other she slyly drew one of the glossy
ringlets all out of curl between plump fin
gers.
See, what have you DONE Oh, Magg,
thy nanno is mischief. My pet curl, toow
HYes, ma'am, | know it." was the de-
mure reply;;"I did it for thy good. Thee
is getting too proud"
'Ah, ah!' laughed Louise, as she
tanshed the unlucky curl to an obscure
position behind her ear; ali! thee did it
for sense of duty. Commend thee for
youthful saint. There! now is thy
saintship content, and / sufficiently uglyp
ayes, / think thee looks bad enough"
was the saucy answer. 81 forgive thee.-
Shall we kiss, then make upa"
"Nay, no more kisses, / entreat;;' and
sprinking from the roguish chld's proffer-
ed embrace, in another moment she was
deposited among the buffaloes at Willie's
side. Half an b our later she was where
We found her, whirling in the dance, OBJ
livious of buds, curls, ribbons and all
things, in the excitement of moving to gay
music, and the half realized joy of being
admired. Louise danced for the love of
it; though doubtless she knew, as well as
the lookers-on, that she did that as well
as everything else, very gracefully. What
marvel if she were vain, aye, and coque't-
ish, too? There was no doubt that Lou
Use Phillips was "vashy to pretty She
liked balls, parties and admiration. So
she danced with hearty good will, and tho
hours flew swiftly. 1t was near midnight
when the weary beauty stole away to the
recess of window for few minutes rest.
Leaning her flushed check on the case
ment, she turned a pleased face on the
dancers, and following one after another
of the fiittering forms, began to think it
was quite nice and pleasant to sit quietly
by and watch the rest. Some were so
awkward and amusing, others so pretty
and graceful. So she watched them, I'M
conscious that another pair of eyes were
observing her intently not proudly, nor
admiringly eyen--but with calm, grave
surutiny, that might be admiration or
might be curiosity--you could not tell
for James Ellis, the owner Of those se-
rious eyes, was generally voted mystery.
Hauohtv and reserved some called him: