Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-04-22
A BALL AND A DUEL.
a Story OF the War.

Ii was the night OF cavalry ball In
tue long, low mess room, that had been
decked so prettiIy with flags, were assem-
bIed the beauty and fashion of Washing
tOu--aud that means of our country, for
among the fur strangers there were rnp-
resentativcs of nearly all the loyal States
and even of some disloyal ones, too
Where there were so many lovely women
il was bad to make a choice and yet to
Jessie Curtis, think, would have been
generally conceded the palm. She was
delicate blonde, with waving e len eurles
that c, ntra,ted well with her floating dress
of rale blue Around her lowered per-
pe:ually circle of devoted admirers, and
her laugh rang out even and anon in all
the innocent freshness of girlisb happiness;
for Jessie was very young, this was her
first tall and she enjoyed it with all the
careless delight Of youth and light heart.
Before the evening was half over she had
partners engaged for enough sets to have
kept them dancing from that time through
all the next day, and she was asked out by
so many, that finally Der little head be-
came confused, and she at last rather reck
lessly resolved to trust to luck for having
her engagements come out all right.
This was very well for while, and as
the music struck NJ. each time Jessie
! found her hand claimed by some gallant
young officer so that she began to think
| it would all 90 on we'll to the end. although
| she was sure she had forgotten TO write
! down some of the names on her card.
Soon the gulden moments of a ball dance
! themselves away, and go it grew very late,
and people were beginning to go home,
when the band struck up an inspiring gal
| lop, Jessie had not the faintest idea who
! her rartner was, but Gaily waited her des
| tiny, knowing well enough, if no one APP
Feared then she should have her choice oi
half dUzen young men who stood around
her.
Another minute, and almost simultane>
ousIy two officers made their way through
the group to her side. One was Major
! Wentworth, a dashing dragon, tall and
dark and little flushed just now with the
champagne he had been reck lessly drink
ing; the ether was Captain Murray. of the
artillery, slight aristocratc looking man
with delicate yellow moustache, shading
a firm and rather naughty mouth. He was
the 6rst to speak.
81 believe have the honor Of Miss Cur
It's hand for this dance.
beg your PARDON" SAID Major Vents
! worth, stepping nearer; "but this is my
dance is it not Miss Curtis ?"
! Poor Jessie grew suddenly sober, and
looked from one to the other in distress.
This is the fourth gallop." Captain Muir
| raw went on coolly Miss Curtis don't you
remember the fourth gallop you promised
mel"
ut is the tenth Dance" persisted Major
! Wentworth, land you promised me the
tenth dance"
q" stammered Jessie; 81 don't re-
member"
Here is my card" said Capt. Murray
at may assist your memory"
"And here is mine, Miss Curtis" added
Major Wentworth, hurriedly and rather
anGrily.
! By this time the group around Jessie
was increased by several idlers, who were
| attracted by the unusual sounds. Jessie
like frightened child, stood among, the
crowd of soldiers, the only woman, fair and
fragile.
Without needing her words, Captain
Murray held out his arm, saying, in de-
termined tone.
1--WE are losing all this fEe music, Miss
Curtis had we not better start ?"
mot while Pm here !" exclaimed Major
Wentworth, in excitement
From the first moment of the dispute
Capt. Murray had not betrayed, by look oil
motion, the slightest knowledge of Went
worth's pre,ence and this course had prob
ably done more than anything else 10 ex
asperate him. But one who knew Murray
we'll would have seen by his compressed
lips, and the heightened color of his unus'
uaIly pale cheek, that he was really by nc
means as cool as he looked.
Again Capt. Murray offered his arm.
"Miss Curtis, this is really too bad you
| must not lose any more of this capital
dance-come."
There was quiet determination IN his
voice that carried it's weight with Jessie
| and at the same time he quietly laid bis
hand on hers and drew il within his own.
by Cd, sir !" cried Wentworth, in an