, 1863-12-06
TIE CHIILINGHAM BALL.


It." ~ - ' -
Mary Pembroke was seated at her dressing
table, looking full at the mirror, as If she
would look through her own eyes straight
down into her soul She was not gifted
With fine or over sensitive feelings, or she
might have followed up these words spoken
in {cr heart, BY laying ont map Of her fu-
turG life, all de8olate and waste, as q poor
disappointed maiden's life would seem to be,
until the picture had become too much for
endurance, and she had buried her face in
turc before which the eye Of faiti voils Itself
in silence md humility: She did not do this,
elc merely wiped two large tears from her
eyes, and smoothed carefully the soft brnids
Of Ler brown hair.
II viii not do myself dishonor." she said.
"nor show that / nm only a fair weather
Christian
She rosc then nnd knelt herself down BIZ
the white coverlld Of her tiny bed, and asked
for strength, meaning to use 1t.
It WINS the morning Of the Ca{llingham ball,
and in the days which proceeded thc railroad
age, when neighborhoods were confined in
ponance to tho society which looked upon
Chllliughnm MS its ccntraf town. For years
Inst TINT society had computed time by its
ChiliDghain balls, rs the Greeks BY Olym-
4saehsd - naF4ageab1e w. sss, ssD9'a nnt she had hsd
made her first appearances .thercs and voc to
her aching heart as the years went by, If thct
stm con1ol1ed her to Apiaar there unmarried.
for there was dreadful reckoning kept against
her on the side seats where the. dow
ayers rested, dowagers who well remembered
her first appearance, when she must hare
been eighteen, nt least,
Dread Us tho ordeal was, and willingly as
many would have avoided it, 1t is not to be
wondered ut II mothers led their children for
the first time with aching and anxious hearts
book at homo how lIttIe provision would be
LETT Tor them when the brcad-Winner's hand
should lnve ceased to work, and knowing
that this appearance would test the worlds
opinion Of them Good children. they arc
perhaps educated to make careful housc-
world say Of them, they wonder, as the glance
round the room with 3 s1isht sinking Of the
Gcart, lest when they hare brought ont the
daughters they love so well for little iuno-
cent amusement, they may be suspected Of
bringing their wares to market.
cr'a, Mrs. Pembroke looked forward to
Ma1y's second appearance;' and, until the
last few days, She Lad anticipated little tri-
nmph which should renew the days Of her
own youth. Mr.. Pembroke. was one Of the
CHIEF solicitors Of the town, and oac whose
wen-testcd prob1ty had caused him to be re-
ceived where lis birth and connections
otherwise would not have entitled him to no.
Hcc. Some two or three years before, he had
taken Arthur Sandford US working partner.
looking upon him as young man Of merit
and industry; but very lately-the connection
between them Ind undergone change. 4
relative had died, leaving Arthur sandford
a fortune, Of which l,c mig ght have had just
expectations, but which lie lad never been
foolish enough to reckon upon, and his place
In the firm became vely different one
From that time Mrs. Pembroke Ind fancied
thc detected \ chahye in his attentions to
Mary. For ycars Ills attachment to her
seemed certain, and youth upon her side
and uncertain nrospccts upon his. seemed to
far-seeing friends the only obstacles to their
marriage. During these days Of happy init
macy, Mary had not cared to ask the lues:
tion, which she had SO baayely set herself to
answer that day, nor Ind she noted the
change her mother had detected until the last
week. when circumstance had assured her at
once Of her own state Of feeling, and the nc
cesslty Of conqucr1ng it.
Isabella VaughanSher mothers nIccc, and
come to spend the Christmas with them.
bringing with her. London fashions and
6nali-talk, aud enough Of her fathers money
displayed In dress and jewelry to set Chilling
ham talking Of her Wit and beauty, although
she was not quite so good-loodng as Mary
thought her. She. was older than Mary, and
| more assured in her manners, and size had
| evidently set herself to make conquest o1
the talented young solicitor, whose new
house on the other side Of the torn vas be,
| ginning to make people talk Now, properly,
| Arthur Sandfortl should hive shown himself
Indifferent to the London beauty, but be did
not; lc fell into tie snare as readily as the
| silly fish seizcs the Well-baited hook. On
| some prctcnee or other, lie ms constantly al
the housc. and always the gentlemau In at
tendance on the well fledgcd coquettc; and
yet with . measure Of LIS old caution, too
for he contrived to keep Mary always in theil
near ncighborhood.
As the Chillingham bali approached, won
derful garments had made their appearance
by coach from London to Isabella. Will.
Aary's more modest toilet was doomed It
disappointment
Mary" Mrs Pembroke lad said to her
"your papa confssses to slight embar1ass
| nlent in money matters Just now, and ha:
asked me to be very careful know he ncycl
aays what is not trnc, or denies US what III
can sl,are-desr CHILD, can you do without 8
| dress for the l;su:
;. Mary considered for moment with blanl
face, then cleared 1t rapidly, und sud, though
witt some little effort =
.oh; ,yes, mamma !1 m3; 9sar! the one1 "ore las
ycar viii do quite well"
>" Gould we get 1t altered ~ auHously sug
Eested Mrs: Pembroke.
-. It Will do quite well, mamma, +" said Mary
*to have It altered yill be- nearly as exPen
sivs as getting new one. ! do not mind
1 n INC te16E.' ....-
So 1t was that when Mary sat In her lftt1
room, pondering over Life und its dit1culties
her last years. dress lay on the bed. Their
Was o nice little fire, an unusual Injury
burning In the CRATE, for her mother. guess
ing, but not Interfering with, tho struggle
going on within her, had thought she nigh
Like to be a1ouo, and had ordered it early.
It had been a pretty dress, but the trim
mings were last years trimmings, so wer
the Eleeyes, and that which Ind been sno,
white last year looked rather yellow now a
1t Lay, reminding her of pleasant dances whcl
be, who must BE- very dear no moro, Eas b,
her side, listening for her voice aboye a!
others.
II must 60 down." eaid Mary. wcarily
and She went down to the drawing-room
where she focrd Isabella and her mother dis
catsins tho merits Of Il beautiful set Of pearl
which the former intended to Wear with
superb white lace dress over pink satii
pcttiroat
Mary came behind them in the gentle dig
nifty Of leart true to itself. and admired til
pearls, as who would not
The door opened; and 1lr. Sanford ITO
announced He entered, carrying two DO
quets, one Of white and exquisitely aeente'
flowers and the other composed of didsren
colors and evidently inferior to the other i
beauty, With courtly little speech Of ord
nary dattery he handed the white flowers +
Miss Vaughan. and with kind gentleman
!
| She took them with . gentle grace, 4uietl
thanking him, while Isabella oyerwhelme
him with thanks and praise.
Mary" She said, let nc see If do no
He He @ yours be best: sgrposs; 8; may have which
| to give you hers. II you prefer It," he sal
quietly; - but think have chosen the bes
| for you"
i: Here was IN opportunity for Mary I
say. she did not care for either, hut she onl
1.-THE white ono will match your dres
with its white ornaments. and 1t il much th
| rretticst''
/ .Wcll, Fit is the prcttiest, will keep it,
sid Isabella, co1uettislly; land the re
roses will do best with your old dress, dea1
will they not@'
Only . year old" saia Mary smiling, , f: f.
she saw her mamma was deeply lurt that th
fact should be brought before Mr. Sanford
notice, land it is almost as good as new"
"Tancyl" c.ied Isabella - hear her II,
Sandforl! shc says the dress she wore at til
Inst CAillingllam ball is as good us new"
"Why did you not have new dress!
Papa had other needs for his money thi
dress would do.".
"Oh, nonsense ~ cried Isabella; as If pap
was not always making the same ontcry.
| Ieii hm must Aase HoneJs auu M"a3
| get what 1 want"
"Pcffinrs your papa is richer than mine,
said Mary; but he cannot be kinder or NOR
thoughtful Iwould not tease him for th
world"
4 Your society is so very tempting" sal
Arthur 6andford, "that almost forget
hare business to do. Niss Vaughan, will 20
hold yourself discngaged for the first quadrill
tonight ~
"WeIl, as reward for such pretty pre-
cnt think must''
"Good-byc, ladies," he said, and hurric