The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-09-05
JINNY'S THREE BALLS.

| III.-J1NNY's THIRD BALL.
"You did not know what you were doing, did you +
One day Dick Jones ran over to tht
town to visit some friends who were
staying there. Returning from CALL
as he walked down the High Street, ,
timid voice arrested him. He turned
round, and saw, sad in the gleamy,
winter sunshine,s wan young face
with great, ysarning eyes in piteoua
search Of his, white, pinched mouth,
aud dark hair pushed oarelessly baol
under shabby brown hat.
"By Jove Fitspatriok's Miss jimmy
he cried, shaking her cold hand hearth
ly. "But, I say, you've been i'll,
have Mt you? o poor girl, you lool
awfally seedyr'
81 am not ill.," said the soft voice
trying hard to be steady. "At least, ]
shall be we'll when-when be comes
back.-oaptain Fitzpatrick, you know
Is he we'll? Where is he7"
20, Fitzpatrick's all right" the
good d-natured officer answered, soberly,
"He's on leave, but coming back 70,
our ball, you know"
"Your ball." said jimmy, hesitating
and with the ghsst Of one Of ter old
painful bushes rising in her cheek
II wanted-wanted to ask-lf-1
thought perhaps-O Mr.. Jones r.
She broke down and put her hand owe,
her eyes, sobbing.
500 on, 60 on" said Jones, distressed
and sympathetic. "Haug it, I'll dc
anything"
81 did SO want a card for your ball, y
she murmured, looking up tearfully
II have sovereign-I could psy-O
I wouldn't ask if I wasn't-,oreteh.
ed" And sic cried again.
Mr.. Jones did not Hesitate . mo-
ment. "P.y Bosh v' he exclaimed
"You ehall have tickets, certainly
you and that old fellow, the doctor
You should, # I had to sell my-m,
grandmother. Only look here dom
you cry like that, you make one feel *
horribly queer. Now, / say, that
,ooTse !'
For Jimmy had seized both his hands
and Was trying to kiss them, . esrs
mony no one had assuredly ever per
formed towards this excellent Office,
before. He released himself, and de
parted, promising to send the tickets
and he was faithful, though he ooult
not stay for the ball himself i; he wish
ed he uld,-"For I'm sure the poo
little soul wants looking after," h
thought. 20 Fitz, you're sad fellow
you've done cruel JOB here, In
afraid y
! Which "Fitz," all unconscious 0
what was hanging over him, had become
very cheerful, and much on the alert
She, "that other girl" was coming t
the ball, and, perhaps, who Knows
as he had been SO constant. Such ,
pretty girl,-no end Of style and pluck
Old DR.. Irving had been away lonl
time, and only came back because h
received an inploring note from jimmy
| begging his escort for the bal, =
came, indeed, but just in: time to cal
for her, and take her there. So b
knew nothing Of the town gossip,-o
how Jimmy Lake had lost her lover
, and wore the willow openly, and ho,
that lover was oousoling himself:
, This ball was no brilliant dream, bu
a tissue Of dreary, cruel realities thi
ball had no firm arm for her to lean on
no winning eyes, 60 bold, gay voice t
whisper patronizing praise or kind in
struotions in her charmed ear, no en-
> vious feminine glances nor amuse
masculine ones, to follow her. NJ
that she had cared about those latte.
\ save a. confirmation Of tho happy truth
that seemed truth then, at least. Sh
went down the room on her old friend'
, uncertain arm, trying to smile and tai
to him, but looking wildly round an
starting at every passing voice or stel
She had read something about gan
bler's last throw, and she thought t
herself this was hers. If she won i
o, what might not be If she lost i
: we'll, everything would be over. Sh
must 60 away somewhere into th
. dark, and die he might be sorry the,
Just a little, and believe she loved hin
him only. ~ ...:,+
- Her last throv,-miserable litt
gambler she was preparing for it, ,
:: with flaming cheeks, the eager, lqui
glitter in her round eyes, restless ge
lures, aud wild little laugh, and excl
nations, she stood by Dr.. Irving
J, side. A fossil plesiosaurus and
living butterfly could scarcely ha,
I. presented I greater eoutrast ); tho Ii
in him nearly burned out, the life 1
the other leaping, throbbing, racing
! passion Of fear and love, At . .feve
heat. H. s.s ..ss=. s&'.S..<. e 1T. T. :
:. :: Alas she did not look her BEST
she had not thought Of trying % loo
. her best; her dress Was dowdy IN
!. : unbecoming, her rapid movements y
:. flushed, anxious face did NOT bsoon
:, her either. 81.
j. !. ..Where's your young o@cer7" ak.
!, Dr.. Irving presently. Before,
was. hare 70 meet you." ja