The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-09-02
MY FIRST BALL.

vanced age, but there is another reason
IA tragic event so intimately allied to
the recollection of my first ball, that
even to-day, after the lapse of forty
years, the most beautiful walters
whom | might see decorating the waxed
floor with their twinkling feet, smiling,
light hearted, bending their heads on
the shoulders of their partners, or over
.t the bouquets of their corsageS, would
seem to me to be nothing but the Viii
helminas of the German Ballads.
In February, 1928, | was 16 years
old, and | was what they call ''gawky." "
Here is my portrait: full grown, long
LEGS, coat of the communion cloth,
pantaloons too short, gloves too large,
timid, awkward in the extreme, destin-
ed from the first to supervise the debut
of little girls, or pay attentions to the
wall-flOwerS of 80 summers.
MY.success at college had brought me
in contact with the rich parents of some
of my companions. On the evening of
Feb. "A, 1S2S-I remember well the
date-I was invited to a grand ball at
D.. | had taken a few lessons in
dancing, though | had never danced;
and my professor of history said would
be more devoted to Clio than to Terp-
sichore.
There were at this brilliant soiree
many savants, and there was also one
of the handSOmest women whom it ever
was my fortune to mcet-Madame
r. | will not describe her toilet.
Its elegance might probably be the ridi-
cule of to-day. But what the caprice of
fashion could neither create nor destroy
was her queenly beauty. She possessed
the figure of a goddess, the perfection
of feature, eyes sparkling or laughing at
will, complexion of a warm tint, a
veritable profusion of rich black hair,
coqUetry in her attitudes, and an ire
sistible charm in every movement.
Married to a stockbrOker, Madame
T, without actually compromising
herself, was the subject of no little con-
versation. People spoke the name of
Il Don Juan, high in the political world,
who was reputed to have thawed her
frigidity. Why should they think sol?
The handsome Ernest M was so
much of a fop that it could be easily i'm
agined that he allowed himself to believe
that she loved him, when she cOntented
herself with only cOmplimenting him.
The happy Ernest whom allthe young
men regarded with envy, was pointed
out to me. He was more pretty than
handsome, about % years old, well
formed in his little figure, eXcruciating-
" elegant, and perfectly contented with
himself. At this moment he was semi
recumbent on a sofa in salon adjOin-
inc the ballroom. He famed himself
careeSsly with an embroidered hand
kerchief, while Il group of courtiers,
satellites of this planet, greedily listened
to his last word.
''You know, Fred" said he to one Of
these XquiSiteS-anOther word of the
period that next month we will have
a masked ball at the residence of Mad
anne r. have procured an invita-
ton for you, and will call for YOU at 10
O'Clock. Paul, the young leading man
at the theater, has given me his advice
concerning my costume, which will be
lovely"
Now, by what phenomenal bravery or
impudence had Iengaged Madame T
for a quadrille? How could this queen
of the ball, surrounded by triple cir
Gle Of admirers, have allowed herself to
be engaged to me for one single dance?
This is problem | have never been
able to solve.
We had taken our places, and we had
for our vis-a-vis a very young lady,
hanked by huge gentleman with gold
spectacles. | was already meditating
some ingenious and original phrases, =,
such as ''It is becoming very warm, :"
~ believe this quadrille is called Masa-
niello," etc when my fair partner,
not allowing me time to open my mouth,
said quite abruptly:
"Monsieur, do you speak EngliSh?'
"No, madame. -
This was story. | was not able to
carry on Il conversation in English, but
knew enough of the language to un-
derstand a dialogue between two or
more persons speaking it with French
accent.
With a rapid look Madame T sur
veyed that large ball room, sparkling
with lights, ornaments, and diamonds.
Ernest was standing leaning against the
door of the boudOir, which he had just
left. She made not a movement, not Il
GESTURE; her eyes spoke; Il second later
| the young man, threading his way be-
tween the groups of dancers, came be-
hind us. | had an advantage over him
little consoling to my vanity; my tall
figure hid him entirely.
''Stop there, ;" said Madame T to
him in English.
The orchestra was playing the first
figure of the quadrile-the 'tish-
market song of Masaniello. When we
had returned to our places, she rapidly
said:
81 have been feverish since last even
ing. He is suspicious. He knows
every thing, perhaps l foor that ,Jue
tine has betrayed us"
He turned pale, but Immediately re-
covered himself.
Another interruption; second figure
of the dance of the air, 'Let us gayly
sing the barcarole..
stWhy be afraid said Ernest in
Partisan English ''Justine is reliable
moreover, interested in keeping silent
-suspicious-it's not pOssible-he is
too much absorbed in stock specula-
tons
81 am afraid, replied she, giving
herself the air of playing with the trim
ming of her dress.
Third figure of the quadrille on the
celebrated couplets, ''My friends, how
beautiful the morning." elf he is sus-
picious, | shall take myself away from
here, - replied he. II will announce a
tour of six months in Italy; l will go to
Nice; from there | will return incOg-
nito; l will change my apartments.
Besides, you will find pretext for dis
missing Just"
Suddenly she trembled, and became
as pale as death.
F'Go away" she murmured, she Is
there; he is watching US"
Ny eyes followed hers, and at the
| door, where a moment ago | had seen
Ernest, perceived a man of about 40
years, slender, blonde, almost bald,
who, at the distance, seemed very In
significant.
Ernest disappeared, and the crowd at
that moment was so dense that he could
not have been noticed. Then this fas-