The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-11-16

ran up stairs to begin to dress. She was
very happy as she industrioEsly scrub
bed the stains off her hands. Could it
be possible that Mr. Ross-the Mr. Ross
whom she had admired afar off as she
might have done young god-had talk
ed to her an hour and rowed her home ?
And he was coming to the party tonight
(Christy shrewdly guessed that the party
was given for him), and perhaps he
would speak to her again.
Maria curled her hair, and pulled it
cruelty, but Christy was very serene.
Her white muslin dress and tiny slippers
were quickly donned, few flowers pin
ned al throat and belt, and she was
ready. The parlors were already lighted,
and the full moon shone on the piazzas
and dewy gardens. There was subdued
ant vision of beauty, had already swept
down stairs. The guests began to arrive.
| Christy, stationed in the upper hall,
watched as one after another entered and
one had come The first strains of mu-
| sic had already sounded, the dance was
beginning, and no Mr.. Ross yet. Christy
| was much in demand. So tired Was she
of fastening sashes and trains and bows,
of running for pins and powder, that
when at last the dressing room was emp
| ty, she thankfully descended the stairs,
and timidly creeping in at the rear door
of the parlor, Immediately shielded her
| self behind lace curtain.
They were waltzing. What would
poor Christy have given to have been
''grown-up young lady p Her little
| slippered feet beat the carpet as she en-
! viously watched one gay couple after an
other rwhirl past her. And Christy caught
her breath suddenly when an opening in
the crowd showed her Mr.. Ross waltzing
| with Belle. There he was, transformed
| again to his aristocratic self, dancing
with the naughty, indolent grace that
Christy knew so well, as handsome and
| courteous as prince. The little observ-
er's cheeks burned while she thought of
her afternoon experience, and how she
had reckoned him sjust like boy"
And Belle, whirling in graceful circles,
with his arm about her, how beautiful
she looked
Nobody noticed Christy. Two or three
dances passed. People chattered and
laughed about her, promenaded and
whirled past her. Sitting still was be-
coming a torture, and she was casting
longing glances at the stairway, when
the strains of her favorite waltz hoated
through the rooms. In sheer despair of
enduring it, Christy sprang to her feet,
about to seek refuge up stairs, WI td-
some one put the curtain aside Tuu,a
ing, astonished, she beheld Mr.. Ross
bending before her and offering his arm.
81 have been trying to find you. Will
you do me the honor of waltzing with
me ?''
Waltz with him Between fright and
delight, Christy stood undecided, turn
ing red and white alternately. Then,
forgetting everything but the music and
the dangerously beautiful dark eyes
looking into her own, she put her hand
on his arm, and in moment they were
circling down theroom. Christy's cheeks
burned like fire. Whenever she dared
raise her eyes from her partners broad
o1n cla c1, hot chn
was the focus of all eyes. For while
she was dreadful conscious of this. Then
she forgot every thing but motion and
music and the handsome head bent so
near her own. When at last they paus-
ed, and Mr.. Ross led her out on the
moon-lit piazza, the fright came back
again. and she nervously withdrew her
hand from his arm, and flushed scarlet
when he asked her for the next dance.
"Do you care for quadrilles %
Poor Christy looked wistfully toward
the parlors, and pulled blossom in
pieces.
"Oh, I do like to dance-any thing. I
I'm very much obliged to you, but I
can't dance again.
The young autocrat in society, whose
invitation to dance had never before been
refused by any lady, looked at Christy
in surprise.
"You oughtn't to dance with me; I'm
not grown up, said Christy, checking
sob. "They all want you TO dance with
them"
ssBut want to dance with YOU"
And Christy, of course, yielded. What
a happy evening that was that followed !
If people looked amaze at Mr.. Ross
dancing with schoolgirl, it was no
matter. He wanted to dance with her,
and the thought made her eyes shine and
her cheeks glow, as she moved through
the quadrille with the prettiest grace in
the world. A waltz followed, then a
polka, then another quadrille, and still
she monopolized the lion of the evening,
apparently to the lions satisfaction.
''And now," he said, as they returned
to the piazza, knitting his brows over
his dance card, ''now must go and
dance with Miss Honoria Clapham. Bat
I shall come back for you. You will
give ne the rest of the dances after sup
per, won't you p
"Oh, haven't you any names on your
card %
''Not one. But perhaps you would
like to dance with some one else ?''
sob no nobody wants to dance with