The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-29
My First Ball, and What
Came of It. g.
CHAPTER L s.

O.. s OnAIl LIN l. ~ Nies
wonder if it is egotistical to write o.
story about eTeselH @ag
The idea that Il may be so has just
crossed my mind, as ] find myself seated,
pen in hand, intending TO write down
some Of the vivid memories of my long
past youth. They throng on my brain
with a distinctness that makes it hard to-
realize that / am an old woman, and
that the weil-loyed faces and bright
scenes that rise 10 clearly before my
minds eye are only dim, shadows OF for
mer days, aud possess no life or interest
70 any one but myself. - =
Well I suppose it 10 egotistical, but ]
can net help II. i naust only ask my
readers to have patience with arnold
woman,s weakness, and remember that
some day they themselves may be old.
The part d my life ! can recall most
distinctly il when / was about seventeen,
and had come mp TO Dublin with my
mother toe inter- into the deiights ct 9
first season.
-. / was an only child, and had Lived up
to that time in q qniet, lonely part OF
ireland. NV father died when / was
very Young. SO that I had no recollection
Of him; but always listened eagerly to
what heard of him from Others, and
that was not little, for there was no
subject on which the tenants and ser.
wants loved 80 to hold forth as that OF
"the masther." And many a time have
listened with breathless interest to some
,exciting tale Of his feats in the hunting
field, OF his lavish generosity, or OF some
little act Of kindness or courtesy, which
the Irish peasantry-rough, ignorant,
and barbarous though they are deemed
can appreciate with a keenness that
might put their more cultivated neigh
bOrs to shame. u -.
l was accustomed from my childhood
to have every whim gratifed, to be
adored for my father 3 sake, and to think
the name Of O'Moore the first in the
land. .o.t.. eG' w7 ee
Such influences, of course, were not
good, and | fancy my mother thought
So, for she proposed our coming up to
Dublin to stay with my fathers brother
and his family. .a
Ihad never been from home, and felt
almost broken-hearted when the day O
our departure arrived. The week before
/ had spent making round of farewell
visits to all the cabins, and had beeI
went over and condoled with as heart
ily as if / were on the point Of emigra
ting.
,tShure yeu won't forget US, mayeur
neenY' was generally the last word as F,
left them. And with choking sobs
promised never would-never, and tina
Twas determined to come back on tn
first opportunity. aaTH~Y ~ IN.
1t was in the dusk Of a chill eveninI
in February that we arrived at nay un
cle's house in Merton Square. The chang
from the cheerless streets to the warn
drawing-room was very pleasaat;i and a
my uncle came forward TO- meet US witt
his frank, hearty voice, all my shynes
vanished; and when he took my hand
both of his and kissed me, as If l ha'
been his own daughter, l felt / iove'
him already. -G s1.. I,...
s"You are very like your father, m.
DEAR" he said softly. "He was my onl
brother, and / feel his loss still" q.
And when / looked up into his hand
some face, I saw that his eyes were dir
with tears.
was then introduced to my cohsins
three pretty girls, and a young man abou
twenty-five, Uncle Ralph's only son. an
the darling Of his heart Their mothe
had died when they were all very young
and tAey had grown up nnder the CAL
ofan2old governess.
"Well, deary," said my mother, whe
we were in Onr own r0om that nigh
Ahow do you like them ali and do yo
stiiI wish to return home next week.
mo-" / answered, laughing; Il thin
Ishalilove them. They are'so kind ali
pretty, and seem to like m" '','-'-' =
II wonder at that" she said, fondl
stroking my hair. ,~
set'Bnt, mamma" 4 vent on, putting m
arm round her neck, ~ shall never 10y
them as / love You. No one in th
world shall ever "bs. to me what yc
,"sDon't make rash promises" she sal
laughing. u remember saying the san
thing to my mother when ! was yo'
age, bat I changed my mind, when ! m
Your father" ,s..1 sg' ul.ssea1 ". i,a,. I, 4.
AZ am not likely to meet any one lii
papa. I answered, ,withIconfdant ignt
ance. "There is nOtathe.least chance tn
any, Sne wi will come come between a ys'e you al
me. q.
Soon after was fest asleep, and in n
dreams was again at home sitting ipp o
of tie cabins, vita the smell Of The Pc
smoke strong in my nostrils, and 'listee
ing to one of the well-known tales Of Il
heroic feats Of the O'Moores W.,
Il hss .,,0 nsoge& ----.- tad ~ go o.
~ a.. 1s1oG CHAPTER II. s,w iv'
was actually going to ball; my fl
ball. What girl does npt look back
her eftst ball with mingled feelings 81
gret and ,amnseMeht2 Amasement
svsfh .uSl.s