The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-05-12
THAT AWKWARD GIRL.

lbthI hEHhtsntbb WILL,
Colonel Raleigh felt really indignant.
The idea of any ones expecting him to
dance with that gawky, addressed girl,
Julia Pinch lit was as irritating as it
was absurd. However, he had no choice
in such a matter, his hostess will was
law.
So he found himself, with his feet in
the first position, opposite the young
lady, bowing as he requested the pleas
ure of the waltz, and in his heart an
athematized both the music and his
partner
Julia Pinch was only seventeen, and
had the angular, uniformed appearance
of Younger girl. Her dress was old
fashioned and unbecoming, and as she
nervously accepted the fiattering pro-
posal of the handsomest man in town,
wrist, and stood up eXpectant, with as
little grace certainly as was well con-
ceivable.
The first round of the dance was ex-
quisite torture to the gallant colonel -
unspeakable, but scarcely definable
delight to the girl 1t was such an un-
expected honor for her, poor little neg
lected wall-hower! Her invitation to
this her first ball had been altogether
irregular.
She knew no one, and her coming had
been brought about 10y singular con
catenation of circumstances, which she
afterwards called "fate." She was an
orphan and lived with her old aunt,
whose stingines5 increased with her
years.
Old Miss Deborah Brown was re-
spected in Hillsborough, but her visit
ing days were over, and she had
been greatly surprised a week be-
fore the officers ball by call from a
far-away elderly cousin, who, in passing
through the town.. had remembered her
existence. He was remaining for the
ball, and as he took his farewell, his
eye rested carelessly upon the awkward
girl who had retreated into the furthest
corner of the room during his visit.
With a good-natured impulse he took
a ball ticket from his pocket, and,
throwing it down upon the table, said:
"There, young lady; if you like to
go I'll fetch you at s o'clock"
And so, to Julia's intense surprise, she
WIS " Hdh6 OIt vi Iut StIGCJ SOulJuuN
invited to the officers ball.
Aunt Deborah had strange ideas of
the fitness of things, and it is not, per-
haps, very remarkable that Julia's ap-
pearance was scarcely creditable even
to her position.
The best-chosen toilet would have
scarcely redeemed her awkwardness;
but with the old-fashioned garment her
relative had had "made over for her."
and i'll fitting gloves and boots, she was
as little beautiful as she was ever des-
tined to be.
Colonel Raleigh's anger calmed down
somewhat as, after the first round of the
dance was over, his partner, more at her
ease, proved to be an admirable waltzer.
She was light as a feather, and her step
was so springy and free that in his own
mind he reflected that it covered null
titude of sins.
He was inclined to patronize her, and
when he led her breathless to her seat,
stood for a while beside her, and finally,
with sudden impulse of good nature
at which he maryeled himself offered
to take her to have some refreshment,
Silly little Julia how her heart beat,
to be sure. She felt ready to shrink
into the smallest atom of herself as she
walked through the beautiful rooms
with her handsome partner.
When he left her at last her eye fol-
lowed him, and her foolish heart beat
high with hope that such another treat
might be in store for her; but this was
not to be.
The colonel had done his duty
much more than done it, indeed, he con-
sidered-and her light waltzing could
not even commend a second experience
to him. So Julia sat, unnoticed and
alone, until Miss Deborah's cousin was
ready to leave. He had promised to see
her home and when he came to fetch
her, said, good-naturedly:
"Capital ball Hope you enjoyed
itY
"Yes, indeed, thank you," was the
shy response.
"HaYe you been dancing much ?"
81 danced with Colonel Raleigh" !"
said Julia, in exultation.
"Ah, indeed ?" said the elderly cousin,
with what she thought scant considera-
tion of her bliss. "Well, come along.
Your aunt will think you are lost"
And Julia's first ball ended, and the
quiet monotony of her life was to re-
commence.
Never again, though, to be quite the
same, for now Julia had an object in life.
This object was to watch for, dream of
and romance about the handsome colo
mel.
One week the regiment to which he
was attached passed her aunt's house.
On Sundays she knew that for one bliss
full moment she would behold her hero