The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1881-11-17
THE BALL AT BRANDON.


"You look unhappy this afternoon,
my love-"
"Stin Pm not unhappy, George"
''Cross, perhaps"
mo, not even cross"
"What, thenP
81 am annoyed"
George GaylOr opened his big, blue
eyes, tossed his cigarette over the vine
clad rail of the piazza, and fixed a
a comical, half sarcastic glance upon
his pretty fa1cee.
Can it be that you are annoyed with
me, Lucy?" he asked.
eyes, with you"
'Is it possible?" he laughed. Pray,
how have I offended your highnessP'
The little white hands flew more rap
idly than ever over the embroidery, and
Lucy Herbert did not look up as she
answered:
well, since you insist upon know
ing, must say that your conduct with
Daisy Marden last evening was unCalled
for, to say the least"
''Why SOP"
"Why7 Because was not the only
one to notice how you firted with her,
and you know as well as do that she
has the reputation Of being an uncOn-
sciOnable cOquette."
George GaylOr burst into 4 peal Of
irresistible laughter.
81 think Miss Mardeu simply love
lyr' he exclaimed; "besides, I don't
| quite see why you should dictate rules
of conduct to me, even if we as en-
gagged"
In an instant the little beauty was
upon her feet, her cheeks flushing, and
her brown eyes all alight with indigna-
| ton.
81 don't pretend to dictate" she
cried, ''and never shall. At any time
that you desire your freedom it is at
your disposal"
'Lucyr'
Il mean what I say, George"
''NOw you are angry" he said; Il
wouldn't believe you could be Jealous
when you know how 1 love you"
This was q poser" and Lucy sat
down again. In a voice that was trem-
ulous with tears, she replied:
"YOu won't want to see me firt even
if you were sure of my love"
81 shouldn't mind it bit" he hast
ened to say; "don't think me so fool
ish. You are at liberty to do exactly
as you see fit.
There was a moment Of silence, and
then taking up her embroidery again,
Lacy said:
Every we'll"
So George lighted another cigarette,
and for the time being this dangerous
quicksand was passed safely over.
Perhaps the whole affair had passed
out of the young mans recollection,
when on the following evening he en-
tered the ballroom at the village hotel
with Lucy on his arm, lovely in an i'm
promptu costume of pale blue gauze
and sprays of blackberry blossoms.
OF course Daisy Marden was there,
and no sooner had she sighted the low
ers than she foated up to them, q per-
feet vision of piquant lOVeliness in a
cloud of white tulie and garlands OF
wild roses.
"Oh, Lucy" exclaimed the irrepres-
sible young lady, when she was within
hailing distance, ''whO do you suppose
is hereP''
81 can't imagine,n was Miss Her
bert's calm rejoinder.
Cecil Andrews, your old flame"
'Lucy's face frightened.
81 shall be very happy to meet Mr..
Andrews again. she said.
''And oh, he's ten times handsOmer
than he was before he left Brandon"
supplemented Miss Daisy. ''He's just
crazy to see you. Here's my card, Mr..
GaylOr, if you care to dance with me
this evening""
"Shall I begin with the next wallz?"
George asked.
Certainly"
When he had scratched his name to
several of the dances and was about to
put his pencil away, Lucy presented her
card.
"You have forgotten to select your
dances with me, George" she said.
"NeVer mind, dear, " he said hurried
ly; you'll have some vacancies when
l come back; ru select some, then"
and away he dOated with the tulle and
pink roses into the amaze Of dancers.
Now it so happened that Miss Daisy
Marden was quite vicious enough to
try to render her friend unhappy, and
so it was a full half hour ere George
returned to the spot where he had left
his love.
Lucy was gone.
eyes, she was dancing with the
handsome stranger, which fact so
piqued our hero that the moment the
music ceased, he pressed his way
through the crowd and demanded Lu-
cy's card.
Every place was filed.
you were away so long, George"
Lucy said, with an unconscious smile,
"that I really could not reserve a dance \
for you. Mr.. Andrews, permit me to
present my friend, Mr.. GaylOr."
The men bowed COldly, and George
returned the card, not, however, ere
he had seen that Cecil Andrews name
appeared upon it in not less than six
places.
For the first time in his hitherto care
less existence, George GaylOr tasted the
bitterness of jealousy.
1t was a horrible evening to him; the
hours dragged like lead, Miss Daisy
palled upon him and the end Of it was
that he passed the time smoking ut
terly unsatisfactory cigarettes in the
garden of the hotel, until two o'clock
struck and reminded him that it was
time to go home and end his misery.
He hastened through the hall where
people were dOnning clOaks and wraps
and entered the ballroom.
The vast room was deserted and the
servants were putting out the lights.
Where was Lucy?
''She has gone with hIr. Andrews in
his carriage, if you are looking for