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

The dancing-room was full as they
entered, but Julia saw only one figure
The handsome colonel of her memoir
able ball, the hero of every day-dream
since, was leaning against the mantel-
shelf, in earnest conversation with q
lady.
To Julia's eyes he was handsomer
than ever. She had no desire to join
in the dancing; she felt as if
the mere sight of her hero was
enough. She took seat, by her friends
desire, on the sofa, but was soon to re-
alize that her wall-hower days were
over.
She did not think what pretty pic
ture she made as she sat there, all the
admiration in her innocent heart shining
in her eyes as, without any idea of
attracting notice, she enjoyed the real
ization of her longing to see him once
more.
She accepted one partner after
another, always hoping that fate would
at last bring her old friend, as she con-
sidered him, to her side. What fate
might not have accomplished her own
attractions brought about.
"Deuced pretty girl, that" said the
colonel to the lady with whom he con-
versed. "Dances we'll, too. Introduce
me, won't you?"
GIVE great mind not to-" said his
friend, laughing. "I haven't forgotten
your scowl last year at your own ball,
when l asked you to dance with that
friend of old Lanes"
"Well, 1 might scowl /" said
the colonel, laughing" that awk-
ward girl! You certainly ought
to make every amends in your
power by giving me better chance to
night" And he followed her across the
room to Julia, whose partner had just
released her.
Miss Pinch-Colonel Raleigh" she
heard and trembling at the realization
of her dream, she held out her card
almost mechanically. She scarcely
heard his first words. When she re-
covered from her nervousness, he was
saying:
"Mrs. White threatened to punish
me for an old offense by not introducing
me, Miss Pinch. 1t would have been
too cruel--don't you think so?'
"I do not know what the oflense
was," said Julia, in her childish voice.
"But and she hesitated-"I don't
think it could have been very bad"
And the great blue eyes were raised
to his face.
He laughed.
81 will tell you," he said, "only your
kind heart would be hurt if you had to
blame me-"
Perhaps I shouldn't have to blame
you," said Julia, wistfully; but the
music was tempting, and his reply was
merged in the first steps of waltz.
"How divinely you dance, Miss
Pinch," said the handsome colonel, as
he bent over her at the conclusion of
the waltz. "Iou are as light as a
feather. Inever danced with any one so
light before, except--yes, byJove! except
the time was going to tell you about,
when I shocked Mrs. White. Why, it
was in this very town-so it twas-at our
own ball. She would introduce me to
Il gawky girl whom nobody knew, and
1 scowled over it, lean tell you But
she danced well, L must give her that
Lightest waltzer l ever knew except
yourself"
Poor little Julia! How her heart
beat She took courage.
"Who was she?" she asked
3" I don't know; never saw her be-
fore nor since-she was all angles /
remember / was surprised to find that
she could dance at all 1 wonder how
she learned. Strange-it's no compli-
ment to you, but do you know, Miss
Pinch, you rather remind me of her ?
Please forgive me-" he added, hastily,
thinking her deepening color arose
from annoyance. "She had beautiful
eyes, 1 remember, and might have been
good-looking only she was so awkward
and oh ! so ill-dressedr' %
Cant you remember her name %
asked Julia. Then she added; Il was
at that ball"
"You !" said the colonel. '"Impossi-
BILE! couldn't have forgotten you if |
had once seen you!"
"Oh, yes, was !" il sisted Julia. Z" |
remember it because it was my first
ball" And she looked down and
blushed.
The colonel considered.
81 thought l knew every pretty girl
in the room that night" he said. "You
must be mistaken. I'm sure L should
have danced, with you if you were there
If you would have permitted me, that
| is"
"You did dance with me-" said Julia,
in a low voice-then suddenly becom-
ing very bold, she added "You didn't
want to. but you did, and-and L en-
! joyed it very much"
The handsome colonel looked an
noyed. The idea of his forgetting it,
if, as she said, he had danced with her
"What dance was t?" he asked, after
pause.
"A waltz" said Julia, softly, as the
delicious memory of that evening came
over her.
GA what?" asked the colonel, with q
sudden and unpleasant idea in his mind
GA waliz," she repeated, with blush
and again she looked up at him with
those lovely, innocent eyes of hers.
"Miss PINCH" he said, "you are
laughinglat me. Do you want to make
me believe that met you, waltzed with
you and forgot you%
eyes," said Julia; then after a pause
she half whispered: "But 1 didn't for
get"
The colonel pulled his whiskers. He
was very much put out.
This girl was so pretty-how hateful
4 she must think him Well. there wa,