Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-12-21


He was certainly very happy in Ler
society, and would willingly have sat
by her side and danced with her the
whole night. But Florrie had been
well drilled on this point. She looked
wistfully at her programme when he
handed it back to her half filled with
his own name.
"You must scratch them all out but
two | should like it, but | mustn't"
she said simply.
A look came over his face that half
charmed, half frightened her.
"Ah !" he began eagerly, and then
checked himself. 81 should like it,
but / mustn't" he added half under his
breath.
She looked at him wonderingly.
"Did you speak," she asked
'No, no; there is the music. Come"
To say that Florrie enjoyed the ball
would be to express it feebly. She was
simply stepped in content. Whether
she danced, or sat unnoticed by her
mothers side, she was profoundly
happy. Then she had that second
dance to look forward to, and she reso-
lutely refused to go TO the tea-room
till then, that she might honestly want
some refreshments after it. Then fol-
lowed another ten minutes, of which
each moment was a lifetime Of bliss,
never to be forgotten.
AS they passed into the ballroom
they met girl coming out who bad
already attracted Mr.. Peyton's atten-
ton by her extreme beauty-her daz-
cling complexion, her moses of gol-
den hair, and her big blue eyes. She
was leaning on the arm of miserable
looking little man, who had been head
ing the train of her admirers the whole
evening, and who did not appear from
his countenance, to have derived
much comfort from the amusement.
The young lady stopped Florrie, say
ing:
well, Florrie are you enjoying
yourself? | have tried vainly to catch
your eye the whole evening, but you
have been so occupied you would not
look at me-"
There was an undercurrent of sar-
cazm in the tone which was quite lost
on Florrie, who replied enthusiastic
ally;
81 am enjoying myself immensely"
The beauty smiled and passed on,
giving Mr.. Peyton a glance from under
her long eyelashes that kept him silent
till they got back TO Mrs. barley.
"Who is that young LADY," he asked.
"She is Miss Talbot" Florrie said,
as she not pretty?"
Over her, too, had come vague, UNI
. / Igtinubla tar,, e oh.
could not tell what, that Jared upon
her
A few minutes after Mr.. Peyton had
moved away Alice Talbot came u9,
and Diminishing her disconsolate part
nor with n careless nod, she said:
Dear Mrs. barley, may / sit by
your Papa is always in the middle of
a group of gentlemen, and / never
get near him. Mrs. barley cordi-
ally consented, not without little
wonder, for Miss Talbot was accustom-
ed to go about alone with her father,
and did not usually appear to feel The
want of n lady chnperUn -~------- ----
who was your last partner, Flor
rie2' Alice inquired.
"Mr. Peyton," said Florrie.
"Mr. Pey;on," Alice repeated. ooh, |
81 course know. lie is one Of the |
officers Of the tn You must intro !
ouee him 20 me. He has called on us, |
and it seems foolish not to know him"
A few minutes later the introduction |
was made. But Mr.. Peyton did not
seem disposed TO spend much time on
Alice Talbot. He turned to Florrie
eagerly and said
will you let me take you into sup
PERI
Then the vague shadow vanished ut
once from the girls mind.
you must just let me have one
more dance with Miss barley Mr..
Peyton said when Mr.. barley expressed
his decided conviction that it was time
to 60, and the father could NOT resist
has child's happy pleading eyes. Short
sighted old gentleman, he wondered
whatthere was in dancing that ali girls |
were so fond of it.
When the dance was over and the |
pair came back they found Alice Tai |
bot stoutly resisting an attempt on the |
part Of her father to take her away.
81 must stay for the next dance |
papa, | am engaged to your good |
looking friend, She added in whis-
per to Florrie. 81 wouldn't miss it for
the world
But Florrie hardly heard her. She
was absolutely wild with excitement.
Never before had Mr.. Peyton been so
devoted; never before had she been so
sure that he loved her. nor had she
realized what it was 20 be 80 loved.
81 shall see you on Tuesday 1T the
Grays," he said, AS they stood waiting
for the carriage looking down with
more tenderness than he perhaps knew
into the happy flushed face.
1t frightened, if that We're possible.
"But thought you said YOU we're
on duty that day.
"Ill get oil somehow, would miss
q court martial rather than miss see
ing YOU
THAT would be wrong, she said
gravely, with her earnest eyes fixed on
his face. Il hope you would not neg,
lect your duty on any consideration