Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-12-27
Gales anb Skttfbts.
IN A BALL ROOM.

4
had arrived. The-shire hunt ball
20 years ago. began early Being the
great event of the year to many sober
country people, they made point Of ar
irving at the very beginning and staying
TO the end. The music had been sound
ing mer1ly for some time, when two
ladies came in, evidently mother and
daughter, the one. middle aged. calm. and
sedate the other, young, eager, and ex-
cited. The latter flung off her cloak gave
n hasty glance at the glass. and stood
quiyering with Impotence, while her
1 mother leisurely Invested herself Of her
wraps and arranged her cap.
| "Come along, mother. darling" the
girl said at last. Your cap is all right.
and you look lovely. We are so late.
Poor papa will be quite tired of waiting
Poor papar' said tine mother dryly
The must be in a dreadful fidget lest all
the young ladies should he engaged, and
there be no partners left for him.
| The girl blushed and laughed.
Never mind. Florrie A; if anybody wants
to dance with you, they will manage ii
somehow"
Florrie bIushed again, while smile OF
the most perfect content broke over her
| l1tCs IL was a idii JpuA- id,Ss PActSs ,Acs
with any wonderful beauty but with fresh
ness, innocence, and sweet temper; a face
that weary paterfamilias, yawning in
doorways. would comment upon with ap-
probation; that jealous mothers would
not pick to pieces, and that daughters
would admire without envy.
They found "poor papa" warmly dis
cussing some magisteriai difficulty with a
county neighbor, and bearing this enforc-
ed delay of his entrance to the ball room
with perfect equanimity.
How Florrie's eyes roved round as they
entered how absently she responded to
the greetings of varions friends. Even
the gentleman who solicited the favor OF
dance received but half her attention.
She was only seventeen, and had not yet
learned the art or necessity OF concealinS
her feelings. Every motion wrote itself
in clear letters in that childish face. Up
and down the room her gray eyes wan-
dered as she stood by her mother, eagerly
scanning the group of dancers, and then
a sudden light came into them, a rush of
color into her cheeks, as young man de
tached himself from a knot of relocated
sportsmen aud approached her. With
what a radiant smile she greeted him
Her mother noted it and sighed; a sour
maiden of forty seeing it, sighed too, and
said TO herself: What flIrt that girl is?''
but even while saying it she knew she
was unjust. The young man did not sigh.
He smiled a smile almost as radiant as
Florrie's own-almost, not quite.
"Oh, Miss Darley," he began, Il thought
you were never coming
Il thought we never were," she replied
navely; "but we are here now," she
added in tone of satisfaction,
..Yes, you are here now," he said
land you will stay till the end and give
me a great many dances. Wouldn't vor
like some tea?" OF course she would like
some tea, and as she was going to dance
the next waltz with him it was hardly
worth the while to return to her mother
for the few intervening moments.
Florrie was no tlirt, but she was only
Just out, had seen nothing of the world
and had never stirred from under hel
mothers wing. What wonder that sh,
was completely captivated by this hand
some young soldier, who contrived in s,
many little ways to imply. though he haC
not yet said it. that he loved her. Sh'
was over head and ears in love with him
never doubted that he was ordained to b,
her husband, and had the most perfec
faith in him.
He was certainly very happy in hel
society, and would willingly have sat by
her side and danced with her the Who'll,
night. But Florrie had been well drilled
on this point She looked wIstfuly at hel
programme when he handed it back t.
her filed with his own name.
t,l IL l,
two. / should like it, but mustn't sh,
said simply.
A look came over his face that hal
charmed. half frightened her.
"Ah! I" he began eagerly, and ther
checked himself. Il should like it. but
mustn't" he added half under his breath
She looked at him wonderingly.
did you speak," she asked.
mo. no; there's the music. Come"
To say that Florrie enjoyed the bal
would be to express it feebly. She wa
simply stepped in content. Whether sh,
danced. or sat unnoticed by her mother
side. she was profoundly happy. Thei
she had the second dance to look forwar,
to, and she resolutely refused to 60 to thu
tea room till then. that she might honest
" want some retreshment after it. Thei
followed another ten minutes. of whlc,
each moment was lifetime of bliss neve
to be forgotten.
As they passed into the ball room the,
met girl coming out who had alread,
attracted Mr.. Peytou's attention by hel
extreme beauty-her dazzling complex
ion, her masses of golden hair. and he
big blue eyes. She was leaning on the
arm of misunderstanding little man
who had been heading the train of he1
admirers the whole evening, and who die
not appear. Judging from his countenance
to have derived much comfort from the
amusement, The young lady stopped
Florrie, saying:
well, Florrie, are you enjoying your
self? have tried vainly to catch you
eve the whole evening. but you have beer
SO occupied you wouldn't look at me-"
| There was an undercurrent of sarcasm
in the tone which was quite lost on Flor
RE. who replied enthusiastically:
II am enjoying myself immensely"
The beauty smiled and passed on, Civ
ing Mr.. Peyton glance from under hel
long eyelashes that kept him silent till he
got back to Mrs. barley.
..Who is that young lady ?n he asked.
..She is Miss Talbot" Florrie said
| ..Is sh, not pretty ?"