Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-07-27

L ~ttAAN vi ~ Won on thONAS
of refusals arrived each morning.
Every lady for miles round was suffer
| ing from indisposition. The men ''pre-
sented their compliments, but would be
from home on Nav 21." Some took no
notice Of "R. S. V. p" but tossed their
cards aside, answering them neither by
word nor presence.
The day was delicious as the soul of
spring. The band discoursed sweet
music. Games of all kinds courted
players refreshments, lavishly pro-
vided, were freely partaken of-by the
servants. But the company! A few
country lawyers, doctors, parsons, and
their respective families. n few
squireens. n few towns-people from
Narbridge. and that was about all.
Not one Of the cream of Cleyshire,
except young Mr.. Uppingham, of Bel
loft, who. attracted in truth by Mabers
lovely face, accepted the invitation the
rest Of his family declined, rode over in
the teeth Of his mothers fierce oppo-
sition, and for his pains was received
/ by his host with sarcastic politencss
that made him heartily glad to get
away again.
SO the entertainment was n fasco.
Mr.. Smiths wrath rose at the insult
offered TO his daughter But for shame
nj cOnfessing himself locked out, he
would have sold and left the place for
ever. Swallowing his modification rs
best he could, he carried Mabel off to
Norway for six weeks, and let his in
| dignation cool before returning.
But after this nothing for awhile went
well Mabel might Tcvel in country
life, content with all surroundings: so
was not her father. while his child's
/ feminine acquaintance was limited to
the parsons wife, who positively pat
ronized her (On $500 n year, mostly
from titheD, and the old women of the
parish. whose respect and reverence
Mr.. Smith would gladly have bartered
for an hours friendliness from Lady
Lavenham or even Mrs. Uppingham.
But these ladies showed no signs of I'M
| bending.
Godfrey Uppingham certainly called
nj the Towers when the Smiths returned,
/ but, bringing neither card nor apollo
/ gies from his mother. his visit was not
only not pleasant. but added fuel TO Mr..
Smiths afiront, and tinged Miss Ma
bells manner with panied reserve that
sent the young man away very uncom-
Portable indeed.
Hang it!'' thought he. IL can't see
what one wants TO be so deucedly par
ticular for! There's nothing bad about
the old man, and his daughter
il ~
Well, what she might be occupied
Mr.. Godfrey amazingly Just then. Cut
of from the legitimate road to her ac-
quaintance, he had to seek her compa-
ny through by-ways Of his own contriv-
ing. Never had he been SO constant in
his devotions at Tollesham Church.
though that was not the proper parish
for the Beltoft people, and their pew,
next the Smiths, was only granted
them by courtesy. The country lanes.
though not too picturesque Whereabouts,
became deeply interesting to this young
man, especially those adjoining the
Towers. Mrs. Annesley, driving with
Mabel in the afternoons. grew quite ac-
custOmcd to the studiedly polite greet
ing Of their good-looking ncighbor. and
If the accidental meeting miscarried she
seemed To- miss il.
so did Mabel! Even Mr.. Smith.
seeing him occasionally. commend.
eel him, saying ''he wasn't such a
fool as the rest of them" And when.
through secret cxertions on Geoffrev's
part. an invitation arrived for an ap-
preaching county ball. the fond parent
tanried his child was finding his level AT
last, and in return prepared to make
himself amiable even to his enemies.
But. alas! Mr.. Smith reckoned without
his host. Tall, well-made, gray-haired,
and of good presence, he was by nc
means the least presentable man in the
room. and his daughter might have been
young Duchess, a., with shy girlish
dignity, dressed unexceptionably Gin
purest white, she made her first public
appearance ut Narbridge. There was
no candid judgment but pronounced
her the evenings belle. Other women
wills might deny the fact, but not their
eyes. The men held their tongues "a
their partners, but in the card-room.
and lobby freely circulated their praise
of the new beauty, coupled with mauy
n lamcntation that she should be so
''er-well SLOPPY. you know" But
that stigma hardened the Clevshirc
clique into adamant. In three LONG
hours twice only was Mabe's hand
sought for n dance. though no lighter OF
truer steps than hers beat time upou
the floor. Twice was valiant Mr.
Godfrey Uppingham her partner, once
in long delicious waltz. and once in q
quadrille for which, to his unspeakablC
annoyance, he had considerable
difficulty in finding n Uis-d-ris. Mr.
Smith from lounge close by took il
the whole situation, from Mrs. Uppin0
ham : black looks as she sat fanninc
herself furiOusly till the figures finished
To her rapid descent upon her son with
the imperative desire for their carriag,
To be ordered Immediately She wa.
tired Of that BALI Also was Il clear Il
Mabcrs father why. rs brougham',
rolled of with frcights of ladies, tn,
men OF these august families shoulC
come hurrying back seeking the pleas
urc Of dance with the till now neglect
eel star. But
lie who viii not when he may,
When he will he shall have nay,
, thought Mr.. Smith. savagely, delighted
at spiting them. Before his daughter
understood the rapid turn of affairs
half dozen names were on her pro
; gramme. Before the first partner coulC
claim her MIR. Smith announced that h,
was going, and no entreaties of tard,
! admirers could induce him to stop.
Not even Godfrey Uppingham's. Sc
that luckless young man could onl,
watch Mabel being shrouded in whit,
fur and hurried on her fathers arm
downstairs, while he followed will
Mrs. Annesley. just for one more toucl
of the little gloved hand. and sh,
good night" from the beautiful. half
sad gray eyes that haunted him fol
hours afterward.
That ball seemed the climax of So
cieties spleen with the Smiths. Soor
sundry gentlemen showed signs of soft
ening and being civil. Mr.. Smith ut
terly declined to have anything to dc
with them.
They'd ridden the high horse wher
they chose. Now il was his turn. III,
wasn't going to be whistled to theil