Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1884-02-14
AMY'S BALL.


The night for the grand ball had
almost arrived, and for weeks in many
parts of the city great preparations
had been going forward for what was
to be the grand event Of the season
and in every respect a fine aiftir So
every one seemed to think and so
every one said as the proceedings were
discussed in the circles of tho invited
guests.
The ball was to take place in the
elegant mansion of Mr.. H, and was to
be given in honor Of his only daughter
Amy.
1t happened to come about in this
way: Miss Amy had for n long time
given up society, and seemed to take
but very little interest in anything that
belonged to it, and seemed to live in a
world of her own and 50 within herself
that il had become almost impossible
TO gam her presence for anything. Her
friends could not understand her ac-
tons or tell what had come over her
once bright nature, or what had befalen
her to cast such agloom over their once
happy companion.
Some remembered love affair that
had not terminated well; some said
ill-health was the chief cause, but
really no ono seemed to know the
actual truth of the matter, so they kept
on sending her invitations to all their
gayeties, in hopes of drawing her from
her solitude and bringing the bright
GIRL once more to share their pleasure,
but of no avail, for only occasionally
an invitation was accepted, and oftentr
polite refusal was all they received
from her.
But, most of all, her strange con-
duct troubled her father, who, being
fond of his daughter almost to idolatry,
could not bear TO see the light fade out
of her face OF to have her young life
wasted in sadness. He alone under
stood her great trouble, for to him, as
in all else, she had gone in the hour Of
her trial. He had deeply sympathizet
with hor, and hoped that in time il
would wear off, and the wound woulC
heal and his darling be herself once
more. But instead of this her gloomi
ness only seemed to increase, till h,
saw approaching danger to her mind
and he at last resolved to bring her ou
of her darkened state II possible.
At first she refused even to listen t,
such thing as ball. and said; "Dea
papa, how could be happy when
have caused 80 much unhappiness?
But her father urged her so kindly I
have some consideration for him a
we'll as herself, that at last she CAV
her consent and determined that sh
would be as far as possible her old Sc
: again and enter into everything quit
+ heartily.
In handsomely decorated room
surrounded by numberless feminin
elegancies, sat Amy awaiting the con
1 ing of her maid to prepare her for II
much -talked-of ball. At last the doc
: opened and then closed softly on IL
maid, and preparations were con
Q menced at once, and from wardrobe an
boxes came the pretty things that wel
v necessary to make lovely woma
!, more beautiful.
II "Ah, Miss Amy, this does my so
q good to have you once more in II
@ hand to do as like with you. Aud i
IT deed, Miss, you don't look Il mite old
a than you did two years ago, when
- dressed you out so very fine to me
~ Mr.. Claude, aud 90 with him to tn
grand gathering at the old Baron's
Don't speak so, Nannette; tn
Is seems a long time ago (and she shu
h dered at the mention of that name al
n event once more), and We won't rec,
any old scenes now, but will only THU
o of what is coming. Do your best
y make me appear as used to, and dor
IS forget anything that will aid in t
% least to make me bewitching. and"
% % But here Nannette interrupted, "Nc
y y that sounds like my own dear Nj
ID Amy once more, and really gives |
IS some heart to work the n ore"
,n Just see this splendid white re
in that came a few moments ago, he
- grand it will look among your beau
~ ful hair, and this cluster of buds
Id nestle on your bosom among the sal
ID aud lace. Alb, how happy your c
n Nannette is to see her dear young m
he tress once more" "How delight
that dear man will be when he sc
u what l have done for him, she said
70 herself, as she lifted the setin robe Qy
'the fair yeqng head