McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-05-01

little girl won him even from his
chimera. Was 1t the familiar scent of
the roses of her breast-knot lingering
about her that so fascinated himp Or
was it the diminutive little hand, spark
ling with jewels, SO warm and soft that
fingered in his as he led her to seat
in an Above after the waltz was over.
ssMamma thinks am lost, Mr.. Sell
den," said Isabelle, as she drew part
of curtain before her hiding her.
self in its folds. "See how she is scan
ming every face to fiLd miner"
She pointed toward lady who was
approaching them.
"Your mamma, did you say? Why
she is an old acquaintance of mine;
we spent delightful summer together
at Long Branch. l do hope she still
remembers me-"
Tom went forward to meet the lady,
when a cordial grasp of the hand
showed that their friendship was not
forgotten on her part
"Your are a good-for-nothing little
girl, Belle" Mrs. Tremaine said, as she
tapped her daughter on the shoulder
with her fan. 'sYou have been running
away from me all the evening! Sit
down, Mr.. Selden; surely the sofa is
large enough for three, and want to
chat with you awhile. Bella, where are
your glovesp Why do you take them
from your handsP''
"Because 1 do not like to make pris-
oners of my hands See the red marks
the tight things have made upon them
already" and she held them up for in
spection.
Tom thought as he looked at the
dimpled white hands that he would like
very much to kiss them and smooth
away the cruel marks.
s'It is breach of etiquette, DEAR"
said Mrs. Tremaine; ''a lady should
always be gloved in ballroom. Be-
sides, it is bad habit. Had you not
been guilty of removing your gloves
you would not have lost your valuable
ring and the pretty Paris glove when
you were here BEFORE
Tom gave great start and his heart
began to throb violently.
at was an exceedingly strange cir
cumstance," said Mrs. Tremaine, as she
turned toward Selden. ga very valua-
BILE diamond ring was lost here by
Belle. We offered large rewards for it
and did everything in our power for its
recovery, but could never find trace
of it. 1t must have dropped from her
finger when she removed her glove,
which she also lost. Both the glove
and the ring were sent to her from
Paris as q seventeenth year birthday
present, and she managed to lose them
on the night of the same day on which
she received them.'
Tom was entirely overcome with this
disclosure, and could scarcely summon
up courage to get in word, when to
his great relief gentleman came up
next dance.
Tom was alone with the object of his
romantic attachment. What a puerile
passion it had been compared with the
love that was now Juggling at his heart
"a love not inspired by the possession
of the dainty glove nor of the jeweled
ring. He might have worn them next
to his heart forever, and yet never
have known the exquisite feelings
aroused by the half-veiled yet thrilling
glance that met his from Bela's soft
Violet-blue eyes. He could not tear
himself away from her, and yet he was
afraid to stay, lest he should frighten
her by betraying the violence OF the
passion with which she had inspired
him.
And Bella, she felt an indefnable
confidence in Tom, feeling of infinite
friendship for him, as if parting from
HIM would be a cruelty. Poor little
girl! 1t was the first dawn of love in
her pure young heart.
The evening had passed too quickly
away. The ladies were fast disappear
ing, Mrs. Tremaine, leaning on Mr..
Harry Evelyn's arm, came to summon
Bella to the dressing-room.
Itwas with difidence yet with GER
tain instructive confidence that Tom
drew Bella's arm within his own as she
came down from the dressing-room in
her wraps to escort her to the waiting
carriage; her eyes dropped beneath
the intense warmth and love of Toms
gaze as he pressed her hand at part
ing, and bushes suffused her face as
the carriage drove away from the door.
And now, as week succeeded week,
Tom Selden was never found 1T NAL
den unless business kept him there,
for the sweet young Bella Tremaine
was 80 lonesome without him at West
moreland. The winter passed quickly
away, and in the ensuing spring Tom
was offered very lucrative position in
Washington, but if he accepted it he
would be forced to reside there. Here
difficulty presented itself. Tom and
Bella had become so strongly attached
to each other that separation was not
to be thought of, and yet the position
was too advantageous to be sacrificed.
One evening when they were alone in
the drawing-room Tom asked Bella
how they were to solve this problem.
The little maiden blushed and hung
down her head hut finallv accented