The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-01-17
HER CHRISTMAS BALLS.

Well, what difference would it make?
One might as we'll be happy while one
could, and who wouldn't have been
happy, blissful, radiantly, divinely happy
with that dear old Danube waltz throb
bling on the perfumed air, with his dear
arms around one, his tender eyes smiling
his breath waving the tufts of shining
hair, his lips whispering the dearest and
| the sweetest love words that were ever
listened to by mortal woman? Ah-if it
could only be forever. If they could but
float on and on if the music would never
cease-if there was nothing but music
and Hal ard l:erself-if life could only
eud while one was happy-if-and the
waltz was ended, and she raised her eyes
to his with smile and sigh.
Come, sweetheart, it is almost time
for me to go. Say goodbye to mo in
the dear old library" and she let him
lead her away though she knew that her
mother was watching with angry Eyes.
Aud in the library she clung to him and
Promised to be true him and wait for
him, no matter what happened. Then
with fundest words and te::derest kisses
he left her, for he must catch the train
! that was to bear him over the hills and
far away" to where he might win fame
and fortune, before coming back SO claim
her from her naughty mother. And she
ran to her room, bathed her tearwet face
before reioiuing her mothers guests.
| The music was SO sad, the people said
such silly things. Why did her mother
persist i'll always having a ball on Christ
mas nishto Would they never 60? And
after they were gone she went to her
room to cry her heart out Bnt that did
no good, for even after al her tears were
shed, her heart was so busy that she
could hardly smile. The days were SO
long, and the months dragged SO slowly
by. And her mother would not allow
her to stay at home. She must go to
operas, balls and dinners, and accept the
attentions of men who were odious to
her. even though they were rich, and
most of them young and handsome.
What was life to her without her
handsome Hal? How could she enjoy
! dancing aud music while he was working
his life out for her? She would never
waltz the dear old Danube till he came
back-at any rate they could not compel
her to do that. And SO she obeyed her
mother and danced and sang, but 81 .
would not obey so far as to encourage
the attentions Of any of the men selected
by her mother, even though one persis-
tent sutton rejected by the daughter APP
pealed to the mother, and Mrs. Haugh-
ton, fiattered and pleased with the idea
of seeing her only daughter the wife OF
so wealthy and prominent man, gave
IIilda no peace day nor night Only a
mother knows how to nag a daughter on
to almost any desperate deed, and Hill
da's lie became one long and never-ceas-
ing torment, having no lcaven Of comfort
in it except the knowledge that it could
not las5 fnlever, for Hal would come and
take her away.
Mrs. IIaughton allowed no correspon
dence between her daughter and Hal
Chester. Hilda was entirely too lovely
to be thrown away on poor man, even
| though he was the son of an old friend
nho had l"st his entire fortune through
the dishonesty of his partner.
Thu. Hilda lived on Sometimes her
courage almost gave way, and she felt
that anything would be better than the
life she led, but her love for Hal saved
her from yielding to her mothers per-
| suasions and her own despair.