The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-01-16
CHRISTMAS STORIES.
I.er Christmas Balls.

Well, what difference would 1T make:
One might as we'll be happy while one
could, and who wouldn't have been
happy, blissfully, radiantly, divlnelv
happy with that dear old Danube waltz
tbrobbing on the perfumed air, with
his dear arms around one, his tender
ewes smiling, his breath waving the
fuffs of shining hair, his lips whisper
ing the dearest and the sweetest love
words that were ever listened to by
mortal womanp-Ah-if it could only
last forever If they could but float
on and on-if the music would never
cease-if there was no past-no future
if there was nothing but music and
Hal and herself-if life could only end
while one was happy-if-and the waltz
was ended, and she raised her eyes to
his with a smile and sigh.
"Come, sweetheart. it is almost
time for me to go. Say goodbye to
me in the dear old library;" and she
let him lead her away though she
knew that her mother was watching
with angry eyes. And in the library
she clung to him and promised to be
true to him and wait for him, no mat
ter what happened. Then with fond
est words and tenderest kisses he left
her, for he must catch the train that
was to bear him cover the hills and
far away" to where he might win fame
and fortune, before coming back to
claim her from her naughty mother.
And she ran to her room, bathed her
tear-wet face and hid the traces with
velvet powder before rejoining her
mothers guests. The music was so
sad, the people said such silly things.
Why did her mother persist in always
having a ball on Christmas night ?
Would they never go? And after they
were gone she went to her own room
to cry her heart out. But that did no
good, for even after all her tears were
shed, her heart was so heavy that she
could hardly smile. The days were so
long, and the months dragged so slow
ly by. And her mother would not al
low her to stay at home. She must go
to operas balls and dinners, and ac-
cept 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 and music while he was work
ing 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 obeycd her mother and danced and
sang, but she would not obey so far as
to encourage the attentions of any of
the men selected by her mother, even
though one persistent suitor rejected
by the daughter appealed to tho
mother, and Mrs. Haughton, ilattered
and pleased with the idea of seeing her
only daughter the wife of so wealthy
and prominent a man, gave llilda no
peace day nor night. Only mother
knows how to nag n daughter on
to almost any desperate deed, and
TIilda's life became one long and
never-coasipg torment, having no
leavcn of comfort in it except the
knowledge that it could not last for
ever, for Hal would come and take
her away.
Mrs. Haughton allowed no CORE
pondence bctv cen her daughter and
Hal Chester. Hllda was entirely too
lovely TO be thrown away on n poor
man. even though he was the son of an
old friend who bad lost his entire for
tune through the dishonesty of his
partner.
Thus 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 iclding to her mothers
persuasions and her own despair.
Hal had been gone nearly four
gears, and it was drawing on to Christ
mas, and her mothers annual ball.
She entered heartily into the prepara-
tons, her heart seemed light, and
laughter and song came from her
smiling lips, Her mother congratu-
lated herself that IIilda was coming to
her senses at last. and forgetting her
school girl penchant for Hal Chester.
But ah, mol Hildi's thoughts were
all of Hal, for on that Christmas night
almost four years ago. had he not
promised to dance the Danube waltz
with herp-to come back to her in four
vearsP Who wouldn't sing the old
songs when he would soon be asking
for themp And he would never leave
her again, for she had resolved to
marry him let him be as poor as he
might be. her mother should not in
1uence her now. Why her heart kept
singing Hal, Hal" from morning
till night, and her first waking ana last
sleeping thought was of him. She
was proud of her beauty, because it
wouli please Hal TO see how she had
improved.