The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1885-12-24
HER CHRISTMAS BALLS.

MN Vunio ImHo phLIos
Well, what difference would it make?
One might as well be happy while n
could, and who wouldn't have been
happy, blissfully, radiantly, divinely
happy with that dear old Danube waltz
throbbing on the perfumed air, with
his dear arms around one, his tender
eyes smiling, his breath waving the
fuffs of shining hair, his lips whisper
ing the dearest and the sweetest love
words that were wei listened to by
mortal woman? Ah-if it could only
last forever! If they could but float
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 n
was happy-if-and the waltz was
ended, and she raised her eyes to his
with a smile and a 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
ewes. And in the library she chung to
him and promised to be true to him
and wait for him, no matter what
happened. Then with fondest 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 gusts.
The music was so sad, the people said
such silly things. Why didhermother
persist in always having a ball or
Christmas night? Would they w
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, andthe
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 at
tentions 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 obeyed 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 hermother,
even though one persistent sutton re-
jected by the daughter appealed to the
mother, and Mrs. Haughton, fattered
and pleased with the idea of seeing her
only daughter the wife of so wealthy
and prominent a man, gave Hilda no
peace day or night. Only a mother
almost any desperate deed, and
Hilda's life became one long and never
ceasing torment, having no leaven of
comfort in it except the knowledge
that it could not last forever, for Hal
would come and take her away.
Mrs. Haughton allowedn no correspon-
dence between her daughter and Hal
Chester. Hilda was entirely toolovely
to be thrown away on a poor man,
ever though he was the son of an old
friend who had lost his entire fortune
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 yielding to her
mothers persuasions and her own
despair.
X K
Hal had been gone nearly years,
and it was drawing on to Christmas
and her mothers annual ball. She
entered heartily into Interpretations,