The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-09-09
Il
JUST AFTER THE WE
A STORY OF TEIE SOUTH.
Written for The by ~ c.
Author of LHeiohn"

one, | look triumphant.)
1 continue, quite warmed up now.
and pleased my new rhetorical powers,
las for Conrad MARYLAND, if he is
/ goose, he's at least too polite ever to
have pushed feeble girl down, and l
could never love any boy who had
! been guilty of such an act" and 1
curl my lip in scorn. Of course that
/ thrust goes home, and of course l
meant it should.
4 He starts towards me il such an
eager, sorrowful manner, but what
ever he proposed saying is cut short,
/ for the door opens, and Mrs. Maitland
imposing, grand and gorgeous enters
/ upon the scene, and [ feel from her
/ expression, and Leonard's fervor, that
! she now misconstrues the object of
nv rejecting her son, and thinks it
was because / was interested in some
! one else.
| make matters worse by stammer-
ing out something and leaving the
room, when she smiles very knowing
ly and apologies "for interrupting
/ such a charming tete-a-tete," as she
/ expresses 1t.
/ When | return, everyone has ar
rived. | steer clear of Leonard all
the evening, but it does seem to me
I'm catching his eye every moment,
though [ resolve not to look his way
again, still l keep forgetting. He
doesn't look at all sad which mystifes
me, what if Mrs. Maitland told him
about my not accepting Conrad. good
ness gracious he'll think I preferred
him, boys are so conceited.
We spend merry evening, dance,
play games &c. Even father and
mother join in the fun, actually waltz
together to show us the old style we
laugh at it, but they don't seem to
mind. Say it recalls their counting
days.
l can't avoid being near Leonard
in the quadrilles, for l love to dance
too we'll to give up the pleasure when
get chance. He looks afraid to
ask ME to be his partner, so dances it
with mother. When we dance near
each toher, I took away 20 avoid con.
versation, but he whispers, please
don't despise me, its poor pay for a
fellow, who has given you so much
thought.
| sneer again, as my only reply.
l long ago learned from Pierre
Martyne that it is fashionable for boys
to have flame, so guess Leonard
has reached the age, and doesn't want
to be behind the times. In fact Ar
chic, poor Archie how / wish he was
here tonight, he loves gayety SO, used
to say ait don't matter who fellows
sweetheart is, so he has one," so
don't put any confidence in what any
of them say. I'm never going to
marry that's decided. I'm going to
keep house for Jack, now l see Jamie
is about to be provided for; perhaps
Jack will get in the notion some day,
I'll fall back on Spencer.
When we say goods night" Jamie
whispers to me, that it has been the
happiest evening he ever spent and
with radiant face says he'll tell me
why some other time, as if I couldn't
guess.
| Leonard holds out his hand in
parting. and somehow / think of the
night Oscar was so sick and as I put
mine in his, / realize what his affect
lonate demonstrations of that night
meant, which had all along only at
tributed to gratitude, he squeezed it
until | am almost tempted to scream
and go to bed more angry with him
than ever.
The next morning Jesse appears,
wearing lovely ring, with pearl
setting,and looking quite unconscious,
but can easily decide by noticing it
there, why Jamie spent such very
happy time. His chances for happy
life are good and how we'll he deserves
it, dear, noble, unselfsh Jamie, many
great men, so termed, have fallen far
short of his true greatness in my esti-
nation.
The masquerade party is all the
rage now, I've never been to one, so
am wild over the prospect. Mrs.
Maitland has taken my dress in hand
she's awfully anxious to fix me up to
her notion, and I'm willing, for l
don't care anything about the suit, so
I'm perfectly disguised. Miss Rebec-
be taken for her, but there are some
of the town girls to be invited who
are my size.
just to think it is New Years 1868
and am sixteen and Leonard seven
teen; dear me how old we are getting.
The masquerading time draws near.
1t is twilight when l find myself on
my way back to Oakland, have gone
home to get something for Belle, and
to carry a domino to father, which, as
he objects TO wearing it, / am now
tagging back with me- 1t is getting
darker ever moment, so | hurry to get
housed before night settles down in