The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-02-11
IN TIE BALLROOM.

The grand march ia over aad we have
formed for the first quRdrille. The musit
has ceased. Ny brother Tom explains
that he must leave me just for minute
to Gee about his programme. "All right
1 acquiesCe, cheerfully, "only- But be-
fore I have time to add another word
Tom is Of, and l am left defsnseless,
How queer the men look running about
col What a coniusion This excite
ment is delicious. wonder why scme-
body doesn't come to ask me for dance.
What can DO the matter? All, there's
George Howard coming this way. How
handsome no isl Yes, he sees me; he Is
smiling at mo. Well, II he hasn't gone
by. Ijust believe that be didn't see me
on purpose. Where's Tom2 l feel 30
frightened. It's getting late, Pm sure.
Where can Mr.. Parsons be? Isn't he 60
ing TO claim the dance he engaged
Heavenal II he should come now-snd
not name on my programmed l would
be 60 ashamed 10 show II To him. think
I'll say It La filed. "a dance left for me ?"
l hear o voice inquire with easy Gssur-
ance. My schemes all take flight in
moment. l en- too bewildered and
frightened to say mo-" 80 msekly hand
him my blank card. He sliass any sur
prise that he may feel, puts his name
down for the third extra, thanks me,
smiles and vanlshes. All, how I hate
himl
Where can Tom beP Nobody can ask
me to dance without an introduction. so
Pm sure I'm not to blame. $50 sorry,
but have not one left" hear the girl Of
my left remark TO disappointed suitor.
As he departs abe turns TO me, beRming,
and Gays: "It's going TO be lovely ball.
l only wish"-With an affected pout-
that there were more dances. It's so hard
10 refuse ones friends. Isn'tit" always
used to like that girl, but somehow can
not tolerate her tonight. Spiteful thing,
to taunt her programme right In my face.
0, there are the Lowell boys. Thought
I'd cut them tonight, bat suppose they
are better than nobody, and you don't
catch mo giving her chance to cay that
NJ Ou0 hbk0u 41O W uhuCGs DO RhtubI
up my forces and smile an invitation to
the stupid ninnie5, who soon have acrib-
bled their names opposite two dances
I'll be just as hateful as can for making
me dance with them.
II the music isn't commencing, and
here am I with only three dances engsg.
edl What shall do2 Where ia my
brother? It serves mo right, though. I
ought to have known better than to have
trusted myself to auch an essy.Going, care
lees good-ior.nothing. Everybody is bow.
ing the introduction to the dance, l try
to look unconscious as bestow stately,
sweeping glance upon-spsce. But all the
faces oil the set express the Righteousness
Of my position. Ifeel my cheeks burning,
and with the consciousness that they are q
hideous scarlet bow with the woE8E grace
to my astonished "comer." A rush, a
scramble, and l feel, rather than see, that
Tom Is at my side. Couldn't help It'll"
he whispers, alphabetically; "was trying
to get a dance with Minnie Rivers. She
vas Just hemmsd in by The other fellows"
That is the last straw. Minnie Rivers and
l had once been rivals. You wretchl" I
cay in q choked whisper, my card is
empty. Why didn't you introduce me ?"
But Tom is Of, and my conner" regard
ing me in an amused way that 10 madden.
ing, asks, with aaaumed grievance: "Ain't
you going to turn with me?" stammer
my apologies and allow myself to be
wheeled around.
snow, don't worry" Tom adjures me,
ss the sides commence. Everything
will be all right. You have the next
dance"
"Yes," assent, Internationally.
"TheR don't think any more about it"
And with an air Of having settled the
matter, Tom enters with q zeal into the
dance, and also into q violent filtration
with his opposite. But for me there Ia no
peace. My mind, far from the dance, Is
busy with fears for the remainder Of the
evening. All the perils Of a bsll have
suddenly appeared before me. All Eorts
OF terrible possibilities crowd my brain.
Suppose that Tom has filled his pro-
gramme; suppose that
"Msdge, what are you about?"
With start awoke from my worried
reverie, to discover that had given the
wrong hand in the "grand right and left, "
and SO brought the cot into confusion.
oh, the ill.concealed smiles oil those men.
Oh, the plying glances Of those girls
Ny kingdom for charitable earthquake,
that would open the Earth and enVulf this
miserable dance. Sufficient for this'Quad'
rifle is the evil thereof, and at last it has
ended.
"Well," begins Tom, with AggrSyatinR
elaboration, as We promenade, "lets see.
Whom will introduce you tot"
anybody" l cry desperately; "any.
thing, only don't leave me alone in this
hall again. Couldn't we possibly 20 home 2
don't believe feel very WE'LL"
Don't talk nonsense, child. You look
all right. Why, you're as rosy SS q peony'
Besides, how can ] go homer My pro-
gramme 10 filed down to the second extra.
Oh, there Gro the boysi but you said you
didn't care to know them"
anybody, anybody" l cry, fast becom'
ing hysterlcal, Hs see my next partner
making his way toward me, -Four or FIVE
Of Tom's friends como to meet US. All
smile the came meaningless smile, all bow
the same labored bow, and nll ask, with
what seemg to me transparent hypocrisy,
II they are so fortunate as TO be able Ia
secure dance. Considering my frame oil
mind, doubt the fortune they have
secured; bat only gnile-such painful
woe-begoDe ContraOtion-aud know thai
peace Is mine until supper.
It has come. dreaded II. l expected
1T And yet hoped against reason. eel
1t written upon the face OF every one who
passes. l hear itin the whisper Of every
gentleman to his lady. The very music
seems to have taken up the theme anC
breathes It forth with every measure
Disguise Is useless. am Q wall.AoWer
Tom has disappeared from the dance hall
l have seen nothing Of him since supper
By this time he 10 probably in the depth
Of q tete.a,tets, obliyious Of the fact tina
he has 9 sister, There is no refuge.
- -. a. a,I 10 pogn1h1a rypacinua1y