Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-11-25

VIZ (; !; :: ::; s; s: ::=;;:
Spring" was slowly eyaporsting In pal
mists from the river, and the celebration
Itself spasm odically taking flight here ant
there In Roman candles and rockets, Al
occasional outbreak from jewellers in the
bar room below, stumbling stre5glel
along the plsnked sidewalk before TIT
hotel only seemed to intensity the rustic
stiffness. For the future Of InGitn Spring
was still so remote thst Nature insensioly
re-invested its boundaries on the Slight
est relaxation Of civic inf 1ence, and Mr.
Ford lifted his head from the glowing
columns of the "StRr" to listen to the
fsr-of yelp ofs coyote on the opposite
snore.
He was also conscious OF the recur-
renee OF that vague, plessursole recol'
lection, 50 inds finite that, when he sough'
to identify II with anything-sVen the
ending Of the myrtle eprays on his desk
it evaded him. He tried to work, with
the same interruption. Then an uneasy
sensation that he had not been sufficiently
Kind to II 1pert IN his foolish love trcE olet
reRof5erully seized HIN. A half pathetic
half humorous picture of the miserable
Roper. staggering under the double bur
den Of his sleeping brother and q mis-
plscsd affection, or possibly Abandoning
the one or both in the nearest
ditch in reckless access OF boYish
frenzy and fleeing his home forever,
rose before his eyes. he seized his hat
with the intention Of seeking him-or
forgetting him in some other occupation
BY the way. For Mr.. Ford had the senei-
tive conscience of msn7 imaginative
people; an urfailing monitor, 1t was
always calling his whole moral being into
play 20 esate it.
AS he crossed the passage he came
upon Mrs. Tsipp hooded and deliberately
at.ired in white bail dress, which how
ever did not, to his own fancy, become
her IS well as her ordinary costu ne. he
wss passing her with q bow, when she
said, with complscen! consciousness OF
her appearance,
"Aren't you going to the ball to-
nighi2"
He remembered then that san opening
bSll" at the court house was part Of
the celebration. "No," he said smiling !;
"butit is pity that Rupert couldn't have
seen you in your charming array"
"Rlpert," said the lady with slightly
coquettish laugh. "You have made him
as much G Woman-hater as yourself.
offared to take him IN our party and he
ran away to you" She paused, and Civ =
ing him furtive critical Glance said, with
an easy mipgliDg Of confidence aud au-
dsci.y, "Why don't you &C? Nobodyi!
hurt you"
"I'm not 50 sure Of that" replied Mr.,
Fofd!gallantly. THERE'S the melsnch IL
example CT Rupert always before me-"
Mrs. Tripp tossed her chignon and de-
scerted 8 step Of tie stairs. "You'd
better co." she continued, looking up
over the balusters. "You car look OF If
you can't dance"
Now IMr. Ford could dsIce, and 1t go
CHANGED rather we'll too. With this con-
scIousness he remained standing In hsli
indigran. hesitation on the landing as she
disappeared. Why shouldn't ne &C? 1t Was
true he had aali tacitly gcquisced in the re-
serve With wa.ch he hsd been Treated, and
had never mingled socially in the gather
ings OF either Sex 8! Indian SpriIg-out
that WISE 70 reason. He could at least
dress himself, walk to the court house
anG-!ook on.
ANY black coat and White Shirt was
sufficiently de riguer for Ind!2u Spring.
MIR Ford added the superfluous elegance
Of forgotten white Wsistc0at. When
he reached the sidewalk i! WAS only
O'Clock, but the windows OF the court
house were already firing like
& stranded steamer on the barren
bark where it hgd struck. Ga the way
thIther he wss once or twice tempted to
change his miEd, snd hesitsted even at the
very door. But the fear that hi5 hGsIta-
ton would be noticed by the few
loupgers before it, and the fact that some
OF them we're already hesitstiug
through baslfuiness, determined him TO
enter.
TIE Clerks cffice and judges chambers
on the lower floor had been invaded by
WHIPS, shswls ard refreshments, bns
the dspcirg was reserved for the
upper fOor or courtroom, still IN
fl lished. Fisgs. laurel wreaths and
appropriate floral inscriptions hid its
ssS.e already placed over the j1dges' dais
with its il!imitable golden sunset, It's
triumphant goddess and it's implacable
HElLLi1 seCuSO w WIG
occasion better than the Inscriptions. The
room WAS close and crowded. The flick
ering candles in tin sconces against the
walls CT DEFENDING in rude chandeliers of
barrel hoops from the ceiling, lit
up the most astounding aiver-
sitY Of female costume the
master had ever seen. Gowns Of
hygoue fashions, creased and stained
with pscking and dlsuse, toilets Of forgot
ter festivity revised with modern sddi-
tons; garments in and out of season, s
fur trimmed iicket and tulle skirt, q
velvet rope undsr pique sacque; fresh
young faces beneath faded head. dresses,
and mature and buxom charms in virgin
white. The small space cleared for the
dancers WAS continually invaded By the
lockers on, who il flies Of three deep
lined the rocm.
AS the master pushed his way to the
front, young girl who had been stand
ing in the sides Of q quadrllle suddenly
darted with 3 nympk-like qnickness
among the crowd and was for sn ms sant
hidden, Without distinguishing either