The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-03-14

get for slanderous arrows of 9th.
er girls who never flirt be-
cause opportunity is wanting, and
Mary was severely criticised for her
little penchnnt. l don't think any,
thing beyond mere fun and girls
natural cruel desire of conquest ever
animated her. She was an only child,
and her parents were consequently
blind to her faults, if she had any. /
never saw any myself" added Bar
ton, striking u light with pronounced
vigor.
at was n gay winter when business
first brought John Torrance to this
city. We were classmates at Yale,
and he looked me up us soon Us he
arrived. Ofcourse | was pleased to
SEQ him, and n little dinner ut the
club followed, just to introduce him
to the fellows. After the cigars were
lighted there was some little gossip
about balls aud dinners and girls. /
think someone must have given him
points that night, fol when, IL few
days later, l proposed introducing
him Mt the home Of my friend, Miss
Hastings, he actually declined. AS
had rather counted on seeing him
succumb to those speaking eyes,
was surprised and disappointed. He
did not like firts he said, bluntly
enough, and hls business claimed a
great deal of his time. He was hold
ing out in the role oil virtuous disap.
prevail. The little remarks about
the 'beauX vcuX' had created in him
q fine disgust. Now, take my word
for it. ifa man starts out to dislike
n girl, he is. just as good us gone ii
she happens to know it, for l told
her myself, with Il view of putting
her up to something extra.
But she laughed. and said she, too,
was much occupied and could not
waste IL short life in vain pursuits.
l'ut l believe, notwithstanding, that
she then firmly resolved to have John
Torrance in her train and trail him
through the dust.
Shortly after the cards came out
for the Reynolds grand ball. AS
was my habit, | called mt the
Hastings to see them about going,
and asked Mary what flowers i
should send her. She said if she went
she would have white buds and IL
white dress. As a rule she did not
affect white, for she we'll knew that
something heavy and gorgeous be-
came her more.
"But it is very uncertain that l
shall be there. l I'm afraid I won't
have Il good time" she said, with u
wicked laugh.
1t was only by Offering to dance
all her unengaged dances with her
that finally persuaded her to go.
AS she never had any unengaged, it
would not have been we'll to depend
on that for u waltz.
The night Of tho ball l waited in
the hall to take her down stairs, and
when she did appear she had carried
out her intentions saw. Instead of
her usual gorgeous raiment, she
wore IL thin white dress, fastened
close at the throat, and q soft, white
sash about her waist, with one of
the roses had sent her in her hair.
'lamrcglptting past misconduct"
she said, in explanation of the white
gown. 81 don't think l shall dance
very mnch. Perhaps no one will ask
me-"
took no notice of this outrageous
fishing, md when we reached the
ballroom she forgot her eccentric
repentance and had rs many part
ners as usual, although not looking
the best.
was standing neur the door hold
ing her IAN and flowers, in my role
of elder brother, whenI saw Torrance
coming my way. He was not dane
ing much, and looked bored.
"Partics IRE all alike" he said;
''sce one, see all. The usual number
OF beauties. buds, and wall-howers.
] must be growing old; parties bore
me. and the women began to look
artificial"
"Of course" said; zone makes
allowance for colors seen by candle
light; but this is not the only place
and, allowing for artistic weakness,
there are lots of nice jolly girls left. +"
There's one. now. SHE looks
Jolly with vengeance, growlc,l
Torrance, indicating Miss Cutter
land you know, George, she was a
lig!.-ilyer). ".ind there's Miss
Davis. the beauty; know her.
That girl in yellow is ugly enough to
stop Il clock. Over there in white is
rather IL nice girl-lovely, too, she is,
and seems very young and ingenuc,
and that sort of thing, that rather
admire. Present me, Barton. il you
know her. think Ill Dance"
81 think you won dance very often
with her, old man." said to myself,
and chuckliny to see the game in my
own hands, crossed the room with
him. Without ever requesting her
permission, and purposely naming
him first, LET me present Mr.. Tor.
rance to you, Miss Hastings" said.
Torranee's face was lis good as a
play, and as Mary lifted her eyes
looked for one of her all-conquering
glances, but instead she blushed a
beautiful crimson, and slightly turn
ed her head from Torrance's evident
astonislmcnt.
j was provoked with her for losing
such an opportunity, and, as Tor
rance seemed u little confused in his
IDEAS, left them to adjust their men,
tai bnlance'nt their leisure.
l did myself the pleasure of watch
ing them, however, and Mt the end of
the dance, when another partner
claimed Mary, John carefully avoid
ed my neigllborhood. and hung
around trying to get n word in now
and then with the late object of his
~ ssmnntion.
|IiE HIS Ii in ,s ss; Is. s sss