St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-02
MAGDA'S FIRST BALL.
Story of New Years Eve. By Helen Stocked.

Oilc vi lily nervous dtIdckS anu VIII SOou
be over. In half an hour l hope to be
| well enough to accompany you. In the
meanwhile wait in your ROOM"
| Magda's father was anxi0usly endeav-
oring to soothe the sutferings of his
pallld wife, and beckoned his daughter
10 leave the room.
| Mechanically the girl obeyed and
| fastened back to the little chamber,
| Which but moment ago she had left
with heart full OF glad anticipations,
and sank upon chair. Was it possible
| that this could be the end of her dream
| OF pleasure? No, no, it cannot he.
Without even clinging to a definite
thought, she sat in the solitude of her
little room. instinctively protecting her
I delicate gown against crushing, when
| Hanuan'S voice Dade her come to her
| mother.
One look into the suffering face re-
vealed to her the fact that she was no
better. My dear child" the mother
SAID family, sit is impossible for me to
so with you, but do not he discouraged,
you shall not be deprived of your long
| anticipated pleasure. Your father Will
! take you to the ball"
But father cannot well leave you,"
said Magoa, with quivering lips.
HE VIII only accompany you to the
| ballroom and transfer you TO the care OF
our triends.''
And am to dance while you are in
pain, mother?'
You have looked forward to this
! your first ball with SO much innocent
pleasure that shall be only too glad TO
see you happy. Father Will soon he
ready; put on your wraps now, and do
not keep him waiting"
Silently Madga kissed her mothers
| hand and rnnairnH uraIn tp hnr
! Once sheltered by its narrow nails She
| locked the door and with her face hid
! den in her haddS abandoned herself TO
unreStrained grief. Her heart was full
3! OF conteuding emotions. SO this was the
| end OF all her dreams and hopes. All her
| glad expectations had come to naught.
| Wasn't it her duty to remain at home?
| Ii her mother should grow wOrSe-if
| something serious should happen to
, her while she was aWay-could she i'll
| all her life pardon herself? But the at
| had it before. Was she suffering less
then, because she suffered often? Could
| she devote herself to enjoyment
| knowing her mother to be Ill? How
| kind and unselfish that mother had
| been at all times; how many sacrifices
| had she not made for her child-h0w
| could she hesitate to remain at home for
| the love of her? 1t was her first ball.
! And then, it was not the ball alone.
| All, she had hoped to meet the one to
| whom her innocent heart had gone out
| secretly in girtlsh love and admiration.
| And now he would dance with others.
! There were SO many pretty girls he
would quickly forget her. Theirs was
| so quiet and reserved home, God
knows, the opportunity to meet him
| again might be long deferred! Until
then his heart might have decided in
favor of another.
Two heavy tear-drops forced their
way through her fingers, then she reso-
luteiy raised her head.
''How could l hope for happiness
when l do what is wrong? l will be
dutiful and leave the rest to God" she
whispered to herself, and began hastily
to undress. Piece after piece of the
bed, and then, as a last farewell to
hopes and joys departed, she
pressed her face for mo-
ment into the soft null clouds,
slipped into her simple house dress
and repaired to the kitchen to prepare,
with her own hands, the tea which had
SO often helped her mother under SINH
lar attacks.
And, while her father stood with a
heavy heart beside his patient wife, to
bid her adieu for the next hour, the
door opened and Magda entered in her
everyday gown, carrying cup of steam
ing tea in her hand. Her eyes were a
little red from weeping, but around her
mouth lowered friendly, winsOme
smile.
'My darling child" was all her
mother could say; but the tone in which
She spoke the tender words fell like
soothing balm on Magda'S burn
ing wound, and when her father,
so little inclined to any demonstration
OF affection. now patted her cheek and
said with kindly praise: ''You have
done well, my child, l am proud of
you," all lingering trace of bitterness at
the sacrifice she had made disappeared
She remained with her mother until
She drank the tea, then helped her to
undress and put her to bed.
An hour had elapsed, and Magda
whispered to her father, whose anxious
face appeared in the door, which he had
softly opened, that her mother was
asleep.
"Thank God" replied he with sigh
of relief. 1.-The danger is passed for this
time. We can now leave her safely to
Haunah's care. think that by to-mor-
row she will be herself again. But
what shall we do with the remaining
hours OF the dying year? Would my
little daughter care to walk with her old
father? 1t is clear, crisp winter night,
and the fresh air will do us both good"
"And may we come along also?' eX-
claimed Elizabeth and Charley, who
had been greatly perplexed by the
sudden unexpected change in the pro
gramme of the evening.
'You may indeed" replied the father
with unwonted good humor. land when
we come back. Magda shall prepare the
Sylvester bowl for us, and we will
await the New Year together"
Well protected against the cold with
wraps and mufaerS, the younger chill
dren taking the lead, Magda by the side
of her father, the little troop soon
started out into the clear winter night,
The professor turned his face toward
the public park. How strangely beauti-
full it appeared in this hour! Magda
could not remember to have ever seen
the winding. wintry walks at night
time. Duzzlingly white the vast snow
covered SWards expanded before her,
bathed in the silver light of the moon,
iatticed here and there by the shadows
thrown by an isolated group of trees. In
sonfber hue the pines and frs stretched
their arms skyWard, while the tops of
other trees stood out like trelIised
silhouetteS against the nocturnal firma-
ment. At times deep shadows fell
across the path, making the wanderers
foot hesitate to step into the darkness
lest it might sink into some unknown
abyss. Not a breath of air seemed stir
ring, silently and listlessly nature in all
her wintry grandeur laid before her.
Magda raised her eyes devoutly tn the
Strengthening sky. Holy thoughts and
earnest reso utions passed through her
innocent soul, while hel eyes peered
into the unreasonable depths, upon
which looked down unconcerned about
the change of time and events, the star
lighted heaven in all It's lofty splendor
on this last evening of an earthly year.
low small was her own trouble, COM
pared to the greatness of the eternal
lamps of nature! How easy to lay her
cares and burdens into the hands of
IL