Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-05-22
HER OWN WORK.

dignAnt eyes-grcsf. brown eyes with .
golden light in their depths which made
the small. colorlas face It times posi-
lively radiant
We were sitting on he stairs Ct Mrs.
Crsmpeon's Last bsll. Thsrs wss always
Q crush ~ the Cnmpton nanEion. and
Kitty and bad made our way out Of
the whirling vortex Of dancers ct immi-
nent risk of life and limb. and hsd glad
~ sought this last refuge. Every other
corner, every room. every niche seemed
overiowing with gsyly dressed people
in groups, bat more often In pairs.
laughing. chatting. flirting. And sit
ting here. just behind the marble statue
Of Psyche. had aocussd Kitty Hath
away OF being a fiirt.
Well, it looked Hike 10. mnst oonfess.
for she was always surrounded by n 81
hiring group. upon whom abe lsviShsd
impartial sweetness, looking ell the tims
% demure and innocent as 70 almost de-
ceive me. !. Alan Gordon. aged twenty
i've, had never been In love In my life.
II were one Of the crowd Of cavahsrs
who knelt at sweet Kitty Hathaway
feet 1t was only because shs was 20 alto
gether bewitching that ] had no choice
in tho matter. Tonight her hirtations
had exceeded their usual limit.
Miss Kitty"-I assumed my most
magisterial expression-''dou't you know
that 1t is wrong to fiirtF
"Is itT with . swift glance. quickly
withdrawn. "Who-who fiirts? Oh,
yes, know. You are referring to Annie
Merton. ! must confess she does, OF
rather tries, to firt successfully; but
don't believes she understands the art.
Annie Merton, indeedis ] feel my.
self getting indignant. IAN old maid
Of forty at least! You know perfectly
we'll that l am referring to . certain
brown eyed maiden surnamed Hathar
way. Miss Kitty, it is q shame for you
to break all these loving hearts."
She laughed . clear. ringing laugh.
"Bah! Nousensei You men have nc
hearts to break. Your hearts arc petri-
fed, ossifed, fossilized, and all the rest
of it. You do not know what it Is tc
love q woman truly, steadfastly."
kitty, stopl You are wrong, and you
know it. You know that / am not q
foolish, flirting fellow. You know-ol
You ought to know-that ! love-
miss Kitty! ! beg ten thousand par
dons, Gordon, but this is my dance
The Manola, Miss Kitty; and you did
promise Il to me-"
felt like annihilating tho tall young
man who had made his way with diff
Guilty to our secluded corner. Butt
was no hope; she must so. She rose
and fancied q regretful look in the
lovely brown eyes as she turned to MI
and deposited her bouquet--s magnifi
cent collection Of orchids-in my hand.
keep 1t until l return" she whis
pered. ''If l survive this waltz I vii
be back here; so don't go away"
My eyes met hers; Ismiled and nodded
-and then she was gone. And all a
once it occurred to me how dark ant
dreary the place had grown-what a dull
affair tho Champion ball had becom,
and how missed Kitty Hathaway.
And then something else occurred h
me something that came crushin,
down upon me with sudden force, near
ly depriving me Of my senses. awok
all at once to the fact that loved her
!. Alan Gordon, who had long looke'
upon love and marriage as remote con
tingency-an accident which must be
fall me some time, but not now. Oh, nc
was my own master; fortune o
half million had fallen to me . yea
ago, and was quite alone in the worl
save for my mothor. She had given a
the hope Of my falling in love, for NO
the slightest fancy had ever troubles
the peaceful waters Of my existence
But was awake at last to the knowl
edge that while l had been dreamin
love had stolen in at the door of M
heart, and aroused myself to realizs
ton Of the truth when it was too late
bar the intruder out.
While ] sat there, with Kitty's o.
chids in my hand, my eyes dreamil
watching the floating white robed fie
ure-she was all in white, fieecy
gauzy, diaphanous material striped wit
silver threads-and occasionally intel
cepting a sly glance from the merr
brown eyes from over her partner
shoulder, Mrs. Champion, with be
daughter Clara in tow, made her wa
with difficulty to my side.
"Dear me, Alan, what q place to si'
to be surew Mrs. Champion had know
NE all my life. and always addressed m
by my given name. "You have not me
Clara since her return from school. NJ
DEAR" with a swift glance into Mis-
Clara's face, 'this is your old schoo
mate and playfellow. Alan Gordon
You are five years her senior, Altar
Now am going to leave you two to n
new old friendship, while 70 to Mr.,
Marcy yonder. / declare, the old lad
is looking faint and mr.
mo wonder; the atmosphere IL ct
fling" Thought. as made way for Nj.
Clara, who sunk into the seat at m
side which Kitty had vacated.
A slender, painfully slender, youn
lady was Miss Clara Champion, Wit
pale blue eyes and pale yellow hair. an
an air Of languor.
Just see Kitty Hathaway" ejacula
ed that young lady; "how overdrcsse
she il, and she dances all the time. Sex
she il flirting with young Granger
/ looked: how co'ild help its Had
not been looking 1T every opportunit
while the dancers danced and the swes
waltz music surged upon the perfume
air? Yes, il looked like flirting. for XII
tvs eyes were uplifted TO Granger
handsome face. and the very manner {
the little witch convinced me that theI
, was mischief brewing. All. we'll 81
was not mine. ] had no right 70 dicta!