The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-10-12
HER FIRST BALL.

1Lh L 1nC1 DALI.
There was a great deal of unusual
excitement in the pretty little valley
of the Popo-Agie. There was always
plenty of excitement there. Miners,
cowboys, farmers and soldiers-put
them together anywhere, and there
will be plenty of excitement. But this
was peaceable excitement. 1t was
the first social event known in the his
tory Of Lander. 1t was ball. Tom
Osborne had cleared the room of his
storehouse for the affair. The women
had been cooking good things 60 eat
for the three preceding days. The
men had decorated the hall with pine
boughs fresh from the snow-covered
Wind river mountain.
Peg Leg, Mexican Joe and Dutch
Pete had promised to be on hand with
their fiddles. and they were never
known to fail to he present at any
thing when they promised to be, al
though Peg Leg would have to make
three-day journey in one with his mule
team to keep his promise, and Dutch
Pete would have to leave for whole
night the little herd of cattle that he
hoped, in blind, trusting way, would
some day make him rich. Oceans of
snowy clippings of spermaceti candle
had been strewn over the floor of the
storehouse under the experienced di-
rection of the "schoolmarm," who was
no "schoolmarm" at all, because she
was young man from the east. And
there had been call at the single
store in Lander for '.b'iled Shirts"
linen collars fancy handkerchiefs,
bright colored stuffs for dresses, new
store clothes and new boots and shoes,
that was at once very gratifying to the
proprietor of the store and indicative
of a growing civilization.
But it was a mad excitement to her.
She could hardly wait for it to occur.
1t was her first ball. "Buckskin Nell"
they called her, because of the buck
skin pony she rode with all the dash
and skill of a cowboy. Helen Whitti-
more was her real name, and she was
the only daughter-in fact, the sum
total of the family-of old John Whit
timore, who had gone west in the six
ties to make his fortune and had never
made it. He had been a gentleman
once. What her mother was Nell
did not know, for she had died when
Nellie was baby.
At any rate. between them they had
bequeathed brave little heart and a
beautiful disposition to the child, who
was thereafter to be brought up al
most without the society of women.
She was a lady by instinct, notwith-
standing the remarkable way she
dashed around on her buckskin pony
and the rather bad grammar she used.
She was sixteen, pretty and fresh as
wild rose, with clear complexion and
laughing eyes. She had read a good
deal, and had formed some ideas of
the great world (very queer ideas,
some of them), and she had her ambi-
tions.
The men of the Pope-Agie valley
saw her bud from a romping little girl
into the very prettiest girl in Sweet
water county, with great deal of in
terest and more or less astonishment.
She had already caused good many
OF them to sigh and look melancholy,
but not one had ever dared as yet to
propose for her hand, or even show
her any marked attention. Even the
imported school teacher knew that he
was not good enough for her, and kept
out of the way, which was wise thing
for him to do, for he was not particularly
strong. and it was more than probable
that the man who married "Bucks1lh
Nell" would have to fight for her more
than once. Jealousy, too, makes
mans hand awfully steady when he
aims a pistol, and the school teacher
was not a good shot at all.
1t was merely quiet amusement to
Lieutenant Hardy. He would stroll
L; iS
diers in charge of his first sergeant
every day, and take look at the pre-
parations. Occasionally, in lazy
way, he would offer suggestion or
two. He had been hop manager at
West Point in cadet days Ga tremen-
dous honOr), and after his graduation
had led many german and figured IN
many fiirtations. 1t was hardly to be
expected that he would condescend to
dance at this backwoods affair, but his
suggestions were considered lnvalua-
BILE. Even the school teacher listened
deferentially when he explained few
pretty figures for the opening and
closing of the ball. He was consider
ably more interested in it, however.
because it was to be her first ball. He
had acquired quite liking for her. He
had discovered the latent ladyhood in
her, and for the few weeks he had been
in camp near her fathers ranch he
had made quite study of her.
A fellow has to do something to keep
his mind busy when he is away from
his books and post duties, and then
she was awfully pretty. He had adj
vised her what to wear and had given
her few lessons in the waltz. By his
advice she was to wear simple dress
of white muslin with a sash. The
other women would look horrible with
their gaudy colors and i'll cut dresses.
he knew, and he expected her to make
a sensation. He quietly gave the
Young school teacher the hint to escort
her, for he himself merely intended to
look on. 1t would hardly be in keep
ing with his social position as an officer
of the army. in fact, as the most dash
ing young lieutenant in his regiment,
to dance at such an affair as that. He
was a triie surprised when she asked
him if she should accept the school
teachers protfered attentions. From
her manner he saw that it was rather
broad hint to him. and he was aware
that it hurt her good deal when he
told her to go with that young man.
Evidently she had expected his court
esv for the occasion. But he did not
pay any attention to the fact. 1t was
nothing to him.
He did not 90 near her on the day OF
| the hop. He knew she won Id expect
| him, and he had what many liner
! lady had called most contrary dis
position" Along in the evening he
walked leisurely over from his camp.
! The bali had already begun, and he
smiled as he entered the room. The
crowd was even more interesting than