The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-22
HER FIRST BALL.

excitement. III was inc UGSJ SOCldi cF6ul
known in the history of Lander. It was g
ball. Tom Osborne had cleared the floor
of his storehouse for the affair. The women
had been cooking good things to eat for
the three preceding days. The men had
decorated the hall with pine boughs fresh
| from the snow covered Wind river noun
| tains.
Peg Leg, Mexican Joe and Dutch Pete
! had promised to be on hand with their fid-
dies, and they were never known to fail to
be present at anything when they prom
! ised to be, although Peg Leg would have
| to make a three day journey in one with
! his mule team to keep his promise, and
! Dutch Pete would have to leave for a
whole night the little herd of cattle that
he hoped, in a blind, trusting sort of
way, would some day make him rich.
Oceans of snowy clippings of sperma-
ceti candle had been strewn over the floor
of the storehouse under the experienced
direction Of the "schoolmarm," who was
no "schoolmarm" at all, because she was
young man from the east And there
had been a call at the single store in Lam
der for billed shirts" linen collars, fancy
handkerchiefs, bright colored stuffs for
dresses, new store clothes and new boots
and shoes that was at once very crafty
ing to the proprietor Of the store and indie
ative of growing civilization.
But it was 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 buckskin pony
she rode with all the dash and skill of a
cowboy. Helen Whittimore was her real
name, and she was the only daughter-in
fact the sum total of the fannily-of old
John Whittimore, who had gone west in
the sixties to make his fortune and had
never made it. He had been gentleman
once. What her mother was Nell did not
know, for she had died when Nellie was a
baby.
At any rate, between them they had be-
queathed a brave little heart and beauti-
fM disposition TO the child, who was there
after to be brought up almost without the
society of women She was lady by in
stinct, notwithstanding 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 her clear complexion
and laughing eyes. She had read good
deal, and had formed some ideas of the
them), and she had her ambitions.
The men of the Popo-Agie valley saw her
bud from romping little girl into the very
prettiest girl in Sweetwater county with
great deal ce interest and more or less as
constituent. She had already caused
good many of them to sigh and look melan-
choly, but not one had ever dared as yet
to propose for her hand, or even show her
Id 81
school teacher knew that he was not good
enough for her, and kept out of the way,
which was a wise thing for him to do, for
he was not particularly strong, and it was
more than probable that the man who
married "Buckskin Nell" would have to
fight for her more than once Jealousy,
too makes mans hand awfully steady
when he aims pistol, and the school
teacher was not good shot at all.
1t was merely a matter of quiet amuse-
ment to Lieutenant Hardy. He would stroll
over from his camp, leaving his soldiers in
charge of his first sergeant, every day and
take look at the preparations. Occar
sionally, in lazy way, he would offer a
suggestion or two. He had been hop
manager at West Point in cadet days "a
tremendous honor, and after his gradua-
ton had led many a german and figured in
many Irritation. 1t was hardly to be eX-
pected that he would condescend to dance
at this backwoods affair, but his sugges-
tions were considered invaluable. Even
the school teacher listened deferentially
when he explained few pretty figures for
the opening and closing of the ball. Ee
was considerably 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 advised her what 10 wear,
and had given her a few lessons in the
waltz. By his advice she was to wear
simple dress of white muslin with a blue
sash. The otber women would look horri-
BILE with their gaudy colors and i'll cut
dresses, he knew, and he expected her 10
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 keeping with
his social position as an officer of the army,
in fact, as the most dashing young lieu
tenant in his regiment, TO dance at such an
affair as that He was trifie surprised
when she asked him if she should accept
the school teachers proffered attentions.
From her manner he saw that ii was a
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. Evident
ly she had expected his courtesy for the
occasion. But he did not pay any atten-
ton to the fact. Ii was nothing 10 him.
He did not go near her on the day of the
hop He knew she would expect him, and
he had what many a finer lady had called
most contrary disposition" Along IN
the evening he walked leisurely over from
his camp. The ball had already begun,
and he smiled as he entered the room. The
crowd was even more interesting than he
thought it would be. The awkvardness OF
the men and the feeble attempts at style
of the women. the three fiddIers saving
away for dear lite-even the uproariousneSs
OF the crowd were more absurd than he
had hoped. He leaned up against the door
way, well aware that in his faded blouse
and cavalry boots he looked more the gen
tleman than any man in that room would
ever look or ever had looked in his life. He
did not see her st first. for she was stand
ing near the door at which he entered. and
but ten feet from his side
AS he looked calmly around he caught
sight OF her and knew from her manner
and her blush that she had been looking at
him and had turned away her eyes in a
little fit of anger. He represSed an excla-
nation II be had been in civilized hop
room he would have said quite aloud: by
love, What beauty Tie had not ex-
pecged her 10 do k;tlf * wei. with her
white muslin and blue riDbon. He did hot
know what exquisite beauty she in real