Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-09-11
THE SECOND DANCE.

who was introduced to me beforei How
do you come to this acquisition, Irenei'
baroness Elelia asked of Countess Irene
Balfur, the young hostess, In the ballroom
1T Is very SIMPLE" replied the latter
"Dr. Stein is a mineralogist. He has beer
stopping down in the village for severa
days to take advantage Of our quarry fol
the purpose Of his researches. Papa be
came acquainted with him, and in conse
Quence of his usual cordiality he has brought
this baser mineral among our set of select
precious stones.
This plebeian pebble, however, seems to
consider himself quite on a par with us.
He was artless enough to ask me for a
dance, the second quadrille-think Of iti-
to ask me when promised the last extra a
week agol''
well, it seems he was not discouraged
by one refusal. l, too, have just declined
his invitation for the second quadrille. Be
sides, I did not save the dance to give it to
this DR.. Steinp'
A bevy CT young ladies. all in dainty ball
gowns, gathered about Irene and Elelia. II
transpired to the amusement of them all
that DIR. Stein had been refused the same
second quadrille by each of them.
All declined on the same ground-that
they would not squander such a dance on
an uninteresting civilian without name or
rank.
What deplorable contrast his appear
ance and that of the lieutenants of tnt
cuirassiers and officers of the hussars In the
ballrooml 1t would be ridiculous to dance
with such q man.
II call that loyalty" said Irene. bravo,
Rirls Now, my stepsister is the only one
I.fA Il. l.
know-Inezl Do come herel Did DIR. Stein
ask you for the second quadrillefp she
asked of the young lady approaching.
"Yes, just a moment ago."
"And you gave him the dancer"
"Yes-why shouldn't II"
''Ahl / thought sol Then let me tel
you that you accepted after he had been re
fused by us all for the same dance"
$50 much the better that still had the
quadrille unengaged."
"You are indescribably artless, or at least
you pretend to be so"
''If you purposely offended DR.. Stein, ]
am glad that i can make some amends. He
is papa's guest, and l shall treat him as
such" Inez answered calmly and departed
''Seel" said Irene to Elelia, ''she Is just
as unbearable all the time-so different
from us"
Inez was the daughter of Count BalfuI
by his first marriage with a woman Of linn,
tied means. The second time he married
a countess of great wealth and the possess
or Of many estates.
Irene was the only child Of this second
marriage and the sole heiress of her moth
or. Inez's prospects Of an inheritance from
her father were not very brilliant, and con
eequently at four and twenty she was still
unmarried in spite of her winning ways
and extraordinary amount Of common
sense, which had soon influenced her tt
jealous activity.
She was at the head Of the large house
hold and took upon herself all the work
which her stepmother disdained to do. Be
sides, she found time for deep study and
intellectual work, The 1s-year-old Irene,
charming, brilliant creature, was the spoiled
darling Of her mother and Of society
She tyrannized her father and the entir'
household. The countess had begun Il
make a match between her and Primes
Ysenloh, distant relative. She did not
know him, but was sure he was extremely
wealthy and very peculiar. Instead OF en-
toying life he was devotipg himself to stud.
and research. seeking his sole recreation II
travelling around the world Upon the ad
vice of the countess he fell in with he
plans, since, with his IS years. It was higl
time to think Of marrying, as he wrote u
her. tIA
The countess was expecting his arriva
at Kumerau castle In the near future witt
intense interest. She did not doubt tina
Irene, with her irresistible charms, woulC
soon cure him OF his pecularfties ans
change him to an enjoyable as well n
Obedient husband
0Why don't y0u dance, Dr. Steinf" askeg
Irene sarcastieally when she happened B,
come upon him during an intermission. HI
had been leaning meditatiyely In the recess
of window, not taking part In the dance
"Bscause / found no partner" he re
torted. with a queer smile.
'sToo badl / am afraid you VIII long To-
xonr stones and viii find life among Us un
bearable."
She looked down upon him and played
And do you find the life you lead bear
able, countessi"
What a singular question:!
II should think a person OF your talent
vxonld not feel satisfied with IL. GrAos
versatility, elegance and a little wit are ear
tainlV necessary TO successfully oonduc
theae dances. hunts, lawn tennis and bil
Hard gAmes, playing chArades and singinl
dusts. 70 arrange social games and theAt
ricals. but no understanding. no inteilecs
no self sacrificing activity Of tina
which makes the true worth OF humAl
being"
''Dr. Stein, not all people aFe created :
dik for minerals. 70 work leather or 20 u
vent machinery. We, too. have our right