St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-09-28

THE SECOND QUADRILLE.

ACQUISITION, Irene (" Baroness Elelia
asked OF Countess Irene Balfur, the
Young hostess, in the ball room.
1T is very simple" replied the lat
ter.
"Dr. Stein is a mineralogist. He
has been stopping down in the vii
lage for several days to take advan-
tage of our quarry for the purpose
of his researches. Papa became ac-
quainted with him, and in conse-
auence of his usual cordially he has
brought the 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
ouadrile-think of it Ito ask me
when | promised the last extra a
week agoW
"Well, it seems he was not dis
couraged by one refusal; |, too,
have just declined his invitation for
the second quadrille. Besides | did
not save the dance to give to this DR..
Stein!'
A bevy of young ladies, all in dain-
ty ball gowns, gathered about Irene
and Elelia. 1t transpired, to the
amusement of them all, that DR..
Stein had been refused the same Sec
ond quadrille by each of them.
All declined on the same ground
that they would not squander such
dance on an uninteresting civilian
without name or rank.
What deplorable contrast be-
tween his appearance and that of
the lieutenants Of the cuirassiers and
officers Of the hussars in the ball
room 1t would be ridiculous to
dance with such man
II call that loyalty" said Irene.
Bravo girls Now my step-sister
is the only one left. There She is
Do come here Did Dr. Stein ask
you for the second quadrille? she
asked of the young lady approach.
ing.
Yes, just a moment ago.
And you gave him the dance"
Yes, why shouldn't 7"
"Ah thought SO. Then let me
tell you that you accepted after he
had been refused by US all for the
same dance"
so much the better that l 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 can make
some amends. He is papa's guest
and | shall treat him as SUCH" Inei
answered calmly and departed.
See !" said Irene to Eleia, "she is
just as unbearable all the time, SC
different from us.
lnez was the daughter OF Count
Balfur by his first marriage with g
woman of limited means. The sec
ond time he married a countess O.
great wealth and the possessor O
many estates.
Irene was the only child of the sec
ond marriage and the sole heiress o.
her mother. lnez's prospects of ar
inheritance from her father were not
very brilliant and consequently, at
four and twenty, she was still un
married, in spite of her winning
ways and extraordinary amount O
common sense, which had soon in.
huenced her to Jealous activity.
She was at the head of the large
household and took upon herself al
the work which her stepmother dis
dained to do. Besides she founC
time for deep study and intellectual
work. The 1S-year-old Irene, {
charming, brilliant creature, wa:
the spoiled darling OF her mother
and of society.
She tyrannized her father and the
entire household. The countess haC
begun to make a match between he
and Prince Ysenloh, a distant rela
tive. She did not know him, bu
was sure that he was extremely
wealthy and very peculiar. Instead
of enjoying life he was devoting him
self to study and to research, seeking
his sole recreation in travelling
around the world. Upon the advice
of the countess he fell in with he
plans, since, with his thirty-fv'
years, it was high time to think o
marrying, as he wrote to her.
The countess was expecting hi
arrival at Kumerau castle in tn
near future with intense interest
She did not doubt that Irene, witt
her irresistible charms, would soor
cure him of his peculiarities AM
change him to an enjoyable as wei
as obedient husband.
Why don't you dance, DR.. Stein ?
asked Irene, sarcastically, when sh
happened to come upon him during
an intermission. He had been lean
ing meditatively in the recess of
window, not taking part in tn
dance.
Because l found no partner" h
retorted, with a queer smile.
TOO bad | am afraid you will
long for your stones and find lif
among us unbearable."