Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-08-18
THE SECOND DANCE.

THE SECOND DANCE.
"Who is that uninteresting DR.. Stein
who was introduced to me before? How
do you come to this acquisition, IreneY"
Baroness Elela asked of Countess Irene
Balfur, the young hostess, in the ballroom
ut is very simple" replied the latter
DIR. Stein is a mineralogist. lie has been
stopping down in the village for several
days to take advantage of our quarry fol
the purpose of his researches. Papa he.
came acquainted with him, and in conse-
quence of his usual cordiality he has brought
this baser mi eral 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 it'll
to ask me when promised the last extra
week agol"
well, it seems he was not discouraged
by one refusal. |, too, have just declined
his invitation for the second quadrlle. Be
sides, did not save the dance to give it tc
this Dr. Stein'
a bevy of young ladies, all in dainty ball
gowns, gathered about Irene and Elelia 1t
transpired to the amusement of them all
that DR.. Stein had been refused the same
second quadrlle by each of them
All declined Oh the same ground-that
they would not squander such a dance on
al embarrassing civilian without name or
rank.
What a deplorable contrast his appear
ance and that of the leutenants of the
cuirasSiers and officers of the hussars in tn,
ballroom! 1t would be ridiculous to dance
with such II man
Il call that loyalty" said Irene Bravo,
girls Now, my stepsister is the only one
left. There she is am really curious to
know-lnezl Do come here, Did Dr. Stein
ask you for the second quadrilley" she
asked Of the young lady approaching
~ Is, just moment ago
And you gave him the dancer"
"Nes-why shouldn't l."
All ! Thought 50! Then let me tell
you hat you accepted after he had been re
fused by Us ali tor the same dance"
so much the better that | still had the
quadrille unergaged.'
You are inde,cribably artless, or at least
you pretend to he so
IF you purposely offended DR. Stein,
am glad that can make some amends. lie
is papa's guest and | shall treat him as
such, ~ IneH answered calmly and departed
See said Irene to Elella, she is just
as unbearable all tue time-so different
from us
Inez was the daughter of Count Balfur
by his first marriage with 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
m iaf nd b..e soil i.i e To-. oh
er. lnezs prospects of an inheritance from
her father were not very brilliant, and con
sequently 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 to
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 lS-year-old Irene, a
charming, brilliant creature, was the spoiled
darling of her mother and of society
She tyrannized her father and the entire
household. The countess had begun to
make a match between her and Prince
Ysenloh, a distant relative. She did not
know him, but was sure he was extremely
wealthy and very peculiar. Instead of en-
joying life he was devoting himself to study
and research, seeking his sole recreation in
travelling around the world. Upon the adj
vice of the countess he fell in with her
plans, since, with his So years, it was high
time to think of marrying. as he wrote to
her.
The countess was expecting his arrival
at kumerau castle in the near future with
intense interest She did not doubt that
|, a., =
soon cure him of his peculiarities and
change him to an enjoyable rs well as
Dbedient husband
why don't you dance, DIR. SteinS" asked
Irene sarcastically when she happened to
come upon him during an intermission. He
had been leaning meditatively in the recess
of window, not taking part in the dance.
because / found no partner" he re
torted, with queer smile.
Too bad! | am afraid you will long fo-
your stones and will find life among us un
bearable."
She looked down upon him and played
with her fan.
And do you find the life you lead bear
nble, countessy"
What a singular question:"
Il should think a person of your talent
would not feel satisfied with it. Grace,
versatility, elegance and u little wit are GER
tainly necessary to successfully conduct
these dances. hunts lawn tennis and bill
lard games, playing charades and singing
duets, to arrange social games and theat-
ricals, but no understanding, no intellect,
no self sacrificing activity-nothing of that
which makes the true worth Of a human
being"
"Dr. Stein, not all people are created to
dig for minerals to work leather or TO in
vent machinery. We, too, have our rights.
We arstocrats are the blossoms on the tree
of civilization. grant you that what we
are with our refined taste, our harmonious
physical and spiritual culture and our en-
nobled humanity we owe 20 the work Of
| centuries but we are wholly that which the