Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-01-31
THE WALIIFLOWEk.

am 20 years old. / never really no.
ticed it till now lam perfectly sound In
limb and wind, as they say of horses; I
can't find wrinkle or crowsfoot on my
face, If look ever so hard; could dance
Ill night without stopping-but no mat
teri have had my day. and the sooner l.
realize the fact the better.
suppose oughtn't to complain. I've
had good time on the whole. came out
and was made fuss about, and lots of
people felt in love with me-and that's al
ways supposed to be pleasant. Not for
sver thinks of that.
I've danced and flirted and gossiped and
amused myself generally and made bust
ness of pleasure. II the dancing shoes I've
worn out were collected, what a heap
there would be! And all the frocks I've
worn and torn and put my foot through,
and the bouquets I've ruined, and the
compliments I've had, and the offers I've
refused! Oh, yes, was success, not q
doubt of It'll
And now what's the good of it alls I've
made certain number of people quite
miserable, but i've never been in love my
self, not really-except perhaps
I was very heartless. I've been told
times out of number that l had emo
heart" Men always say that when girl
in my case dare say it was true.
Well, nobody cares now If have heart
or not It's all different. have got GER
tain number of friends whose step suits
mine, who ask me for dances, but without
enthusiasm, and talk to me of this or
that ssdear little thing over there who Is
enjoying herself so!' They say I'm a
'good sort" and "real friend" A
friend! What has friendship to do in a
ballroom?
can see the ballroom reflected in the
mirror here. How nice and cool the glass
is to my hot cheek! What a fool must
look.-only there is nobody can see me,
and If they did they wouldn't care. No
body misses me. There's Laura Gray! She
tries to be the good Samaritan of the ball
room. Don't let me catch her eye, or she
will come and throw me a castoff partner
of her own. She's kind girl, Laura, but
I don't want charity dances. l should say
was engaged. will not dance with vet
trans or boys. I had rather sit out.
How decidedly melancholy dance music
is! I never noticed it so much before.
could lie down ON the floor this very min
ute and howl, II were to let myself go.
Suppose were to cross the room and
talk to Mrs Fleming? Anything to seem
occupied! No, see she Is asleep, and If
she were not she would only tell me of
Violet's projections. 1 see them-every-
body sees them. Oh, dear!
There is Violet, with John Forrest. He
is looking at her exactly as he used to
look at me, eight years ago. Why did we
quarrel9 My fault, begin to think. ]
suppose it was, but / know felt very
much in the right at the time. am not
sure now if--and he has not said more
than three words to me since! It's rather
awkward! We have to go on meeting, as
we move in the same sets, and both he and
hate fuss. Oh, the world, the world!
Anything not to have people talk. But
he has never forgiven me. II he were TO
ask me for dance now, should think
the end of the world had come. needn't
DO afraid thought was much too horrid.
Sometimes lately have thought that
he would be glad to-oh, it's just my fan
cy! And don't want him to eitherl
wonder ii he really cares for Violet
FlemingS She's delightfully."- young and
naive and enthusiastic. know he thinks
so, but she has the reddest arms ever
sawl
Oh, don't let me be spitcful!
know that cadence. The waltz is near
ly over. They will all come by. That's
the most awful moment of ALI Iwish
was talking to Mrs. Fleming! 1t is SO
hateful to have to try to look uncon-
cerned and as il were sitting here be-
cause preferred it.
Oh, can't bear 1t! I'll marry. I'll
marry Mr.. Brown. He adores me-he il
only waiting, as Herbert's poem says:
That WEAKNESS may toss me to his breast.
shall condescend to let him see that I
don't absolutely dislike him. shall mar
~ him and live in the country! How ter
riblel But it's the only way out Of 1t for
me!
Yes, for me, but for him! don't love
him. How could l? should have to tell
him, and even Mr.. Brown is not SO alb
ject as to marry woman who tells him
point blank that she can only promise to
tolerate him Aud if I don't tell him
it would be mean.
No, I'll go into convent. How dull!
Not SO dull as marrying Mr.. Brown
though.
Here they all come! must try to look
unconcerned! / know every stick of my
fan by heart, but will pretend it inter-
ests me deeply. can see over the top OF
it.
Here's the first couple! Billy Danvers
and Miss Forrest! was bis first love, and
he's trying hard to make Grace Forrest
think she Is. Let himl
Mrs. Jenkyn and our host She's Wild
ow. wish some one would make me a
widow. What am saying! But she's 10
years older than am and she laughs like
a child. That's the good Of being widow.
Here's Mr.. Hastings. He really was in
love with me once, so now he detests me.
IA man scorned, Is much worse than a
woman scorned. He won't even look at
me. No-straight past!
Why, here's Violet with Mr.. Darcy !
thought she was dancing with John For
restl And John Forrest -alone!
May you have dance, Mr.. ,Forrests /
-I-yes, certainly. The next'--the next
but one.
Oh, good heavensl The end of the world
--or the beginningS--B Black and White.
-----------------
Clever Expedient.
A story Ia told of a certain French sing
er which shows that he possessed not only
l~,,A nd, itsnl H1n