Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1894-01-03
HER FIRST BALL.

Popo-Agie. There was always plenty al
excitement there. Miners, cowyoys, farm
ers. Indians and soldiers-put them to-
gether anywhere, and there will be plenty
of excitement. But this was peaceable
excitement. 1t was the first social event
known in the history of Lander 1t was
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 lid
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 three day journey in one with
his mule team to keep his promise, and
Dutch Pete would have to leave for
whole night the little herd of cattle that
he hoped, in 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
a Young man from the east. And there
had been call at the single store in Lam
der for "b'iled 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
alive 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 family-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-
uueathed brave little heart and a beauti-
full 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
'--v she dashed around on her buckskin
pony anu '.e rather bad grammar she
used. She was SIAs--- nrattv pnd freeh
as wild rose, with her clear 49,. p,a x;or
and laughing eyes. She had read goot
deal, and had formed some ideas of thu
great world very queer ideas, some o.
them), and she had her ambitions.
The men of the Popo-Agie valley saw hel
bud from a romping little girl into the very
prettiest girl in Sweetwater county with G
great deal of 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 ye
to propose for her hand, or even show hel
any marked attention. Even the imported
school teacher knew that he was not goot
enough for her, and kept out of the way
which was wise thing for him to do, fol
he was not particularly strong, and it wa.
more than probable that the man WHIT
married "Buckskin Nell' would have tt
fight for her more than once. Jealousy
too, makes a mans hand awfully steady
when he aims pistol, and the schoo
teacher was not a 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 il
charge of his first sergeant every day ant
take a look at the preparations. Occa
sionally, in lazy way, he would offer /
suggestion or two. He had been a hoI
manager at West Point in cadet days "a
tremendous honor), and after his gradua
ton had led many a german and figured il
many Irritation. 1t was hardly to be ex
pected that he would condescend to dane,
at this backwoods affair, but his sugges
tions were considered invaluable. Ever
the school teacher listened deferentially
when he explained a few pretty figures fol
the opening and closing of the ball. H,
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 il
her, and for the few weeks he had been il
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 to wear
and had given her few lessons in the
waltz. By his advice she was to wear q
simple dress of white muslin with blue
sash. The other women would look horri
BILE with their gaudy colors and i'll cut
dresses, he knew, and he expected her t.
make 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 trifle surprised
when she asked him If she should accept
the school teachers proffered attentions
From her manner he saw that it was O
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. 1t was nothing to him.
He did not go near her on the day of the
hop. He knew she would expect him, and
he had what many finer lady had called
a 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 awkwardness of
the men and the feeble attempts at STYLE