Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1894-01-20
are odd things and one can't calculate


are odd things and one can't calculate
on them.
| "There was no lack of introduc
tions, and soon began TO enjoy the
| fun hugely. There is a freedom
about this sort of affair which is very
refreshing. and some of the women
were decidedly pretty. I had started
several mild flirtations and the ball
was in full swing, when I noticed a
girl sitting alone in corner, PARTIALLY
hidden by curtain. Something
about her fascinated me the moment
l looked at her, and, as her eyes met
mine, they shone through the mask
she wore like stars. Somebody has
used that metaphor before, but it
doesn't matter: l can't think of a
better. l passed and repassed, and
/ each time our eyes met.
SAT length / ventured to ask her
why she was not dancing. She an
swered in low, sweet voice that she
! preferred watching the throng to
! joining in it. l wondered at this,
/ for she was very beautiful. From
that moment all the other women
! faded into insignficance. Jameson,
( never laugh at love at first sight, it
is the only love which is true and
lasting" Spinks paused and dream
lily emptied his wineglass.
Il can't tell you all we said, and.
it would bore you if / could. The
night was as beautiful as the day
had been, and after time she sug-
I gested turn on the terrace. I was
only to glad, and we soon found a
quiet nook where We could carry on
our conversation to the soft accom-
| paniment of the music CT the dance
and the murmur of the moonlit sea.
By Jove! If fellows got spark of
poetry in him a scene like that and a
companion like that must bring it
out"
Spinks apologized somewhat shame
facedly for this outburst.
Il" You should have heard her talk.
1t was finer than any poetry l ever
read. But we had not been sitting
there long when Smith and Langton
passed by, casting envious glances
into our corner.
"'Those are your friends, are they
not?' she asked. We had better 20
back to the ballroom. think they
are looking for you
81 assured her that nothing would
induce me to go back to the ball
room, that l wished we could sit
there forever. She didn't make any
serious objection to remaining, and
we went on with our talk. She told
me good deal about the place and
the people, and looked so lovely all
the time that I grew more and more
infatuated.
Suddenly she discovered that she
had lost her handkerchief, and asked
me to go and look for it in the corner
by the curtain where [ had found
her. At first thought it was a ruse
to slip away from me, and made
some demur about going, but she in
sisted, and 1 was obliged to obey her.
ITO my surprise and joy I found it
very quickly and was fastening back,
when Smith and Langton came tear.
ing across the room, needless of the
dancers, who evidently considered
them a pair Of lunatics The moment
they were within earshot, Smith be-
gan in a hurried whisper, L say,
Sp1nks, do be careful. Do you know
who it is you're carrying on with? For
goodness sake, mind Nhat you're
about and Langton joined in,
There will be duel and the dickens
to pay generally, if you don't mind,
old man.
81 didn't care hang for duels, for
1 was reckless, and told them so
pretty plainly, and hurried back to
the terrace, To my intense relief,
the girl hadn't moved; there she sat
in the moonlight, gazing at the sea,
and for the first time l noticed that
in repose her face wore a sad and
wearied expression. She frightened
up as l gave her the handkerchief.
which ! saw had coronet worked
on one of its corners, and thanked
me for it very sweetly, but the sad
look soon came back.
II tried to resume the old merry
talk, but in vain, and at last asked
her the cause of her sudden melan-
choly. At first she parried my ques-
tions and gave only vague, indefinite
answers, but after time l managed
to draw from her the story of her
life and then / had no cause for won
der.
''She was a widow. Her parents
were English, but they had died
long ago and the aunt who brought
her up had married her to rich old
Italian count when she was little
more than a child. He had treated
her brutally and when, after two
years, providence saw flt to remove
him to another world, he managed
to score in this by leaving his wealth
and his widow in the hands of a still
more brutal trustee. i hav'nt a
penny of my own, she said bitterly,
so Pm going to marry this man next
week.
Il was thunderstruck; it was
sheer madness. / asked her If she
ral ~ -;