The herald., 1895-01-01

sacn thing. when he returned III three
weeks, he brought the things with him,
and week later, when she got her S16
from Miss Anthony, the girl asked him
what they had cost. And to show her
gratitude she made for him out Of some
of the silk left over very pretty neck
tie which he foolish youth, kept locked
in his -strnngbox with his other treas
ures and occasionally gazed at in mo-
ments of temporary mental alteration.
The day set for the ball arrived in
due course of time. 1t was a hot day, to
say the least. The thermometer at Bill
Letters drug store at 10 o'clock in the
morning registered 81 in tho shade, but
nobody noticed that. A general holiday
had been declared, and everybody was
at home getting ready.
Jim had not arrived, but was due on
the train which would reach Bowlder
at 10 o'clock in the evening And, by
the way, Jim had written to a friend
that at the ball he intended to "spring
q little surprise" on his many friends.
There was much speculation as to what
that surprise would be, for everybody
felt IA great interest in Jim and his af-
fairs. He was the rising young man of
the county, and had already, though
hardly 80 years of age, made quite
reputation for himself as lawyer and
as politician.
Sloan's hall never looked prettier than
it did that night. The Bulletin an
nounced in its next edition that the
''hall was gayly festooned with varicol-
ored buntings. and that innumerable
Chinese lanterns made Of the scene a
dream from fairyland. The beauty and
bravery of Bowlder were present, " said
The Bulletin, and the flashing eyes of
the dainty damsels outshone the jealous
stars of the tropical Skies 'On, on with
the dance; let joy be unconfined'"
quoted The Bulletin, land occasionally,
as in rhythmic notion in dreamy keep
ing with the mellifluous strains of Pro-
fessor O'Coulihan' band, the dainty
gauzelike dresses were swished aside,
revealing a fighting fancy of delicate
instep. Ye editor wished himself
bachelor again.
Miss Breeder and Miss Armitage.
secure of creating a sensation, were
among the last to arrive. Miss Breeden
in her black silk was beautiful. Miss
Arlnitage in her white silk was lovely.
The young ladies observed each other
with supreme contempt. Miss Breeder
noticed that the gold comb in Miss Ar
mitage's hair was merely gilded. Miss
Armitage could hardly refrain from
calling the attention of Mayor Gillespie
to the fact that Miss Breeder had for
got to polish her left shoe and to button
the top button ON her right shoe.
AT about 10 O'Clock, during an inter
mission, who should como in but the
Hon. Jim, and on his arm he escorted
very plain looking young woman,
stranger to Bowlder. The men rushed
over to shake Jim by the hand. Of
course the young ladies wouldn't do
that.
''It would not be etiquette, - remark
ed Miss Breeder to herself, thereby re-
straining herself from rushing to meet
the man she loved, for she knew that
the eyes of her rival We're upon her,
and she would rather die-aye, rather
lose the man she loved-than give that
odious Sallie Armitage a chance to say
that she was forward or unladylike.
Bob Gortner came up and claimed the
next waltz. She had promised it to
him, not expecting Jim S arrival for an
other hour, but now the very sight of
the insignificant little lawyers clerk,
with his stoop shoulders and his inane,
blinking eyes, was repulsive to her, and
almost rudely she begged to be excused
on the plea that she felt rather tired
and would rest through the next dance.
Jim Truslow now approached Miss
Armitage, and Miss Breeden $ blood ran
hot, and her heart grew so angry that
she could hardly breathe.
''The designing, forward thingP' ex-
claimed Miss Breeder between her
teeth. "She placed herself near the door
so that he would see her firstr'
Jim spoke a few words to the girl,
and then Miss Breeden's heart leaped
wildly within her, for he had left her,
and she now looked as pale and as weak
as kitten. And he was now coming
straight toward her, his hand outstretch-
ed, his face wreathed in smiles. Miss
Breeden's heart overfowed with joy.
She trembled SO that she could hardly
trust herself to speak to him or to hold
out her hand to him.
She felt the eyes Of the room upon
her. She knew that her cheeks wero fiery
red, and that everybody was pointing
her out as the girl who had won Jim
Truslow's heart, and that she had not a
doubt then, for could she not read it in
his eyes?
Jim came very close to her and held
out his hand. She offered him hers. He
took it very tenderly in his and pressed
it warmly.
"You are looking charming " he said,
"the belle of the ball, and as such
want you to do me favor.
ga favor she murmured, with
downoast eyes, Willingly ask of me
anything in my power, and l will do
it,
'Thank you," said the Hon. Jim.
Come with me. want you to meet
my wife. I was married two weeks ago
to the finest little woman in Arizona.
1t was she escorted here, and l want
you to be very, very good to her. Won't
you, for my sake?''
And this was the little surprise the
Hon. Jim had kept to spring on his isa-