Bradford County telegraph. (Starke, Fla.) 1888-current, 1895-11-15

T. ~ people showed hSS we'd an
v to help her to
spend it while it lasted. Her ball on
June Is, 1894, was an event for Ken
sington and even Bsyswater. At No.
100 Queens Square, the abode of Mr..
Symes Protheroe, it was the event of
the season to one member of the
family. When a card arrived for
'Miss Protheroe and Mr.. Robert
Protheroe" it had given one of the
prettiest ofipretty girls a happy mo-
ment. Mrs. Protberoe was a lean.
pushing mother, with a Blackheath
accent, keen to marry her daughters,
and indignant with them for not graft
flying her maternal ambition. A per.
petual quest for son-in-lav had given
her an eager, restless expression, and
the young men fed before her in ter
ror.
That is to say, until the youngest
daughter of all came ont, and then
they were almost ready to contemplate
her as a possible mothe--in-law. For
Peroline Protheroe WAS q beauty of
the plump, falr-naired, apple-blossom
type. She had such serene blue eyes
and such bewitching smile that at
her very first party she had captivated
a wealthy bullion broker. Yet, for
reasons she dared not hint to Mrs.
Protheroe, she had summoned up all
her courage and refused Mr.. Culder-
sack. An event had occurred which
made the gentle Peroline as obstinate
as her eldest sister, Susan. She had
secretly fallen in love while away on
q country visit. The three inter
mediate sisters were away when Mrs.
Thesiger's invitation arrived, and to
Peroline's dismsy and Susan's angry
indignation, Mrs. Protheroe an
nounced, with decision there was no
gainsaying, that Susan was to accept
it.
Susan had always detested balls.
She had always known she was ugly /;
now that she was thirty she felt the
fact much less. She probably stified
a private pang or two in her first
youth as she sat a lonely wallAower,
and realized that no one was ever at
all likely to dance with her unless
compelled to do SO. But no amount
OF neglect could spoil her imperturba.
bic good temper. She had hosts of
girl friends who knew the advantage
OF q comrade who could not bear a
rival. Men were repealed by the
stumpy figure which seemed made
only to show the absurdi.y of each
succeeding fashion, by her freckles,
her scanty locks and her big mouth.
But Susan had very pleasant smile
and beautiful, capable hands.
She adored her youngest sister, and
she alone knew of the little romance
of which Captain Anthony Bridge
north was the hero. Also that his
leave was nearly over. and that he
would be at Mrs. Hsy-Thesiger's ball.
Susan exhausted every means in her
power to induce her mother to change
her mind. "You know, mamma, 1 do
the establishment no credit. No one
will take any notice of me, whereas
Peroline would meet heaps of men
richer even than Mr.. Culderssck.
Then / have no gown, and she looks
SO lovely in her white lace."
Mrs. Protheroe, however, was OBJ
durste, and though Susan racked her
ingenious brain for excuses she could
not find one that was likely to be ac-
cepted- Understand plainly, Susan,
thas you are to go. 1 will not have it
said that never gave you q chance. "
So 1t had to be, and pretty Peroline
sadly helped her sister to put on an
unbecoming and rather rumpled coral
pink garment which seemed to have
been planned to show how dowdy &C.
Gordon plating can look. Peroline
was wearing one of last years school
girls White dresses, and looked young
er and sweeter than ever. The big
blue eyes were bright with tearS.
which rained down on a bouquet of
flowers she held. Alasl there was a
card With them. He had not forgot
ten her, after all. They might have
been so happy.
IF even there was q chance of your
getting introduced to him l could
bear it, she walled; ''but dare not
write, and I can't even thank him. ]
shall never, never see him again; they
60 TO India tomorrow, and / shall be
perfectly miserable till 1 die. No,
Susan, you are a dear, but you cant
know how I feel"
Susan vss too sensible to lament,
but she felt dolefully that her chances
OF introduction we're q broken reed as
sole hope.
"Look here, Fairy" she said en-.
couraging, ST am taking that little
draviDg-block. If / can get a quiet
corner viii sketch your Captain.
Oh, I'll find him ont, never fear. ]
should go to sleep If I hadn't nv Lit.
tie block, and 1 often find place.