Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-07-09
A Pas De Quater.

plSne0 people showed an amlaDl6 read
mess to help her to spend it while it
/ lasted. Her ball on June IS, 1894, was
/ an event for Ken5ingtOn, and even
/ Bayswater. At 100 Queens square, the
abode of Symes Protheroe, it was the
event of the season to one member Of
the family. When a card arrived for
Miss Pr0theroe and I thomas Pro; he
roe" it had given one Ct the prettiest Of
pretty girls a happy moment. Mrs.
Pretheroe was lean, pushing mother,
with q Blackheath accent, keen to
marry her daughters and indignant
with them for not gratifying her ma
/ ternal ambition. A perpetual quest for
sons-in-law had given her an eager,
+ restless expression, and the young men
/ fed before her in terror.
That is to say, Until the youngest
daughter of all came out, and then they
were almost ready to contemplate her
as a possible mother-in-law. For PeTO-
line Protheroe was a beauty Of the
plump, fair-haired, applet blossom type.
| She had such serene blue eyes and such
a bewitching smile that at her very first
party she had captivated a very
wealthy bullion broker. Yet for Tea-
sons she dared not hint to Mrs. Pro
theroe, she had summoned up all her
courage and refused Mr. Culdersack.
An event had occurred which made the
/ gentle PerOline as obstinate as her cid
est sister, Susan. She had secretly
fallen IN love while away on a country
visit. The three intermediate sisters
! were away when Mrs. Thesiger's -nyi-
tation arrived, and, TO Peroline's dismay
and Susan's angry Indignation, Mrs
+ Protheroe announced, with a decision
there was no gainsaying, that Susan
was to accept it.
! Susan had always 'letested balls. She
had always known that she was ugly;
now that she was 80 she felt the fact
much less. She probably stifed a
private pang or two in her first youth
/ as she sat a lonely wall-fiower and
realized that no one was ever at all
likely to dance with her unless COM
PEELED to do so. But no amount of neg
| lect could spoil her imrerturable good
temper. She had hosts of girl friends
who knew the advantage of a C0mraGe
who could not be a rival Men were
repealed by the stumpy figure, which
seemed made only to show the absurd
| ity of each succeeding fashion, by her
/ freckles, her sCanty locks and her zig
mouth. But Susan had a very pleasant
smile ana beautiful, capable hands.
! CT ri
! she alone knew of the little romance OF
which Captain Anthony BridgenOrth
was the hero. Also that his leave was
nearly over and that he would be at
Mrs. Hay-Thesigers ball. Susan eX-
hausted every means III her power to
! induce her mother to change her mind.
You know, mamma, / do the eoCab-
1ishment no credit. No one will take
any notice of me, whereas PerolinC
would meet heaps of men richer even
than Mr. Culdersack. Then l have no
gown and she looks so lovely in her
white lace"
| Mrs Protheroe, however, was OBJ
durate, and though Susan racked her
! ingenious brain for excuses she could
not find one that was likely to be ac-
cepted.
Understand plainly, Susan, that you
are to go. [ will not have it said that
| never gave you a chance"
So it had to be, and pretty Per0line
sadly helped her sister to put on an IN
becoming and rather rumpled coral
pink garment which seemed to have
been planned to show how dowdy &C
Gordon plating can lCOk. Peroline
was wearing one of last years school
girl white dresses and looked younger
and sweeter than ever. The big blue
eyes were bright with tears, which
rained down on a bouquet of flowers
she held. Alas! there was a card with
them. He had not forgotten her. after
all. They might have been so happy.
IF even there was a chance Of your
getting introduced to him I could beal
it," she walled; "but l dare not write
and I can't even thank him. I shall
never, never see him again; they go tC
India tomorrow, and I shall be perfectly
miserable till 1 die. No, Susan, you
are a dear, but you can't know how
feel"
Susan was too sensible to lament, but
she felt dolefulIy that her chances OF
introduction were a broken reed as
sole hope.
Look here, Fairy" she said encour
agingly, 4 am taking that little draw
ing block. If 1 can get a quiet corner
l will sketch your captain. Oh, I'll find
him out, never fear. I should go tc
sleep if | hadn't my little block and
often find places where I can sketch
then 1 can work it up into a regular
portrait for you to keep as a remem-
bTance."
you are a dear, but have another
idea. You take the bouquet and per
haps he will recognize it."
Susan laughed 0~7 her laugh was SC
merry it was infectious. mo, no
Fairy, that would never do. Why,
should feel and look like such a goose
l never had a bouquet in my life; you
keep it to comfort you, all but this
queer yellow orchid. I never saw one
like it, and perhaps if l stuck it some
where very oonspicuously it might
catch Captain Anthony's eye"
But, Sukey dear, it is quite too aw-
fully ugly with that gown"
"And my hair" finished Susan, with
out touch Of bitterness in her smile
The uglier the better; perhaps he will
notice this skirt T +big7L. rothinc oo11ld