The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-25
AT THE HUNT BALL.

~ declare, you re the most punctusl CIR
alive, Mhsgie, nnd how sweet you lookW
Lady Carew surveyed her Cousins figur,
spprovingly as Mrs. Fawoett's maid pui
The last touches to her toilet.
"Do you really like meS" And Maggie
Fawcett TUNED slowly round that no item
Of her dainty ball gown might be lost.
"My dear, you'll DO the success Of til,
evening, and, oh, what an exquisite bangle
that isp' And with an exclamation of de
light Lady Carew caught her cousins
wrist, on which glittered q magnificent
bracelet set with diamonds and emeralds
"Surely that's new, isn't it9 1t wasn't 9
wedding present, was ita''
Mrs. Fawcett flushed nervously. "No.
You haven't seen it before. only had II
yesterday"
"You lucky creature, to get promiscuous
presents like thatl Who gave 1t your"
The flush on MagRie's cheek deepened
eric, ofcourso, "sbereplied, with laugh
"He spoils me dreadfully, you know"
Lady Carew's lips quivered into an in
deflnable expression.
my DEAR" she answered, smiling, "be
ware of husbands unprovoked presents. u
"What do you meant" asked Maggie
quickly.
"Only that their source is moro often O
guilty conscience than an overtiowing af'
lection"
Laura, why will you say such things!
Come, the carriage is ready"
$50 anil But isn't Eric comipgP"
"Not with us. He was lunching with
the Delawares and sent over for his things.
He will go with them, and he goes back
there to sleep, F." ~.
The two women took their places in the
snug brougham, 1t was fairly long
drive to Treloar Hail. where the Darshire
hunt ball was to take place, but there was
absolute silence in the carriage, partly
because, Gs cousins and intimate friends,
there was no necessity for conversation be.
tween its occupants, and also because Mag.
gle Faweett knew of old that Lady Carew
hated to tire herself out with talking BIZ.
fore the serious business of tho flirting and
waltzing began.
Maggie Faweett's appearance at the
hunt ball was something of an event. She
was the bride of the occasion. Early in
the spring she had plarried Eric Fawcett,
and this was the first winter she had spent
on his estate In Darslire.
Now and again Lady Carew glanced at
her cousin. Maggie leaned back in heI
corner, the whito fur of her wrap nesting
round her throat, and her small head rest
ing against the cushions Of the carriage. II
struck her companion that the young
wife's face was little pale, and that il
wore o look Of suppressed excitement,
mingled with something which seemed al
most like anxiety. "What can be the mat
ter with the girlf" murmured Lady Carew
to herself "Sho is evidently disturbed
about something. How she plays with
that bracelet I wonder-but no! Maggie
is the best little soul alive, and besides
there isn't an eligible man within dozen
miles. Still, never should have expected
Eric Fawcett to have turned out a model
husband" And she laughed softly to her
self.
Laura Cnrew was a good six years older
than her cousin, and she remeIn bered very
distinctly that ut tho same ball last year,
before Maggie had flashed upon his frma-
ment, Eric Fawcett had been her very de.
voted slave, and naturally she smiled at
the recoll sction-a little pityingly perhaps,
for Lady'Carew could not quite under.
stand an adinircr deserving her for Mag
gle, and though she was fond of her cous-
in she was rather sorry for Eric. Women
generally arc sorry for the men who marry
some one else.
But in spite of Lady Carew's moderate
estimate OF Maggie's powers Of attraction
her card was full before she had been in
the room ten minutes-as full, that is, as
she would allow it to be, for she valiantly
resisted all efforts to Ill up two spaces
which she insisted on preserving
She was standing by her husband in the
midst of group of people She put her
band gently on his arm.
Eric" she whispered, "I've kept you
two walt2es."
"Two!" and he laughed as he looked
down at her. "Why, little woman, we
can't dance together twice. 1t would be
ridiculous! Here, I'll take this one.
don't suppose you'll have any difficulty in
filling in the other. You're looking cry
pretty tonight. l must go, dear. This is
my dance with Laura. "
maHRl9 FuNCGbU Ulb DGF llps. cut
wouldn't have minded people seeing that
she was in love with her husband and that
she thought him the handsomcst man in
the room. But men were difIsrent-vCry
differcnt-and her heart swelled as u rush
of memories came upon her. She answered
her partners not very abtruse remarks
mechanically. 1t was doubtless bad form,
but her eyes sought her husband figure.
He was waltzing with Laura. 1t seemed
to her that no was always Waiting with
Laura. But, then, perhaps Eric might be
thinking the same thing of her, for she
had certainly danced great many times
with this Mr.. Observation-Disclosures WAS
not at all sure of his name, and she really
did not care at all who was her partner.
The Darshire hunt ball was not amusing,
she thought, and it was little cmbarrass-
ing that 60 many people noticed and nd
mired her bangle. She touched 1t doubt
fully, twisting it on her arm so that the
diamonds flashed in her eyes. 1t was very
pretty, but
Maggie seems to be putting in very
good time tonight" observed Lady CarGw
as she strolled into the conservatory with
Eric Fawcett. "She appears to be enjoy
ing herself tremendously"
Not half as much as am" replied
Eric, with u laugh. 1T is quite like old
times, isn't it2'' he added, drawing u low
seat forward for his companion.
"Oh, my dear Eric, don't try to DO sem
timentnl! But really begin to think my
warning to Maggie was not uncalled -
"Eh, what warning?"
well, it rather seems to me that the
old Adam is returning, my friend; that
domestic joys arc palling, and forbidden
fruit is becoming terribly attractive"
SIS that challenger"
"rlot at all. Besides Maggie is my cous-