Smyrna times., 1897-09-01

were all IN nutter. Those that he
longed in Bessie's room were especial,
IN a hurry for the bell to ring. At las
the bell sounded, and the group,
started nervously; then summing u,
courage went down to the big ball
room. The ballroom was pictur
esquely decorated in ivy and June rose,
and behind a screen of palms the banG
played. The college girls were al
dressed in white, and the effect was
charming.
The girls had been allowed to invite
any male friend, and they had wed
with one another to see who would in.
Vlte the most handsome and cultured
gentleman. Bessie, having lived in
New York, was supposed to invite the
most cultured, but not having made
her debut did not know any male
friends except her two brothers. She
hoped, In her secret heart, that the
handsome GENTLEMAN she had seen
would come to the ball uninvited; for
to tell the truth, she had fallen in love
with this unknown stranger.
When she entered the room her gaze
wentfrom Oneface to another. Alas! the
face she wished to see was not there. She
became i'll at ease with the young peo-
pie around her. A sudden stir
among the girls near the door, and a
stentorian voice said:
Good evening, Madame Barnes; l
trust L am not interfering with the ball.
L heard that the college balls were con-
Quoted so nicely that left my bache-
lor's den and dropped in"
You are certainly welcome, Sir
Maurice, and 1 trust you will enjoy
yourself. l will introduce you to the
young ladies'" and Madame Barnes
said: young ladies, this is Sir NIau-
rice Chesterfield, of Chesterfield
Manor; make him at home"
Bessie, meanwhile, stood a little
apart from the others, with curious
little feeling going on in her breast; a
desire to linger and run away. Sir
Maurice came towards Bessie with
Madame Barnes. Bessie was intro
duced, and Sir Maurice asked for the
first dance.
Bessie gladly consented, and she
thought that cotillion was heavenly,
for was not the man she loved by her
side?
When the cotillion was ended. Sir
Maurice asked Bessie for the next
dance. Bessie said: ''You must excuse
me, Sir Maurice, for that one, but YOU
may have the next" Her ewes must
have shown her regret, but the gallant
nobleman was equal to the emergency.
''Never mind, Miss Davenport, but
yon are hot and tired. Pray sit down
and L will get you any ice." Bessie
excepted the prOffered seat, and sank
down wearily. Sir Maurice was not
long in finding an ice, but when he re-
turned, Bessie had disappeared as if
by magic. Sir Maurice Chesterfield to
say the most, was aggravated beyond
endurance; but seeing several people
were coming in, he also retreated
through the window. When Sir Mau-
rice left Bessie she stepped through the
window out on the balcony. Sir Mau-
rice did the same thing, and was walk
ing up and down impatiently when he
caught the CLEAN of a white dress and
heard the swish! swish! of a lady's
skirts. He drew back so as to allow
the lady to pass. AS she passed him
he saw her face, and stepping forward
said:
Excuse me, Miss Davenport, but
have been hunting for you. Where
have you been?"
Bessie started nervously, and re-
piled: "Why Sir Maurice, I did not
know you were here. [ went on the
balcony to get roses, and L thought 1
would be back before you came with
my ice.
"Oh, all right; if am not mistaken,
here comes your partner, and I will
leave you. Goodnight.
Bessie was ready to cry her eyes out
for being so curt to him, and
when she went to bed, nothing could
induce her to talk.
When she had been at Windsor, En-
gland about four weeks, she received a
handsome bouquet of flowers, and with
it note requesting ''Miss Davenport
to spend the afternoon of the twenty
third at Chesterfield Manor. The tennis
party to be given in honor of Sir
Maurice Chesterfield.
When the carriage reached Chester
field Manor, she was welcomed cor
daily and introduced to Mr.. Finis-
tere, whom she promptly disliked on
the spot. Sir Maurice engaged her in
conversation about five or ten minutes.
then left her to the mercy of Mr.. Fin
istere. He was not handsome man
by any manner of means, and what we
term a ''dude.
When tea was announced, Sir Mau-
rice hurried to her side and escorted |
her to the tea-table. He handed her a
cup of chocolate and plate of cake,
but Bessie was not hungry and stared |
vaeantly toward the lake.
"Why, Miss Davenport, you do not
like chocolate, am afraid.
"Oh, yes, do, Sir Maurice" said
Bessie, coloring, II am not hungry"
"Come and walk through the wood
then, Miss Bessie, you will enjoy the
Bessie colored up to the roots of her
golden-brown hair, for he had never
called her Bessie and it sounded very
sweet from his lips.
They walked on and on. At last
they came to pretty lake. Near the
landing was a small yacht, just big
enough for two to sit comfortably.
They stepped in and Bessie said, gaily:
''This reminds me of that baby boating
song so many children have sung. Did
you ever hear it?"
"Oh, yes, 1 often sang it, but now
seems the most appropriate tine to