Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-07-15
AT A HUNT BALL.

figure approyingly, as Mrs. Fawcett'
maid put the last touches to her toilet
DO you really like me?" and Maggi
Fawcett turned slowly round that nj
item of her dainty ball gown might b
lost.
MY dear, you'll be the success Of tn,
evening; and, 0, what an eXquisit,
bangle that isl" and. with an exclama
ton OF delight, Lady Carew caught he
cousins wrist, on which glittered ;
magnificent bracelet set with diamonds
and emeralds. Surely that's new
isn't it? 1t wasn't a wedding present
was it?"
Mrs. Fawcett flushed nervously
"No; You haven't seen it before only
had it yesterday"
You lucky creature. to get promis
cuous presents like tlat. Who gave i
to you?"
The flush on Maggie's cheek deepened
Eric, of course" she replied, with {
laugh. He spells me dreadfully, vol
know"
Lady Carew's lips quivered into an in
defnable expression.
"My dear" she answered, smiling
"beware of husbands unprovoked
presents"
what do you ?" asked Maggie
quickly.
"Only that their source is more often
guilty conscience than an overfowing
affection"
Laura, whywill you say such things
Come, the carriage is ready"
$50 anil; but isn't Eric coming?"
mot 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"
The two women then took their places
in the snug brougham 1t was fairly
long drive to Treloar hall, where the
Darshre hunt ball was to take place,
but there was absolute silence in the
carriage, partly because, as cousins and
intimate friends, there was no necessity
for conversation between its occupants.
and also because Maggie Fawcett knew
of old that Lady uarew hated to tire
herself out with talking before the Sc
rious business Of the flirting and waltz
ing began.
Maggie Fawcett's appearance at the
hunt ball was something of an event.
She was the bride of the occasion.
Jgarly in the spring she had married
Eric Fawcett. and this was the first
winter she had spent on his estate in
Darshire.
Now and then Lady Carew glanceda AT
her cousin. Maggie leaned back in her
corner, the white fur of her wrap nest
ling around her throat and her he'd
resting against the cushions of the car.
rage. 1t struck her companion that the
young wife's face was little pale, and
that it wore look of suppressed eN.
citement, mingled with something
which seemed almost like anxiety,
what can be the matter with the girl"
murmured Lady Carew to herself,
"She is evidently disturbed about some
thing. How she plays with that brace
let. wonder-but, no! Maggie is the
best little soul alive; and, besides, there
isn't an eligible man within dozen
miles. Still, l never should have ex-
pected Eric Fawcett to have turned out
a model husband" and she laughed
softly to herself.
Laura Carew was a good six years
older than her cousin, and she remem-
bered very distinctly that at the same
ball last year, before Maggie had
flashed upon his armament, Eric Faw-
cett had been her very devoted slave,
and naturally she smiled at the recollec-
tion-a little pityingly, perhaps, for
Lady Carew could not quite understand
an admirer deserving her Tor Maggie,
and, though she wus fond of her cousin,
she was rather sorry for Eric. Women
generally are sorry for the men who
marry some one else.
But in spite of Lady Carew's moder-
ate estimate of Maggie's powers of at
Traction, 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
fill up two spaces which she insisted on
preserving.
She was standing by her husband in
the midst of group of people. She put
her hand gently on his arm.
"Eric," she whispered, I've kept you
two waltzes."
"Two!" and he laughed as he looked
down at her. why, little woman, we
can't dance together twice-it would be
ridiculous! Here, I'll take this one. ]
don't suppose you'll have any difficulty
in filing the other; you're looking very
pretty tonight. | must go, dear; this
is my dance with Laura"
Maggie Fawcett bit her lips. She
wouldn't have minded people seeing
that she was in love with her husband
and that she thought him the hand
soonest man in the room, but men were
different - very different = and her
heart swelled as rush of memories
came upon her. She answered her part
ners not very abstruse remarks me-
Chemically It was doubtless bad form,
but her eyes sought her husbands fig
qire; he was waltzing with Laura-it
seemed TO her that he was ALWAYS waltz