The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-06
After The Hall.

Aitcr inc bAIIs
, Wilder Grahame in the Home Magazine.
Travelling Mems Department.
You ask nue. why am SO lonely, and
wonder how IL is that l. so cheerful and
light-bearted at 20, am sullen and unsocial
Mt little more than 80. Listen. then
and will tell you the whole story though
its recital cost me much pain aud many
tears.
I met Elfreda at the CHICAGO Fair with
her papa, and parted with her at ,l;So WIN
reluctance. Since then l have-0ut 1t is
needless to anticipate. Later we met again
at Newport. where We passed delisnttui
week together. and at the end OF which
was completely infatuated. she was as
charming as any heroine of fiction brousn,
nm on q mixed diet of Fifth avenue ana
Amelie Rives. All who naye ever peen
in love have seen her counterpart, so !
will not particularize. To me she was
simply perfect and l. being oertec,iy SIM
pie, adored her at least one point N winch
our tastes quite agreed.
But where is the rose without thorns, or
the belle of the season without ADMIRERS
galore? Elfroda had them and took sucb
evident delight in displaying her indit-
ference to all that each was hail 'aau WIN
jealousy out OF her sight. and wholly so
from outraged feelings in her presence.
To be, or not to be--with her; in whicn
lay the most misery, was the question.
1t would be worse than useless In me TO
attempt to follow out the course of our
rambes; how we rowed and bathed ana
danced and firted with each other during
those brief days. When We parted she bore
ring of mine and let me call her SWEET
heart. We next met at the fatal bail.
The lights shone brightly above the dahc-
ers and fell in subdued patches out into
the conservatory, where nv love ami sat
watching the mad whirl. Through the open
door the music came in strains o. appear.
the soft tones barely reaching us tni ming
ling with the subdued lights and splendor
in an effect at once fascinating ana SAD
The girl at my side was looking straight
before her at the crowd OF dancers, but
felt that she hardly saw them. Her eyes
were filed with tears as she raised them
to mine and asked me for glass Of water.
II was thinking" she whispered softly
as / arose, ''of my dear "rother. some
way he seems very near rue tonight"
AS | returned to her j heard man s
voice talking to my darling and stopped
short in my course. They did not see me
and presently he took her IN his arms ana
pressed kiss upon her lips. ! almost
rayc a shout of Joy Fer longsd-for brother
had returned. Their bliss seemed too sa-
cred for even me to interrupt. and Win
drew as quietly as ! had entered, not at
tempting to return until I saw heg brother
pass out into the throng Of dancers.
A second time as ] approached / was
surprised by nuns voice. SAYING.
"At last have found you and nave come
for nv sisters greeting" Had she Two
brotherg? There could be no doubt about
it, and bne second one was greeted quite
as warmly as the first.
In due time made one more enort 10
return to her. but was forestailed BY brotl,
and
his departure. tfen hurried up and asked.
"In heavens name how many brothers
have your
AS smoke drew her gently toward the
ball room. The music became louder. more
discordant In the last half hour II had lost
+, its soothing influence and ,he glare OF the
| lights had increased to intoieraole brii-
| liancy. The guests were leaving Tor tue
dance was over, and the Slamor OF spienhor
| was diving out The flowers upon the wall
| had faded and withered, and the ball was at
an end-with my romance. cro:'d OF Ter
old Newport admirers were around hs, TAX
| ing leave. Already dawn was beginning 10
break and the stars looked down on the de-
parting carriages with oaler hue AS
| usual her old admirers were among the
last 10 leave AS they PASSED Out in littie
groups abe turned to me with smile and
said
.aThey are all nv brothers. Albert.
promised on certain occasions 70 he sis-
ter TO them ALL and ! have tried to Keep
my word.
| Why am | lonely? Why iIi my romance
end that night? Because II was orr we'd
ding ball. where romance gises riace "a
| reality. Because Elfreda NOV my wife)
| no longer is at home to ne. Her time is
| occupied with other things: church fairs.
socfety---and her numerous brotliery-
| All me. What secrets ara hidden away
deep in the human heart! How many
lights go out and refuse to be rekindieh.
AZ the dance comes to an end the guests
depart. the music ceases. the flowers wither
and we are left alone with our regrets
| and heart aches.