The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-26


But I'm afraid that forgot all about you
for time, Barbara; I had so much to do,
you see, that your very existence slipped my
memory from the time I left you at II
CLOCK until saw you on Sir Anthony's arm,
at half-past twelve"
Then you did not send for me?" I ask,
with wide-open eyes. 1 thought"
.! am sorry to confess that did not" she
say goodnight or you will be too tired to
get up later on"
CHAPTER "
MAY I have the pleasure of dance with
you?''
The speaker is Sir Anthony Nagel, the oc-
caSiOn my first ball
l am wearing my new white satin dress
trimmed with real flowers, and l am feeling
as wildly excited as it is possible for any girl
to do.
I have seen a good deal of Sir Anthony
lately, and think he is the handsomest and
most charming person that have met;
put, somehow, cannot speak of him free
ly to Aunt Janette I do of other people.
A sudden ShyneSS creepS over me, an en-
parrassment for which I am utterly unable to
account, for our conversation is always upon
the most ordinary Of topics-operas, plays,
races balls, books-he never, at any time,
appears to be interested in me personally,
and never makes the least effort to monopol-
lZe my attention as others do
Yet my heart dances with secret joy when
ue 1I1eelS us dt Lazy CurtOn'S ball. and asks
me Tor dance, and a bitter feeling of disap-
pO1ntment SeiZeS me, when I discover that
he has taken only one.
MI Curton, Col. Treherne, Bertie Dalcourt,
and Sir Henry GraSmore all succeed each
other quickly, and Sir Harry, in his usual in
tolerant manner, says he means to have half
a-doZen.
am not giving more than one to anyone"
reply 1rlg1dly, telling myself that, if can
not have two with the only partner I want
them with, certainly one else shall have
them.
Bertie Dalcourt gave me a terrible shock
IN tne interval after his dance.
He proposes to me, implores me to marry
MIN, and will hardly accept my refusal
am released from my embarrassing posi-
ton by the arrival of Sir Anthony to claim
his dance, though 1 wonder little how much
OF our conversation he mas overheard
He is very silent. but at last he awakes
from his reverie, and, strangely enough.
touches upon the subject of my own refiec-
tions.
DO you know he observes, "that you are
the only girl have ever known who can suit
herself to my mood. Some talk we'll and
brilliantly, others be silent, but so few
SO very feW-people can be both at the right
tine"
1T is not difficult to be SILENT" I reply,
pleased at his praise; "but it is difficult to
talk brilliantly. That I am afraid, does not
arFly to me-"
You never bore me-" he says quietly.
MOST glrlsVcountry ones especially-are so
cence OF the woods with the fact of one used
to society life. Is it really true what I un-
Intentionally heard you say tonight, that this
is your first ball?"
YES reply, quite true"
50 ne was behind me longer than thought;
ana crimson all over at the knowledge that
he heard all that passed between Bertie Dali
court and myself.
Il am afraid I behaved disgracefullv in
not making my presence known sooner he
continues; although, IN justice to myself T
must say that I tried to do so several times.
only, you were both too epgrossed to notice
me- then-WeIl,,-ln an abrupt tone-"your
words, your sentiments about love and mar
rage rlVeted me to the spot-I could not tear
mysef away. Instead of the speech of a
oeputante receiving her first offer from a
man OF WeaIth and position it seemed to be
an angel who was replying in her euse AL
ways keep to your resolution, do not fall
away and deterorate as so MANY Well-mean-
erS DO. never De persuaded into a marriage
de convenance; act, decide for yourself DaI-
court was quite righ.; you are yery pretty
too pretty, am afraid, and yet you seem so
Indifferent, so unconscious of it, That is
your greatest charm, your entire absence
from concelt. have been knocking about the
world for some years now and can hardly
confirm what your instinct tells you-that
haSty marriages almost invariably re-
pented OF at leisure; that when a man mar
reS girl merely because she has a pretty
face: it rarely brings either party satisfac-
ton. However, pretty at first in the nature
of things beauty furnishes and the man secs
another race younger, fresher, somewhere
else, that takes his fancy. woman should
not only win her husbands heart h,,t also
be strong enough to keep it. AS her physical
charms decline, her mental ones sho111d take
their place; and that this may be so she
should in the hrst instance only marry q
man whom she thoroughly knows loves
trusts and admireS, even as he does her
How can men ever De such fools as to risk
their whole ife's happiness upon pretty
fon vrhIn q @ CoI oes-