Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-08-06


under her destinations, and only es-
aped by an accident, which gave me
an insight into her character. dis
covered her to be false, tickle; in short.
a coquette in the fullest sense of this
old-fashioned word.
1t was in a ballroom l first made her
acquaintance, where, and on the same
night, had occasion to be. And there,
too, dawned on me the discovery en-
abling me to classify her as above.
Miss Mainwaring liked dancing-so do
most young ladies Of the attractive
kind, as she told me herself, "adored
it''-and there were few balls in the
county, public or private. military or
civic, where you might not meet her.
for to all was she eligible, and TO all
invited. met her at the Hunt ball
of B, and, though l had frequently
seen her before, it was the first time |
had the pleasure of speaking to her
as the last. / was introduced by one
Of the stewards, a gentleman who
CHANGED TO have an impeachment in his
speech, proceeding from what is usual
~ termed a hare lip In pronoune-
ing my military title of Captain, he
made it sound something like Count, :"
at the same time so blending my Chris
tan and surnames as to give them a
Germanic orthoepy. What ortho-
graphy Miss Mainwaring made of it |
know not, being quite satisfied with
having it entered on her card for the
next dance, a waltz. |, however,
caught a glimpse of the pretty pencil
ling, as she put it down, and could
see myself registered by name and
with a title of nobility, neither OF
which belonged to me. Before l could
catch the lady's ear to retify the error
the waltz music struck up and We were
off in a whirl, which made me cease to
think about it, and everything else, ex-
cept what delightful dancer | held in
my arms. Nor did i remember the
trifing circumstance after the waltz
had ended, and escorted my charming
partner to her chair.
During the evening we danced sew
eral times together, round and square.
was pleased, f1attered, in an ecstasy
of envious delight. Who would not, so
signalized, SO oft the chosen of one
whom many believed the most beauti-
full lady in the ball-room-dn stereo-
typed phraseology, its belle?
/ began to fancy it was all up with
me, and that | had not only found a
partner for the night, but for life.
What cared | for scowling faces, of
which | saw several around me? They
were those Of men envious of my fair
fortune; no doubt, some OF them des-
perately jealous. Of this last, certain
ly Nigel Harding, who, out of his dark
Indian eyes, looked daggers at me. His
brother Henry, too, regarded me with
displeased glances, but not near so
malignant. In that moment of SUI
preme happiness, it mattered little TO
me what they, or anybody else, thought
Of me, or felt | was the favored one,
and could afford to have every man in
the room my enemy, SO long as that
beWitching woman was beside me, and
| was permitted to bask in the sun
shine of her smiles. 1t was the pleas
ATTEST night | had ever spent, the most
enjoyable ball | had ever attended.
But only up to a certain hour. Then
things took a turn, by reflections
grew less agreeable, in short, became
bitter as wormwood. We had COM
pleted lively polka, and had deposit
ed my partner on a lounge alongside
a stately dame, her mother, to whom
was then and there introduced. AL
most on the instant l perceived that
this lady did not take kindly TO me,
but, on the contrary, was stiff, frigid.
and communicative.
Failing to thaw her, notwithstand-
ing the most energetic efforts, | made
my bow and sauntered off through the
throng of promenaders. Of course,
intended returning to take Miss Main
varing out in yet another dance for
which we had made engagement
There was quadrille coming on, and
not caring to look up another partner
| strolled into the supper-room, where
meeting an old friend, an army man,
we proposed having a glass of cham
payne, or such vile substitute for it as
is usually supplied at public balls, even
the most select and aristocratic county
ones. Thirsty with the dancing, one
does not much care, so we directed a
waiter to serve US with the sparkling
wine.
While drinking it my friend was face
tious, telling me how much | was en-
Wed.
ION what account" l asked, with an
air Of innocence. as though l did not
know the exact why and wherefore.
ooh, the conquest you've made Of