The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-10-16
trR rtRsr BAIL.
Ry q. v. Maitland.

The girl turned as hand was laid
on her shoulder. and her mothers
voice Naa saying
II win leave you to welcome to
your first bali our latest guests. Mr..
Hamilton, Mr. Brown. my daughter,
Miss Norah Grahameo
Norah looked up. with a sudden
start. at the two gentlemen before
her the faint rose flush burning to
crimson In her cheeks and temples;
then she dropped her gaze. with 4
flash in the violet eyes, and the faint
est scornful curve Of the red lip.
And this is what she saw, before
the long black iashes dropped and she
had bowed her acknowledgement Of
the Introduction:
Two gentlemen-the formost-why
had not her mother given him the
name Of Browng-for, omiting the
part his tailor had in his make. he
certainly was the qrdntessence OF
Whitley brownishness. from the top
most wave OF carefully adjusted hair
on the head-which was on a level
with Norahs own--to the point Of the
mild little moustache Brown, by all
that Is fair; but, then, matdma said
"Mr. iiAmiltonw And Norahs lip
took chat naughty curve again, for
the name OF Hamilton as not unknown
to her as the great parti Of the sea-
son. and she had. too. the not very
pleasing conviction OF being brought
out this evening on exhibition as the
Grrhame beauty" in mammals hope
Of pleasing the connoisseur taste Of
Mr.. Hamilton. or Mr.. half-a-million-
of-money as Norah was saying to
herself
"He1l not buy many words from
me the popinjayl" she was adding
volcelessly. with more decision than
elegance. as, after commonplace
phrase or so. he turned to her other
guest. stiIl standing silent somewhat
in the rear
Il wonder whether anything but
ones FIRST bah looks so much like a
kaleidoscope?" she said gayly MY
head is quite dizzy with looking al
the whirl OF bright dresses and faces.
Would it be any dizzier," Mr.
Brown answered. with a smile. I'll
you were to join in the dance, instead
OF watching II from here? Listen
that e the most waltzable of waltzes
May l not have the pleasureg
The violet eyes frightened eagerly
then fen again.
"But mamma told me / was not. t.
dance the round dances"
He smiled.
Il wonder what a first ball is for
If II Is not to disobey ones mamml
for onceg One can be very obedien
afterward. you know, for a first bal
never comes again"
Half frightened, half persuaded
Norah looked up at him. Now, il il
were only Mr.. Hamilton at whose
bideing she was about TO be disobed
lent, 4ho knew the fault might be
easily forgiven; but to break through
her stepmamma's rule in favor OF a
Mr.. Brown. even though that Mr.
Brown had a good feet and cordial
merry brown eyes
Miss Grahame."
Hamiltons thin voice was at hei
elbow Hamilton's faultless kid glove
was presented her with the handker
chief she had let fall.
She took ii with bow; then har
riedly put ner hand in the arm Mr.
Brown was Offering her. Anythinf
to get out OF the way of that Hamil
tons appraislng gaze. Anything to es
cape from the feeling OF being up foI
sale-price. half million of money.
! wonder what first ball is for
If It is not 10 disobey ones mamma
for once?"
The words came into Norahs mind
more than once throughout the eve
ming. with little rush OF terror for
the reckoning to come. But certainly
this first bail would come never again
and certainly il was charming beyond
all schooisgl dreams OF balls Aad
Norah waitzed with MIR, Brown. and
gaIoped with Mr.. Brown. and redo
waed with Mr. Brown; and altogether
mi Ll have hoea in browa study
for lll the attention she yielded tc
hc other guests.
After supper the heated. crowded
Dc Ing rooms were not quite so pleas
ant as the little balcony which huns
on from the ead one over the MAJ
blosoming flower garden and under
the misty stars Al least so thought
two. apparently. who had passed oui
through the open French window, and