The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1901-12-27
G6e N Years Ball

cried out. driven to half-crazcd desper-
alton. Don't you understand Can't
you understand? II Is rulnl II is
complete ruin!"
She stood before him like one OF the
antique Greek statutes that look calm
ly out from jeweled eyes. Her cold
mouth curved a little.
Il suppose you mean that our ex-
penditure has been too heavy: that we
must retronch. You are dramatic about
it-as you are about everything" She
shrugged her shoulders. And you
know that ! detest the dramatic"
As he saw that stlll she aid not UNI
derstand, the moisture came out on his
forehead.
NO. | do not mean that we must
rotrench, as you conceive the word.
Rose. ! mean that everything Is gone"
"EverythIngl"
you will not starvc. You will have
a house over your head. But"
Thank you" She smiled Ironically.
That is much. Yes. | think | under
stand now"
She turned to tho door.
"Rose!" lie called her back. His
eyes strained out OF his ashen face.
~ you know-if you knew-how !
have struggled against ~ For months
II has been coming. But / always
hoped that ! would retrieve all. one
unfortunate Investment followed n
other. stlll ! would not toll you; I
could not-could mott But now I will
explain everything"
"Oh, pray spare moi" She drew
aside the folds OF her housorobc. as ~
his outstrotchod hand might seize and
detain her. II wish for no explanation
OF d%lsagreclblo events. After our New
Years eve ball | viii hear as much OF
what you may have to say as I care
to know-though speech is uselegs
enough now"
After the ball?" he repeated. "You
do not mean--it ls not possible-that
o think Of stlll giving this New
Years ball?"
Certainly" She gazed at him cold
ly. This ball shall be given. My
invitations went out today"
But II Is monstrousl" cried Edwin
Thompson. DO you realize what will
be said OF us? In n fortnight moro the
whole world will know that / am a
bankrupt. My honor"
your honorl" she interrupted.
laughing n little. "a man who marrles
a girl above him socially. but OF Inn
poverlshed family, under the claim Of
being wealthy, and who. hvo years la
ter, announces 10 her that he Is bank
rupt, need talk little Of his honorl"
She turned away again and finally.
as she uttered the words. They had
been spoken In her even. clear. cruel
voice. Surely In the Ave years Of their
married lie Edwin Thompson had
learned TO know those tones wei. They
had noyor warmed with love or melted
with tenderness. They had remained
what they had been when he. a self
made man. a man who had arrived at
great riches. despite his youth, had
paid his addresses to the daughter Of
the old Viokas, and had been willing
that she should marry him without. as
she confessed with explicit calmness.
loving him In the least.
Mrs. Edwin Thompson had given her
ball and II marked the summit OF the
holiday season. The early morning
hours wore on towards the dawn. The
last carriage rolled away. Mrs. Thomp-
son would fall; but It would be a fan
enwrapped In splendor.
She was about to move past her hus-
band without a word. He checked her.
81 have been waiting 10 see you un-
I'll the last guest had gone. There has
happened n thing OF which | wish TO
speak TO you-very briefly. I shall not
keep you long. l had a relatiye-an
uncle OF my mother. lie was an I'M
married man. and rich. For years we
held no communication with each 9th
err. It came to me that / would appeal
TO him-not for myself-for you"
He paused. She stood. her head half
avorted, reluctantly waiting. He
looked at her. She did not see the
glance. He resumed.
Il wrote three days ago. To-day | re-
celved this letter" He took out a fold
ed sheet. 1T is from the old mans
lawyer. My mothers uncle died a
week ago. and l nm helr-at-law OF all
his property.
The silence that fell upon the great
room could almost be heard. Not a
muscle Of Roses body moved. Her
head was still ayerted,
81 tell you this. because It Is YOU
not I-who hereafter will own this l.r-
tune. That is all"
When she turned sharply he was
gone. The blood surged TO her cheeks,
and left them again deadly pale. Was
II true? Yes; she knew that II was.
She might taunt him with having won
her by false claims. but she knew, in
her soul, that falslty and he could not
together be mentioned. His word was
never doubted. What did he mean,
then, by saying that his fortune. which
had fallen 10 him in the hour OF d.
rect need. like rain from the clouds,