Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-13
HER FIR ST
 BALL
By cRRTRUDE DONALDSON.

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 ment, as she gazed at the reflection of herself in the long mirror, putting l the final touches to her exquisite cos tune, which had been designed with the expensive simplicity suitable to her youthfulness.
 Face and figure showed type of beauty rarely seen; the Whiteness of l her skin, the radiant bloom of health, the dark lashes yelling the deep blue eyes, the mass of wavy gold-brown l kair, the gown of soft white satin draping the slender figure, all com 1 bined to make perfect picture of girlish loveliness.
 Her emancipation was at last ct hand; she stood on the brink of her l plunge into the. broad sea of social life; the freedom that she longed for dur ing the last year of expectation, that evening would be hers-Madeleine Montgomery was to make her debut at l the country ball.
 My bouquet" she exclaimed, turn ing to raise a shower of pure white blossoms from the table, and touching | their fragrant coolness for one second with her lips.
 "It must be Jack," she thought, as she rustled down the stairs and took seat beside her mother in the brougham; "but wish knew for cer- tain from whom it came, for if it wasn't Jack-'
 My dear child, how strong those
 flowers smell! But suppose NIT. Mer- rydew sent them, so you must carry them tonight. He never goes to dances, as a rule, but he told me when he met me at the Hargraves the other day he meant to come to this one, and I expect we know the reason why, eh?"
 ''I don't think MT. Merrydew sent the bouquet, mother. If I did shouldn't wear it. But I am sure it came from some one else" l. ,.
 Not wear it, Madeleine? How fool ish, to be sure. Why, you ought to feel extremely iattered that the man whom half the country is trying to catch should deign to notice you. Let me tell you, MT. Merrydew's residence is a place that many girl would give her eyes to see within their vision, and MT. Merrydew is worth at least $5O,o00 year. Not wear his bouquet? Fiddle J such nons ense, child"
 "1t isn't nonsense, mother. mean what say. I am not sure that like MT. Merrydew, in spite of his thou sands a year. He's man who pays one compliments before he knows one an hour; and, in my humble opinion, he thinks too much of being catch as you call it. There's something in the way he looks at one that don't under stand; it hurts one, somehow" -.
 Hurts you? What can you mean? What an extraordinary girl you are. When l was your age never had such fancies, and was prepared to accept as friend anyone whom my parents ap- proved of for me.''
 ''I dare say; but perhaps they never knew MT. Merrydew. My father, am sure, could not have been man like that" -+..
 "Your father was poor man, but l married him because of his family, which was good"
 ''I hope because you loved him, too, dear?"
 'That goes without saying. But MT. Merrydew has money as we'll as posi- tion, and, of course. you cannot be blind to the fact that he was struck with your appearance the first time he saw you, fortnight ago. Now, Made leine, you have your opportunity; don't be perverse. I've spent money can i'll afford upon your dress tonight; don't let me feel it has been thrown away.''
 Jack never looked at me like that.''
 "Jackl Young Travers is nice fel- low, but he's as poor as rat. He can't hope to marry for years. He was all very we'll as playfellow year ago; but take my advice, be wise, and forget him. Here we are!"
 They had driven under large gate way. and the carriage stopped before illiantly-illuminate door. A little murmur of admiration greet ed Madeleine Montgomery as she en- tered the ballroom by her mothers side, and she was at once surrounded by number of would-be partners, all clamoring for place on her pro- gramme. for every one knew she was to be the belle of the ball.
 ssAh, if only Jack could have been l here" was her vague, unexpressed longing, before the glamour of the dancing and the music swept away re- membrance of anything else. Merrydew claimed her for the first square dance, then begged for valse to follow it.
 He was a tall, rather dissipatec! looking man of about 40 years of age, and on his handsome face were lines which more reputable life would 1 not have set there. But he danced we'll. and Madeleine 1 appreciated good partner. though 1 it seemed to her he held her once or twice trifie more tightly than was necessary. Glancing at her bouquet, he had asked whether she was fond of flowers.
 Very! Did you send me these?" she sand. holding them up. For reply 1 he merely bowed, and she laid the floral offering on her mothers lap.
 Ut is too large to dance with; keep it for me, please" Then she turned away, leaning on a laughing suh- altern's arm. At supper Mrs. Mont