Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1902-03-14
The Match Of the Season.


a. HE IL no daughter OF mine:
- a madcs9 a changeiing. an
unhroken colt WHO tllrtutens
to Kick ove the traces at any moment.
What have ! done that such q misfor-
tune should befall me-"
Thus laMented Mrs. Gainsborough
over her coffee one sunny winters
morning. to her husband Immersed In
the daily ews.
"El! what's the matter now. Mollie?"
with easy good nature.
Laura was a model" she sighed.
"sl,e never gave me a moment Of un-
easiness from first to last. The belle
of her set, she married advantage
ously in her first season; and as for
Dorothy. she could be led by u stiken
thread. But Theodora-" and she
threw up Ler hands In horror. as
though tho subject beggared descrip.
ton.
''Come. come. Mollie"-he pleaded:
"let the child grow up in her own way:
they can't all be alike 1t stands to rea.
sou. There was u good boy spoiled
in Teddy. frank. fearless and honest as
the sunlight; 1t would he u sin and a
shame to cut. prune aud pare her down
intO q doll OF fashion like the rest OF
them"
'Oh. sou men" in accents OF pa
thos. "What can you know OF the
heart Of q mother. tile awful respUnsi-
bility resting upon her shoulders: the
sacred charge entrusted to her hands.
All depends upon her coming out: by
tliat she stands or falls: the verdict IL
final. Aud when l think how Ill pre-
pared she is for tue occasion; how will
full. unframed aud careless OF the con-
sequences. l tremble for her future::"
and. with IN air of tragedy she "
turned to her breakfast with renewed
appetite.
AT that moment the door burst open.
and a young girl. in rough skating cos
tune, with u name Of red-g0ld hair like
a shaggy pony. entered in whirlwind
fashion. rosy. painting. radiant with
health. spirit and abundant vitality. ~
sight to make an old man young"
Just in time for breakfast. aud hum
cry us a hunter. too. ! promise yUu!"
in clear. ringing tones. and without
ceremony she seated herself ut the IL.
BILE.
"Skating at such an hour. Theodore Y"
protested her mother. in reproviug
tones. when you should be abed get.
tin. your beauty sleep. in preparation
for tue great event before you."
My beauty nus cure for ~itself.''
was the careless retort. "Must I cod.
die myself all day because I'm to come
out tonight? Come out!"-in scoruful
tones. what does 1t mean, anyway,
daddy?" and she turned to her father
with Il look of hearty comradeship and
affection.
well. Teddy. with most Of you 1t
mems beaux and clothes. SO far us I
understand 1t: vanity aud vexation Of
spirit. and ultimately marriage. when
the right fellow comes along"
"Then Ill have none of it." and with
an air of decision she turned to her
breakfast with the vigor Of seventeen.
No mother hen was ever more dis
mayed at the juckling in her brood
than this punctilious leader Of fashion
at the daughter now on her hunds to
pilot through tile shoals and quick
sands of society. and at last anchor
safely in the harbor of matrimony.
Yet she vas but a frank. high-spirited
girl. who desplsed forms aud conveu-
lions with all her heart; rebelled ut
maternal counsel and discipline. turned
sentiment to lldicule with the careless
mockery of extreme youth. But she
proved q pretty handful to the proud.
scheming mother, whose aspirations.
scared high in the matrimonial line; q
knutty problem to solve, which would
tux her wits. temper and endurance
beyond their limit.
Yet her debut promised we'll. and
maternal criticism could find no fiaw
in the radiant vision presented to her
view in all the costly simplicity Of a
Worth gown. imported to grace the &C.
casion. She had never realized her
loneliness before; the piquant charm Of
Titian coloriug and laughing dark eyes,
the ...:.2.a.like grace Of ller buoyant
figure. the childlike ease Of her bear.
lug. which sustained her well through
out the trying ordeal.
And Teddy-thUugh she might rebel
In advance ut maternal authority. was
she proof against the pleasure of the
moment! the dangerous knowledge Of
he own beauty borne in upon her for
til. first time. the incense of masculine
homage. the gay inspiriting music. the
novel charm Of the occasion?
Though Mrs. Gainsborough trembled
for her perilous franSness. originality
aud possible gaucheries. 1t might be
that an odd bizarre character. such
us this. would 80 down. in social par.
lance. even create a sensation. for q
time. Beyond this she dared not look
or scheme: u hint of matrimonial In.
tentions. such as she cherished. would
rouse the widest antagonism. u
the downfall OF her fairest hopes aud
dreams. ~
So the season sped on. and the girl
was caught in the current of events
and whirled away. in the excitement
Of ball. reception. theater. opera. the
awakening knowledge Of her own pow
err. she was gradually changing day by