St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-12-13
HER FIRST
BALL
BY GERTRUDE DONALDSON.

BY GERTRUDE DONALDSON.
UST IS, and her first ball! Nowon
u der the girls cheeks were flushed
sad her eyes shining with excite
ment, as she gazed at the reflection
of herself in the long mirror, putting
the final touches to her exquisite cos
tune, which had been designed with
the expensive simplicity suitable to
her youthfulness. s
Face and figure showed type Of
beauty rarely seen; the whiteness OF
her skin, the radiant bloom of health.
the dark lashes yelling the deep blue
eyes, the mass of wavy gold brown
hair, the gown of soft white satin
draping the slender figure, all com
bined to make a perfect picture Of
girlish loneliness. }sfr s@FsF
Her emancipation was at last at
hand; she stood on the brink OK her
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
the country ball. .ss,fss4 4...s Sd
my bouquet" she exclaimed, turn
ing to raise shower of pure white
blossoms from the table, and touching
their fragrant GOODNESS for one second
with her lips. ...
ut must be Jack" she thought, as
She rustled down the stairs and took a
seat beside her mother in the
brougham; "but wish knew for GER
tain from whom it came, for if it wasn't
Jack" !.
MY dear child, how strong those
flowers smell! But ! suppose Mr.. 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 Hargrayes the other
day he meant to come to this one, and
expect we know the reason why, Ell? '
Il don't think Mr.. Merrydew sent the
bouquet, mother. II did shouldn't
wear it. But am sure it came from
some one else" .-.
mot wear it, Madeleine? How fool
ish, to be sure. Why, you ought feel
extremely flattered that the man
whom half the country is trying to
catch should deign to notice you. Let
me tell you, Mr.. Merrydew's residence
is place that many girl would give
her eyes to see within their vision, and
Mr.. Merrydew is worth at least $4,000
year. Not wear his bouquet? Fiddle
sticksl and don't let me hear you talk
such nonsense, child"
1T isn't nonsense, mother. I mean
what say. I am not sure that / like
Mr.. Merrydew, in spite Of his thou
sands 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 a catch as
you call it. There's something in the
way he looks at one that don't under
stand; it hurts one, somehow 81.
Hurts you? What can you mean?
What an extraordinary girl you are.
When was your age Inever had such
fancies, and was prepared to accept as
friend anyone whom my parents APP
proved of for me-" ~ "a
II dare say; but perhaps they never
knew Mr.. Merrydew. Ny father, I
like that .E a8! E+ E5 ~
"Your father was poor man, but l
married him because of his family,
which was good"
II hope because you loved him, too,
dear?"
''That goes without saying. But Mr..
Merrydew has money as we'll as posi-
ton, and, Of course, you cannot be
blind to the fact that he was struck
with your appearance the first time he
saw you, a 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"
'Jack! Young Travers is nice fell
low, but he's as poor as rat. He can't
hope to marry for years. He was all
very well 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
Observation-Disclosures door.
A little murmur of adrnira ton 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.
"Ah, if only Jack could have been
here" was her vague, unexpressed
longing, before the glamour of the
dancing and the music. swept away re-
membrance Of anything else. s ~ ga
Merrydew claimed her for the first |
square dance, then begged tor valse
to follow it. y-fs5.--. z.s-.s5
He was a tall rather dissipated |
looking man of about 40 years of age,
md on his handsome face were lines
which . more reputable life. would
not have set there.
But he danced well, and Madeleine.
appreciated good partner, though
It seemed to her he held her4once or
twice a trifie more tightly than was
necessary. CHANGING at her bouquet.
he had asked whether she was fond
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