Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1902-11-19
HER FIRST
BALL
By GERTRUDE DONALDSON.


u der the girls cheeks were flushed
and 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.
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.
Her emancipation was at last at
hand; she stood on the brink of 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 Madeleine
Montgomery was to make her debut at
the country ball.
MY bouquet" she exclaimed, turn
ing to raise a shower of pure white
blossoms from the table, and touching
their fragrant GOODNESS for one second
with her lips.
1T must be Jack" she thought, as
she ruStled down the stairs and took a
seat beside her mother in the
brougham; 'but wish l 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 Hargraves 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. If l did l shouldn't
wear it. But l am sure it came from
some one else
Not wear it, Madeleine? How fool
ish, to be sure. Why, you ought to fee
extremely f1attered that the man
whom half the country is trying to
catch should del gn 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
MIR. Merrydew is worth at least $50, 600
ayear. Not wear his bouquet? Fiddle
sticks! and don't let me hear YOU talk
such nonsense, child
1T isn't nonsense, mother. I mean
what l say. l am not sure that | like
Mr.. Merrydew, in spite of his thou
q To- II
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 1 don't under
stand; 1t hurts one, somehow
Hurts you? What can you mean?
What an extraordinary girl you are.
when L was your age l never had such
1ancles, and was prepared to accept as
friend anyone whom my parents APP
proved of for me-
L dare say; but perhaps they never
knew Mr.. Merrydew. My father, I
am sure, could not have been a man
like that"
"Your father was poor man. but !
which was good.''
Il hope because you loved him, too
dear2"
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, fortnight ago. Now, Made
| lelne, you have your opportunity; don't
be perverse. I've spent money L can il
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 fel
low. but he's as poor as rat. He cam
hope to marry for years. He was al