Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1902-12-24

By 7 DONALDSON.

meubs as she RaZed at the reuect1on
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 q type Of
beauty rarely seen; the Wilderness Of
her skin, the radiant bloom Of health,
the dark lashes yelling the deep blue
eyes, the a of wavy gold-brown
hair, the gown Of soft white satin
draping the slender figure, all COM
bined to make a perfect picture Of
girASh 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 Shs longsd for dur
ing the last year Of expectation, that
evening would be hers-Madeleine
Montgomery was 70 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 eoolnsEs for one second
with her lips.
1T must be Jack" sh0 thought, as
she rustled down the stairs and took q
seat beside her mother in the
brougham; "but / wish 1 knew for GER
tain from whom 1t came, for il it wasn't
Jack"
my dear child, how strong those
flowers SmslH But 1 suppose Mr.. Mer.
rydsw sent them, so you must carry
them tonight He never goes TO
dances, aS q rule, but he told me when
he met me 1t the HargraVes the other
day he meant to come to this one, andI
expect We know the reason Why, eh?"
II don't think Mr.. Merrydew sent the
bouquet mother. II 1 did I shouldn't
YEA IT. But / am surs 1t came from
some enc else"
mot wear it. Madeleine? How fool
ish, 70 be Eurs. Why, you ought to feel
extremely battered that the man
whom half the country il trying TO
catch should deign to notice you. Let
tel you, Mr.. Merrydow'a residence
ia . place that many a girl would give
her eyes TO see within their vision. and
4errydeW ID worth At least $4,000
Gyear. Not wear his bouquetq Fiddle
stiekEi and don't let me hear you talk
such nonsense, child"
1T isn't nonsense, mother. I mean
what / say / am not sure that / like
NJ. AerrydeW, in spite Of HIS thou
sands . year. He'sGm man who pays one
compliments before he knows nj an
hours and, IN my humble opinion, he
too much Of being q catch as
yOu call IL. There's something IN the
way he looks at one that 1 don't under
it hurts one, somehow"
Hurts you7 What can you mean7
What an extraordinary girl you are.
When I was your age / never had such
fancies, and wa prepared to accept as
> friend anyone whom my parents APP
Of for me-"
II dare say; but perhaps they never
knew 3 Mr.. lerrydew. NY father, I
am sure, could not have been q man
like that"
"Your father was q poor man, but l
married him because OF his family.
which was good"
Il hope because you loved him, too,
That goes without saying. But Mr..
.errydew has money as well as posi-
ion, and, Of course, you cannot be
blind to the fact that he was struck
your appearance the first time he
'aw you, a fortnight ago. Now. Made
cine, you have your opportunity; don't
'e p%erverse. I've spent money l can i'll
Iford upon your dress tonight: don't
ct me feeli it has been thrown awav."
Jack neve looked at me like that"
"Jackl Young Travers is a nice fel.
oW, but he's as poor as a rat. He can't
loPe to marry for years. He was all
cry well as a playfeuow a year ago;
take my advice, be wise, and forget
i'm. Here we arel"
They had driven under a large gate
way, and the carriage stopped before a
Observation-Disclosures door.
A little murmur Of admiration greet
d Madeleine Montgomery as she en-
cred the ballroom By her mothers
lde, and she was at once surrounded
y a number OF wOuld-be partners. all
lamoring for 3 place on her pro-
ramme, for every one knew she was to {,
E the belle Of the ball. !
"Ah, If only Jack could have been
was her vague, unexpressed :
before the glamour of the !
ancing and the music swept away re-
iembrance Of anything else. :
MsrTydew claimed her for the first /
luare dance, then begged for a valse
, follow il.
BE was a tall, rather dissipated
'ohng man Of about 40 years of age Z
on his handsome face were lines I
hich q more reputable life would ]
0t have set there. !
But he dapced well, and Madeleine 6
.'preciated = good partner, though {
seemed to her he held her once or ,
nee . trihe more tightly than was ;
.,cessary. CHANGING ct her bouquet. :
had asked whether she was fond 3