The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1902-11-14
HER FIRST
BALL
By GERTRUDE DONALDSON.

the final touches to her exquisite cos
tune, which had been designed with
the expensive simplicity suitable to
her youthfulness.
Face and figure showed a 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
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, hers-Madeleine
| Montgomery was to make her debut at
the country ball.
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
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 /to-night. 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 l
expect we know the reason why, eh?"
Il don't think Mr.. Merrydew sent the
bouquet, mother. If 1 did l shouldn't
wear it. But am sure it came from
some one else"
Not wear it, Madeleine? How fool
1sh, to be sure. Why, you ought to fee
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 |
MIR. Merrydew is worth at least $50, 900 |
year. Not wear his BOUQUET? Fiddle
sticks! and don't let me hear you talk
such nonsense, child"
1T isn't nonsense, mother. / mean
what L say. l am not sure that like
Mr.. Merrydew, in spite of his thou
sands year. He's 4 man who paws 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 extra ordinary girl you are.
When L was your age never hadSuch
fancies, and was prepared to accept as
friend anyone whom my parents APP +
proved of for me-"
Il dare say; but perhaps they never
knew a Mr.. Merrydew. My father. l
am sure, could not have been a man
like that"
Your father was a poor man. but |
married him because of his family.
which was good"
Il 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
ohnd 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 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 a playfellow a year ago:
out take my advice, be wise, and forget
him. Here we are!"
They had driven under large gate
way, and the carriage stopped before>a
brilliantly illuminated door.
A little murmur of admiration greet
ed Madeleine Montgomery as she en-
tered the ballroom by her mothers
size, and she was at once surrounded
by number of would-be partners, all
for place on her pro-
gramme. for every one knew she was to
be the belle of the ball.
All, If only Jack could have been
mere, was her vague, unexpressed
longing, before the glamour of the v
ianclng and the music swept away re- d
nembrance of anything else.
Merrydew claimed her for the first
square dance, then begged for valse a
to follow it. b
he was a tall, rather dissipated
man of about 40 years of age.
md on his handsome face were lines
which a more reputable life would
not have set there. n
But he danced well, and Madeleine
appreciated good partner, though
t seemed to her he held her once or
vice a trifie more tightly than wa, ,
necessary. CHANGING at her bouquet, :,