The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1902-04-04
:" The Match of the Season"

and whirled away; in the excitement
OF ball, reception. theater, opera, the
awakening knowledge of her own pow
er, she was gradually changing day by
day into striking, If unconventional
figure in social circles. And Mrs.
Gainsborough. though shocked, startled
and confounded in thousand ways
by the racy wit and audacious free
dom of the daughter she so little com
pretended. congratulated herself that
She was safely launched at last, with
every prospect Of fair and prosperous
voyage
Where Teddy sat, talked, or walked,
was the central point of gayety in any
assemblage; her speech was punctuat-
ed with laughter, her dancing robes
torn to tatters The young enthusiasm
with which she entered upon any oc-
casion was an antidote to dullness and
monotony, rejuyenatlng draught to
the most jaded beholder
She seemed to have the gift of uni
versal popularity; even her rivals liked
and would have copied her il they
could and with the men she was a
prime favorte, they lowered about
her like moths about the flame.
But here maternal criticism came
in, and feared for the future. TO the
men Teddy seemed more like a good
comrade than beautiful girl to be
wooed and won; a divinity to be wor-
shipped. Sentiment shrank from her
frank presence and pitiless laughter,
and more than one foolish swain had
cause to regret the expression of his
admiration The lover who passed the
Rubicon with Teddy must needs be
valiant one.
To this free-hearted maiden the
stately Gerald Massey, the most eligi-
BILE match of the season, the cynosure
of all eyes, the target for all matri-
monial darts, was but Jerry" Jolly
good fellow" and the best waltzer in
society.
That she honestly liked him was
manifest in word and act, though it
must be confessed that his lack of
sentiment and nonsense" as she term
ed it, seemed his chief attraction in
her eyes. And the liking was recip-
rocal 1t was many day since this
well-bred gentleman and invipcible
bachelor had revealed such interest in
the most beautiful of debutantes; many
day since he had encountered such
a refreshing bit of femininity.
But
The best-laid plans O. mice and men
Gang aft agley;
And leave us naught but grief and pain
For promised joy.
Mrs Gainsborough was a wise wom-
an i'll her generation. and held her
peace; the time for counsel, scolding
or entreaty had passed; one scene of
the kind with her rebellious offspring
had taught her the wisdom of silence
on forbidden subjects. Only the most
winning diplomacy, such as had ruled
her household for years, could avail,
but that this chit of girl could elude
her influence in the end seemed in
comprehensive.
Time brought its changes, and Ted
dy scarce realized the transformation
she had undergone in these winter
months that flew by as on wings Still
frank and freehearted in thought. word
and act, she had gained in social grace
and tact until she seemed another crea-
ture from the careless hoyden of a
few months ago
The season was to close with bal
masque. and then came the Lenten
period of retirement, prior to further
dissipation at mountain or seaside re-
sorts. This was the event of the sea
son, a grand finale to the lighter
amusements that had gone before: and
society was stirred to its depths in an
ticipation of the coming spectacle, in
| which beauty, wealth and fashion
would play prominent roles.
As by touch of the enehanters
wand, the noble mansion was trans
formed into scene from fairyland,
in which the rarest eXotics exhalcd
their fragrance, the most ravishing
music eloquently discoursed. while the
gorgeous pageant streamed hour by
hour through stately hall and gallery
shifting and changing like the visions
OF dream
To Teddy it presented all the charm
of novelty; and in Il rich Venetian cos
tune Of the olden time. her lovely face
hidden meath the mystery of the
mask. she had n strange sense of losing
her identity in that OF another No
longer the daughter of prosaic modern
Gotham, she was creature of another
race, age and cline, with her pulses
attuned to love and romance her
heart throbbing to the passionate Hun
garian music that swept through the
corridors.
A stately gallant Of the sixteenth
century, bravely attired in velvet, silk
en- hose and slonched hat, was her
faithful cavalier throughout the even
ing; together they danced. strolled in
the wondrous galleries of art. played
at sentiment Vpt as If hy fapit con-