Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-05-15
CHAPTER iv.-(continued.l

spot where Mrs StaEs han sta'"h"H
herself To receive. Eleanor stood al
her side. a trins In the background
eourtesying low when her aunt eouf-
tested in mute acknowledgment OF the
announcements made by the ushsrs In
attendance as 10 who Was who. He
fore this bexiiderins ordeal vas prop
erlS at an end. a youth invited her
TO waltz: thereupon. having received
a smiling nod OF permission from her
aunt, she went away with him TO the
ballroom. which was already possessed
by vhlFllng coupled. Successive part
nsrs claimed her. and with each ns~
trial her confidence Increased. Soon
she was nyins over the smooth nooF
as blitheiy as any. flushed With tTi'
umph. radiant. painting. Inadvertently
conscious that her dress vas torn,
scarcely hearing what vas said 10
her and scarcely knowing what she
said Then il vas supper time and
she had chance 10 sit down ard try
TO comprehend the gala scene. while
more youths filited about her Ike
moths. hardly introduced before they
were gone. yet sometimes returning
for a moment as though not unwilling
to become fascinated.
The german vas led by Eleanor and
n young man experienced In such mat
iers. and daylight vas psepins through
the windows before the last polka had
come TO a close. clicltinE melodra'
matte sigh from the half.hundred
dancers who Etill remained on the
floor. and stopped now only NJ the
command Of obduFate par.uts. Fiji
teen minutes later. Emma and Eleanor
were sitting ON a sofa slipping hot
bouilion BY daylight. amid the debris
Of the ball room. Harold had slipped
away TO bed. but the two women pre-
fcfrcd 10 talk the party over bc-
fore retiring. Eieanors cheeks
we're siill flushed with excite
nent. and khe seemed AS
loath to separate herself from the
masS OF bouquets and german knieE.
knacks In her zap. or pendant from her
person. IA hem from her chickabld'
dies.
Well. my dear. said Emma. with
cCntentsd Emiic that lApsed into n
yawn as She leaned back against the
'NAAt'HAs NAAh N.A faN AAAAA VI ks
oh. had a gorgeous time. and I'm
30 sorry It's over. enjoyed every
minute. and I shall never forge, your
kindness. Aunt Emma-yours and
Uncle Haroid'a.'
This Is on@ n beginning-of many
similar tlmes. mean. A. you get TO
know more people you viii enjoy your.
self Etill more. must say. though.
you were decidedly belle. How many
favora?"
Sixteen In all: aud felt before
hand that n I .ot even two should be
fortunate. Aren't they lgyelyg" she
added buryins her face In bunch OF
roses. and holding 1t out for inspcc.
ton.
Emma smiled cngitaiIvcly.
Who gave them to you:" she
asked.
"ryc been trying to remember.
There were several from men didn't
know tho names Of. Mr.. Moore gave
me a bOqgct. 70 did Mr.. Page: and one
Of the plumcs was from Mr. Warren.
Thon think n Mr.. Porter or Cotter-
! couldn't maze out the name exact.
iy-"
Alec Trottcr. probably"
"Oh, yes: remember one Of the 9th.
crs called him Alec. Well. he gave
me a 6oquct."
Hes n great swell. but he won't be
ilattcred when tell him that you
called him Porter and 'Cotter.' The
Tfottcrs think there is no name to
ooniurc with but theirs"
"oh! you mustn't let him know.
Aunt Emma
You foolish child! Tell me. how
did you get along with Mr.. Pager"
Very we'll. think. He talked to me
at supper and several times in the ger.
man. He dances beautifully"
owen Page is a very nice fellow"
said Emma. unequiyocagy.
ITS n pretty name. There was
robbler at home named owen Glynn.
and used to think that II ever wrote
a novel | would name the hero after
him: but owen Page Is more aristo.
cratic"
''IIc is named after his grandfather.
who died two or three years ago,
leaving a great deal of money. His
he and his two sistcrs-they were
both here o.night-came in for the
whole OF 1t. Last winter he was in
Europe, but | fancy he means to de.
vote himself to going about at home
this year"
Such was Eleanors Introduction
into society, and, as her aunt had fore
told, the ball at the Stages was but
the first of a series of entertainments
at which she appeared during the sea
son. Emma knew well that nothing
but eternal vigilance would save her
from becoming merely one of the mass
of girls who went to party after party
to dance with the stupid or awkward
men. Thanks to the instruction be-
slowed on her. she did not offend by
peculiarities, and was even extremely
presentable: but though pretty and
plquant-looking, she was not much
more so than the average. and she
was undeniably quiet-dull oven, Mrs.
St-gg believed in her heart OF hearts.
II was only reasonable to expect that
after the glamor of the ball was over
she would sink into obscurity. Why
not? She was Harold Stages niece
% l.. t.