Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-05-08

self for hours. or else reading. II can't
be good for her. I like to see girls at
her age bright and taking an interest
in things, It's to be expected that
she should mourn her father, but II
isn't healthy TO allow her grief to prey
on her mind"
1T is the green.cyed monster that
doth make the food 1t feeds on
Shakespeare" said the young banker,
jollily. No. that's jealousy: but It
applies to grief Just as well. You lie,
yourself get harping on a thing and
It's all up with you"
Then you agree with me?"
'As 10 what?' said Harold, noticing
his wife's anxious air
The propriety OF her coming out
after the list OF January.
ANY plan that you and Eleanor fix
on will suit me. chcrub. leave II all
in your hands"
You have said you mean to give
her a ball" Emma remarked. medi.
tatiyely.
So do: handsome one. TN be n
good excuse for throwing open our
new house"
We'll. then. l shall consider It set.
tied: only shall have to be thinking
about her clothes at once. don't
suppose the child will make any oh
jections.'
She felt. nevertheless. n little anx.
ious on this last head until she had
talked TO Eleanor. who. however. said
that she was not competent to decide
ms to the proper time for laying aside
her mourning. and that her aunt was
the best Judge.
Il should be very sorry. dear, to
give you the Impression that | was las
In such matters" said Emma. serious
~. but think your future happiness
may be very dependent on your com,
Ing out this winter: so II seems to me
you do rIsht In being little icss
strict In following custom than In or
dlnary cases.
Eleanor merely asscnted: but next
day. when they were alone together
after breakfast. she suddenly con
frontcd her aunt with the Inquiry why
there was any need of her coming out
at ali.
Need Of your coming OUT" Emma
said. in u tone Of nstonlHhmcnt. Then.
after a moments attempt to grappic
In her own mind with the cNtraordl.
narincss OF such n proposition. she re-
/ piled. with dignity: Your Uncle iiar.
old deRgndS ON your coming out. El
canar.''
The siri locked n, her vaguely.
Il should be very happy without H."
she said.
Emma surveyed III. calm Tccaici.
l 10. s.aIu... ,A.s
was Hiiii more naughty. She felt tha,
she was called ON to combat frame
OF mind radically out of gear. and
that she must speak unclulyocally.
ut Is not question Of your present
/ happiness or Of your unhappincsH. FL
canor. but OF your whole future. u
| you do not show yourself in the world
and become familiar with its usascs
how are you TO n; yourself for your
part In life. whether aA a wifc-foi
| you are likely to be maTTici-or. cvcH
assuming that you arc nu;-as-as
! your Uncle Hafold's niece and my
niccc7"
Mrs. SiaEE conHcIcntiousiy based
her argument ON niEh moral grounds
She had no patience with the cynical
or misinformcd people who habitually
stigmatiEed society "a hollow and friN.
olouz. or who declared that EirlE came
out merely to md husbands. Such
critics were either cnvioua. or did not
know what they were talking about II
was too much the custom for those on
the confines OF good society 10 SnecT
at those on the other side OF the hcdg"
without knowledge Of their fcclingr
and privileges.
But cannot dance" answered
Eleanor. which was M objection quite
apart from the real ones which had
prompted her to speak.
Her aunt felt incNpressihly relieved.
Misled by notions that are common
among persons OF her class. Mrs.
StaKz had begun to fear that her
nicce's scruples were born of that
dreadful democratic spirit which ar
Eucs that country school.ma am
without social experience Is the peci
In breeding and elegance OF any lady
in the land. Horrible visions Of the
consequences of such standard had
noatcd before her eyes. which now
bcamcd benoyolencc on the culprit. as
she said:
Il wrote last night 20 make arrange.
mcnts about that. my dear. You Will
dance beautifully. You have just the
aEure for 1t. and you are light ON your
feet. Mile Laurcns will come three
times a week until you are proficient.
aud after that will practice with you.
and we will invite in two or three
young men Informally some evening.
to give you confidence"
Emma spoke with glib chcerfulncss;
load was on her mind. The child
was merely shy and needed cncour.
aapment "a little morbid as the nat.
urai result of her afiliction. but moth.
ing worse.
The remaining weeks at the seaside
passed uncventfully. Emma had been
rather inpatient to get back to town
in view of the preparations necessary
for the ball. and for launching her
young charge into the gay world. The
next eight weeks were spent largely
in shopping. Eleanor was carried OFT
in the coupe after breakfast every
morning. on tour Of the stores. 1t
took a fortnight before all the materi.
ais were chosen. for Mrs. Stagg would
I a