The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-03-04

strutted valiahr1y as a growing COCK
in his own barnyard.
Come. Placide, we are going to a
ball; w can do nothing in our quest
tonight"
"To a what?'
"a ball. 1 thought it might be we'll
to nav you look in upon Madame
Ms and recite YOU lessons. 1t is
to BIZ a famous gathering and we'll
worth your SEEING"
l was in a whirl, a stupor, by this
time, and obeyed implicitly; beside, it
required such an infinite skill to keep
my sword from swinging between my
legs and throwing me down, 1 had no
time to consider of minor matters. He
led the way andf followed meekly as a
lap-dog.
AT the great entrance gate we be-
came entangled in a medley Of soldiers,
coachmen, torch-bearers and servants
coming and going-such a babel of
strange oaths-I wished I were safe
again In the quiet of Biloxi. I pleaded
with Jerome to turn again, but he was
ineXorable.
Il expect to find out something
tonight" he explained.
OF this ball I remember nothing but
that the slippery floor, in which a mar
could see his own face, kept me in
deadly e lest my sword trip me.
Jerome was gay and laxative, pointing
out many people Of whom I heard, but
they did not look so great after all.
For sake of heaven, man, wear not
so long a face: 1T is not the funeral Of
thy mistress l have brought thee to-
l marveled that SO many old aides
should carry such young faces, or per-
chance their hair had turned gray ear
lier than was it's wont in the colonies.
And, too, they seemed sadly %disfigured
with boils, for on the chin or cheek
of nearly every one there showed a
patch of black sticking plaster. Poor
things! | sorrowed for them, 1t was
so humiliating. Verify, I pitied them
all. and Speculated on the wonderful
compensations of Providence. With all
their wealth II rank, their lordly
castles and their jewels, these noble
DANES could not purchase that which
the humblest serving-maid in Quebec
had, and to spare-a clear skin and
sunny locks.
| touched upon these matters to
Jerome, blu he only laughed immoder-
ately. He was eve a light-headed
young spark who gave no contempla-
ton to deeper questions han present
enjoyment.
OF a sudden my wits almost left me
at a terrible cutlery from one end of
the great hall, a cry not of human be-
ings but of wild beasts, muhled and
menacing. The dancing, the music, the
hum of voices ceased, and a thick ST
lence as of direst fear fell upon them
all. Then there came a loud cracklinu
and SCATTERING of glass, a woman's
scream, the first of very many. This
for auSht l know might have been n
usual happening at a ball, | had never
been to one before.
I looked for Jerome. He was gone.
speeding toward a young lady sur
passing talr, with whom he had been
speaking but a few moments since.
fain would have assisted him. for tho
ms appeared Wofully beset, but the
whole throng of mincing lords and
screaming ladies, in the ankles riot
overran me. They swept me from nv
feet and bore me back to the farthest
wall, where found myself pinned tight
and fast against a window.
What the danger was I could NOT
see, but it must nave been dolorous
from the headlong terror of their flight,
Soon by the thinning of the crowd
through the doors l saw a cause. IT
was a motley and a moving spectacle.
For by some m~ischance a flock of sheep
had broken into the ballroom, and
frightened u of their shallow senses
by the lights and music, they rushed
pellmell here and there, upsetting with
out discrimination whatever stood in
their path.
Verify such an onset would do brave
work against an enemies ranks, for
could our knights but make a gap like
that, an army Of children might march
through unhindered. All went down
alike before their charge, my lord and
lady, the prince of the blood, and
the humblest page who bore his
pouncet box. Such a slipping and a
Siding across a loor slickened with
much wax and polishing, was never
in a ballroom before, nor ever was
again. One old ram regarded each mir
ror as a certain e of escape, and
the radiating fracture Of each taught
him no greater wisdom concerning the
others.
Standing spellbound as a statue in
the midst Of the ruins, I caught sight
of a florid, rotund lady, s%peechless in
her horror and her misery.
THE duchess does not enjoy her
quaint surprise" laughed q light voice
behind me, and a slim finger directed
my gaze toward the lady whom 1 had
just noted.
I observed hen at my back, stand
ing upon a chair where she could see
the better, a young woman of distin-
Suished appearance, rather more plain
ly attired than the balance. She ap-
pealed greatly to enjoy the confu-
sion.
Continued Next Weekly