The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-09-21

greatest JOY in the world is at hand"
So her heart sang rs she few in trem.
u.ous excitement about the house and
garden, at this moment consulting the
old clock on the stairs, at the next the
broken dial on the grassplot. Oh, if the
sun for once would mend his pace! If
she could only feel herself N the road
to Government House, catch Il glimpse
Of the lighted windows, hear an echo
Of the band, to whose strains-a diff.
ferent partner for every waltz and lam
GERS and quadrille-she meant to dance
till morning.
It was the last day of her childhood,
her goodbye to pure, unmixed happi-
ness. Already the clock Jagged, al
ready the shade upon the dial moved
with pace too slow for Daphne Van
sittart.
Eight o'clock came, and with it the
rickety %barouche, hired for economy
at a country inn, that was to convey
the ball-goers to Government House.
Margot and Jean Marie, at that period
in the earliest stage of sheepish court
ship, stood together with q knot Of
fisher people outside the porch, to see
the ladies depart. The nearest approach
to full dress ever beheid by Quernec
eyes were the short skirts, the jackets
trimmed with as many bows as span
giles of itinerant beauty at the annual
fair; and a long-drawn "Ah:' burst
forth from the lips Of all when Daphne
tripped forth, her face blooming as the
sunset sky that shone on it, her girlish
neck and arms looking white even
contrasted with the wliteness Of her
dress-a solitary spray Of roses in her
yellow hair her only ornament.
Good, honest creatures! They have
never seer me dressed before" re-
marked Theodore Tansittart, as the
barouche swung heavily into motion
Theodore, not wholly unconscious OF
her charms. upright as a wand in her
rejuvenated dove-colored satin. and
with Honiton lace, ribbons and plumes
indescribable as a headdress. "But
I trust this is the beginning of a new
life. Only for me, child-Only for my
taking the initiative-you might never
have danced anything but barbarous
Boulangeres and LourierS to the end
Of your days. Our poor Henrietta,
with all her sterling qualities, is so
painfully wanting in ambition! Now,
who can tell what this very ball, your
first introduction into the society be.
fitting your birth, may lead to-"
It led, as a primary, to Daphne's
cheeks looking paler on the following
morning than they had ever looked be-
fore in Fief-de-la-Reine.
"Of course, we enjoyed ourselves
tremendously, Aunt Hosie," said the
girl, as she sat trihing. Miss Theodore
at her side, V e an II o'clock break
fast. Daphne, who usually consumed
two or three thick slices Of bread and
butter and her bowl of coffee before s
o'clock! "Still, big balls are not what
I expected. Grown-up partners do
waltz SO out of time, and hold*you so
tight, and, as to the Quadrilles and Ian
GERS, you might crush your. way
through them just as we'll without hay
ing learned a single step. Only once l
found room to dance a chasser-croi.
sees, and then I saw two Of the la
dies give a look at each other behind
their fans. No, for real dancing the
Quernec parties at Christmas are bet
ter, after ALL"
And Mr.. Chester, the partner you
danced five times with, who took you
10 supper, who handed US to u car
rage" cried Miss Theodore. IF you
did not feel fattered by such atten-
tons as these, all I can say is. you are
more difficult to please than most
girls"
"Mr. Chester waltzed no better than
the rest" answered Daphne, coolly.
Il would sooner 60 straight through
tile Boulangere any day than struggle
through those five stupid round dances
with Mr.. Chester again"
"Mr. Chester made a very favorable
impression upon my mind" said Miss
Theodore, almost with q blush. "The
young man has an unmistakable aris-
tocratic line of profile, and is a con-
nection, it would seem, Of the War
wickshire Stamers. I hesitated, at
first, when he asked my permission to
call-for. of course, with no gentleman
in the family, one cannot be too cir
cumspect. But the moment he men,
toned the Warwickshire Stamers-"
ITO call here" interrupted Aunt
Hosie, brusquely. you have given
permission to a young man Of whom
we know nothing to call upon Daphne,
here, at Fief-dela-Reine:'
To be Continued.