The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-08-04
CHAPTER XVII.
The Ball.

SV~S Ell Nvlls
The Ball.
1t was big ball at the Portsmouth
town hall that night, given for the To-
cal hospital. Charity balls spell mixed
society mostly, and suggest a condi-
tion of things where people may make
up their own party and dance pretty
exclusively amongst themselves. Yet
there is vast admixture of fringe peo-
pie; girls who come from no one quite
knows where: youths with look of in
definite trangeness-people the rest
look at speculatively and curious1y.
There was a large party from Ad-
miralty house and another from Gov
srnment house, and the heads of de.
partments and the self-styled leaders
OF neighboring society were there.
There were also little Miss Jones from
unknown regions in Southsea, and
Miss Brown from one OF the big Palm
erston road shops. and young Smith
from the dockyard, and the like. The
great hall was gay with bunting and
flowers and tall plants. behind which
the band of the Red Marines dis
coursed the most perfect of 'waltzes
end the liveliest of WASHINGTON
Posts.' The high balcony was full of
lockers on-chaperons and the elderly
and non-dancing; the floor below was
afloat with cleaning satin and airy
tulle, and the glow OF color and wave
Of movement.
The Government house party was in
good time. Gen. Kenyon prided him.
self on military punctuality. His aide.
de-camp had certain air Of eager
ness, had any one chosen to remark it,
as he took up his station close to the
big open doors. He had his card in
his hand, and on it there were a few
scattered names-the names Of those
marked down there by duty. But the
wide space Of white that remained to
him meant to make enjoyment it's FILL
erin.
He was eagerly on the outlook for
Ursula, and she was little late. The
band was already playing an extra
when he saw the little brown head,
with it's glittering diamond stars
among the stars that still came surg
Ing in. 1t was so unlike the usual
Southsea eagerness over it's entertain
ments to be still on the threshold when
the ball had begun, that Winstanley
had almost begun to be filed with dis
may. Now it was quite another feel
ing that possessed him as he started
forward to claim the dances that he
was waiting for.
How dreadfully late you are !" he
said, reproachfully, in an undertone,
treasuring for her, and smiled down
into her upturned face. Il thought
should have been torn away for the
first quadrille before l could see you.
My heart has been in my mouth for
the last ten minutes"
What is the sensation?" Her smile
was as bright as his. All the disap-
pointments of the morning were swept
away like broken mist wreath when
the sun rises, before the happiness of
feeling his hand touch hers as the card
passed to her keeping.
"Such a disagreeable one that hope
you won't experience it. Now, please,
what am I to have?" =
What do you want?"
ooh, put in that unguarded way, 1
want all your waltzes. You can't re-
fuse after giving me an opening like
that
II wonder what would happen? My
chaperon would drag me- home by the
hair of my head! Four? Well yes;
I think that isn't unreasonable. -Four,
then, and an extra or two at supper
time. The supper ones are always the
nicest, don't you Think"
"All right, then; thank you. And
any others may chance to pick up by
the way. Let me go, now, and sacri-
flee myself on the shrine of duty.
must dance the first quadrire with
Mrs. Hagan."
He went off cheerily, and Ursula
found herself surrounded by applicants
for her dances, who kept her busy put
ting down their names. The square
that opened the ball was over and
Winstanley was making his eager way
back to the side of the hall where he
caught sight of the bright green frock
of Ursula's chaperon, when . light
touch fell upon his arm. ii s. 5s ~ >,..:.
He turned and saw Countess 1lka
standing beside him, her brilliant eyes
smiling upon his own.#=::s"A Are you:in too
great haste to speak to your best
friends?'' she asked \ IN that musical