Woodruff County news. [volume] (McCrory, Ark.) 1901-1910, 1908-07-30
THE ball
BY Maurice Jokai.


I dance a quadrille! l am going to be-
come a nun, or finish myself in some
way. Let me tell you what has hap
pened, and l feel sure that you will
agree with me in thinking it mon
strous, almost inconceivable.
You doubtless have heard that the
Hungarian army passed through our
village last week, after the battle of
Branyiszko. Before they came, by
way of preparing us for their recep-
ton, we were told unheard of things
about the soldiers, how they would
pillage and fire the town, then kill or
carry off the women.
Well, the eventful day came at last
Mother had described the Hungari-
ans to me as great Tartars, wearing
fur turbans and bearskins for clothes.
Fancy my surprise on seeing, instead
of such monsters, two elegant young
officers, one light, the other dark, and
both extremely handsome Their red
cloaks were swung gracefully over
their shoulders, leaving their uniforms
exposed. They apologized for their in
trusion, and l replied confusedly that
l was ready to serve them.
The handsomer of the two men
looked at the great quantity of food
and drink on the table, and could not
repress a smile. This only served to
increase my embarrassment. The
other officer treasured me by thank.
ing me in the most musical of voices
for the services offered.
They went away, but in half an hour
they returned. They then told mother
that arrangements had been made for
a ball, and we were invited to go.
They asked my company on the spot
for quadrilles, czardas and polonaises'
OF course | promised them all they
asked, but my mother made all sorts
of objections.
On reaching the ball room l found
a large company assembled. The sol
diers were all splendid | would not
have believed that men whose bust
ness it is to kill people could be so
magnificent and fascinating.
One officer in particular attracted
the attention of everyone present. He
was tall and so handsome! His COM
pleXion was fair, his cheeks were red
and his eyes and hair dark. His scar.
let uniform fitted his fine form to per-
lection.
You can imagine my feelings when
l saw him coming up to ask me for a
quadrille. Unfortunately had already
promised it. Oh, how l wished my
partner was somewhere elsel | don't
know what he replied at first, for
seemed to be floating on air. Then l
heard him say:
Don't forget that you have prom.
ised me the next one"
If | had not suddenly checked my.
self l should have declared that l
would sooner forget my existence
simply assured him that l would re-
member it.
But how will you be able to recog-
nize me?" he asked
AS if it were the most natural thing
in the world to do, l unfastened a
rose from my corsage and offered it to
him, saying as l did so:
L shall know you by this"
He took the flower and pressed it
to his lips. l pretended not to see him,
but l did just the same.
We took our places and stood wait
ing. Then, just as we were about to
begin, we heard the sound of gallon
ing hoofs, and, in the distance, a can
nonading that made the windows rat
tie. A moment later, a man. bespat-
tered with mud, rushed in and an.
nounced that the enemy was attacking
the outposts.
Good" exclaimed a major. clap
ping his hands. We We're just wait
ing for them. Gentlemen, beg these
ladies to excuse you for a few mo.
ments-just few. We will be back
directly. Wait for Us and don't
worry"
Then all the gay young officers
buckled on their swords. their faces
set with grim determination My part
ner went with the rest. His face
looked stern and his eyes flashed fire.
felt that | could have gone with him
into the thlckeSt of the fight. He still
held my rose, and when he put on his
shake, he fastened the rose behind the
cockade. Then he turned and sought
me out in the crowd Our eyes met
for moment, and he was gone.
We all staid in the ball room, as we
had been forbidden to leave The hours
that followed were certainly the long
est ones that l ever passed. By de
grees the firing grew fainter, and
finally it ceased altogether From this
we concluded the enemy had been
| routed
We were right. A quarter of an hour
later, amidst shouts of joy, the officers
re-entered the ball room, smiling as Ii
nothing unusual had happened. Theil
| bright uniforms were soiled, whether
with mud or blood l could not tell
| They sought their partners, and took
their places, as if they had merely re
! turned from the refreshment room.
My partner and the major were
missing, so l sat down near the door