Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-05-04
CHAPTER Xxx.
Hazel Speaks.

a
o heart, are you great enough Ioi
love?
have heard Of thorns and briers."
stood before the mirror, dressed fol
Colonel Rivers's ball.
Surely the doors Of fairyland had
opened to me! Could that radiant
young creature in white tulle and
snowy ribbons, with splendid, liquid
eyes full of happiness, be Hazel Fer
rers? Jael pulled into place fold Oh
my shining drapery, adjusted my full
soft sash, and brought me basket
of roses, which Sir Griffin had just sent
ND 10 the dressing room.
Should l wear the Jacqueminot OF
the Marechal Mel? One was too red
the other too yellow. selected a clus-
ter of pale-pink beauties, like debut
ante's blush, and fastened it in my
corsage Sergia, clothed, like myself
in whitest tissues, watched me with
smile on her beautiful lips.
Hazel, you can never looked more
lovely, even when you wear all the
family Jewels Of the Hopewoods! In
that dazzling fleece, to what shall
compare your"
"A lamb ready for the sacrificed"
muttered the husky voice of Jael.
I gave a nervous start-the words
had a sinister sound.
"Fie! Jael, you are too tragic"
laughed Sergia. "Sir Griffin will sure
ly think of some better thing to say
when he meets Miss Ferrers on the
stair. OH" her voice changing sud
denly-"what is that, Jael?-what Is
the matter with your poor arm?"
For the girls sleeve had caught on
my dainty rose basket, and We both
saw that, from the wrist upward her
olive tinted flesh was all swollen and
discolored.
Its nothing, MISS" answered Jael,
in confusion; IAN accident--a mere
scratch! It's healing fast" And she
hurriedly drew the sleeve into place,
and leaning over the dressing table, as
though to avoid our eyes, began to
tumble among the boxes there.
Sergia, absorbed in more weighty
thoughts, went up to the mirror, from
which I had just retired, and looked at
herself critically.
You will dol" she said, no6ding
mockingly to the image in the glass.
Her long, dazzling throat and bare
shoulders arose shining from her tulle
dress. Flowers, as white as her drap-
cries, filled her bodice. The only color
about her was her crown Of yellow
hair.
"The ball room is delightful, Hazel u
she said, turning to me: "and the sup
per room beyond all praise. Certainly
my guardian has spared neither money
nor pains to make us happy tonight"
"And are you happy, Sergia?"
asked, logically.
She extended one hand for Jael to
button the long glove.
How can you PROFOUND such a fool
ish question? II my heart was break
ing, would I acknowledged it on an
occasion like this? Hazel, 1 wonder II
poor papa knows that I am making
ready for my first ball, and he but a
few months dead? l am superstitious
enough to fancy that this night will
bring me ill-luck.
did you not tell me once that il
was not for you and me 70 find our
elders in scruples?" 1 answered, just
as Miss Carbury, in heliotrope satin
and point lace, fiuttered into the dress
ing room. She had overheard our last
words.
MY dear Sergia," she said. plaint-
lively, "of myself would never dare l.
do this thing; but the idea of a bal
originated. as you know, with the COL
onel, and he can make no mistakes
Whatever he says or thinks is always
quite right. II he considers it proper
for you to dance, why, you may safely
do so, of course. 1t Is not for you OF
me to question his admirable judg-
ment"
Sergia shrugged her white shoulders
Great is your faith, when you car
defer to a man in such matters, Mis-:
Carbury," she answered, dryly. well
then, will dance, and upon you anc
my guardian all the responsibility Of
my frivolity shall rest"
After that we went down to the bal
room together.
What can a girl write of her first
ball? In all her life there will never
be another so full of Glamour and de-
light. Let me try to set down in order
the events of that memorable night
the last happy night which i, as Haze
Ferrers, was ever to know. At the foo
of the broad, shallow stair, lined witt
palms and Towering plants, Sir Grif'
fin met me.
'I am an abominable dancer" M
said, ruefully. You could not find
worse one, If you tried; but now, a
the very beginning Of the evening".
want you to promise that you vii
dance with no one but myself, Hazel"
The despotism of love was pleasan
to me because of it's novelty. l prom
ised readily enough. How could
care to dance with any but my hand
some lover?
1t all comes back to me as l write
the ballroom, with it's polished foo
and innumerable wax-lights; TIT
crowds of fine people, the jewels, TIT
shining tissues, the perfumes, the flow
ers that filled every nook and corner
the whirlwind of the violins. the dan
GERS dancing in tune"-all the delight
full things that made up the total Of tn
nights enchantment.
A little while after We had left ou
post by Miss Carbury l missed Sergia
and began to look around for her. Sh'
was dancing with her guardian. Tht
ease and grace displayed by Rivers, hi
perfect mastery of the art made hin
the envy Of all the males in the room
Sergia's eyes seemed constantly turning
to the door with a watchful expectancy