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VOL. VI.
J. H. & W. R SEA I jS f ekitors a nI)
k / PROPRIETORS.
ATLANTA, (U., OCTUElt 2, 1SS0.
Terms in Advance: { v *' nr -
Single <«>|>>. NO. « I 1
mrvest oi
SKPTEMIIKR.
" hat are yon good for, Roses, all Roses,
" ,len »11 dearest hopes lie dead in my heart,
\Mien all 0 f the summer’s rich ha
treasures
Is garnered forever and I have no part ?
Why should you lift up those blood-tinted
petals
And sea; ter so wantonly richest perfume i
When the smiles that I thought to win with
thy beauty
My heart’s deep’, ing shadows will never 1
illume?
Wlint were you made for, if not for her ti e
W hat, if not to adorn her fair breast?
What it not to lie clasped by her lingers
While closely unfolding my hearts
request ?
Illow, bitter winds from fast coming winter
( old northern winds come | itile-s blow
Ting a dark blight athwart the red petals.
Uring them a shroud a shroud of soft fa. li
snow.
And I 1! bury deep, enwrapt by the roses
This sorrow that only the rose- must know
MIFIRST BALL,
AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.
BY KATE BKADFORIE
“Oh! I must go to this one!”
I exclaimed with eagerness, as 1 read out
an invitation to the grand ball of the season
given in honor of the return of the yom--'
heir o! Lawnstlale. i had known him inti
niately when we were children, but since
then we had not met, he being at school.
Oreat had been his triumphs there, an.; in
little town, we were ib< .'kl’fig ' Tur\i'aVu v>
impatience to his arrival.
1 had never been to a regular ball; in fact
during the last two or three years of my life,
had mixed but little with the young people
of our neighborhood. The reason of this
was, that we were very poor, much poorer
indeed, than persons thought us; for like so I ;
many of our people, we had known better | g
days, and our hi n-e and surroundings had
remained to all outward appearances, much
as formerly; but alas! our purse! all we Irav
mother and II had to fill it, was the scant
rent which came in from the grounds that
had once been the pride of the family.
Vaiy of o :r neighbor* were rich, and
as 1 grew o’der I began to feel the difference
which money makes in the position and im
portance of persons, and gradually with
drew myself from their circle, preferring to |
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ltogether. After another rummage I
cross the lining to an old grenadine i
would lie just the thing, covered with some
if" th ' m T ht eceenl.ic and proud thaii 'for j VvTTl’V !telegan!'all in black lace
them to know he reality and be pitied, t on ■ 5k l , <J: lll - t ex u ? Mv w;1 ,it to look like
queutly although 1 had received repeated | a " Laily M . u ., M „ h jn my long trailing robes of
black, but I wouldn’t mind awing and mak-
I ing a little impression on those girls Hut ol>
! me! whoie were my slippers to come from f
| I could not wear the white ones now with
: *))js dress. There was no help for it. 1 would
•ame | ed, that T hardly knew myself. I looked at j
hich t least half a head taller. But 1 was more me- j
tamorphosed than ever when I was tied back j
slim and slender, in my royal robes of lace j
and silk, w ith the rich coral trimmings; real- j
]y I had no idea shat my shoulders were so |
white and plump until I saw them adorned
invitations to parties and dances, 1 had
variably declined, but on this occasion, l felt j
that 1 must go. I had not seen him since his
return, had only caught a glimpse of his back
as he passed on his way to the church.
A es, all the eligible young ladies of tae j j vvn Inv best pair of French boots, trail j way rather compliment,..
larish were there to see him, and be seen. | in style, and so have a very pretty I think me conceited but I
T;ip dancing was very pleasant, but when
was my hrro: He could not ftossibly )x? ow
of those ordinary-looking gillauts who wen
acting so silly ami making such geese oi
themselves for th« arnusenn nt of my cousin
on the other side of the room. N(*, tame of
their faces corresponded to the back that 1
with my impromptu bracelets and collar. I had seen.
was a decided success. 1 had no idea that I i J3ut wai*’, there are some more arrivals.
vould have been there also, to wcleome
him back, proud or not, for lie was an
was so good-looking.
“Yes, my dear, you look very well indeed,
juite like another person, which is by t!*e
You must not
• w how much
p ur of
dove
lippers. But now the pair of kill i g(»od a little flattery do»s, .and there is no
bought to match w ith the new | one else to administer it I will indulge my-
lf in it, ad bbitum. I think I will *]uitc
friend, but alas! I had already disnuuitl.sl | on ln) | ia t, were buff. 1 couldn’t
nn winterhnt, which ».i B reall> nothing bu j s ;j ))y „jf or d another p tir, neither could I I tike the shine off ;he other gills. That will
uincil i . - , i
a straw , of its velvet covering, ami trin
it up fresh I ,r the summer, but as ill luck j
would have it, w hen Sunday came around, j
it from sheer perver-ity turned cold, nud so |
rather than come out in my Summer hat be i
fore its time, 1 remained at home, bewailing I
mv fate. I
Ileally there is a great deal of character in j
w ear l uff with such an elegant dress; having be unite a triumph for my fir t party
Al-
livule that so fine, everything else would though ! am making my debitt, 1 cannot
have to match. What was to be done ? come out in spotless white, the embh m of
I stood fingering them, bewailing that the maiden purity, innocence and all that, but
goo-l old fuiry days were over, when wishing you see, I make a virtue of necessity and
could do such wonders, when a bright thought j carry my stately robes with a great de ’ *
struck on
.ft
I would turn them. They
>lor on the inside, and would
h like undressed kid. 1 imine-
rk to turn the bindings,
aid soon had the satisfac
tion of seeing that 1 pn-ses-.ed a very neat
pair of two-buttoned gloves. 1 was afraid
almost to inform my mother of my great suc-
I might appear
our circumstau-
a back.’ You may laugh and think me a silly i o. S '.’ 1 '
school girl, but never, hel -ss, 1 can tell you i J t , »■
that I formed unite a hero in liung nation, j|, ,,
built from the glimpse l had of that back. 1 ’ - • ‘
I wonder d the owner will come up to my
ideal. 1 know all the girls congratulated . . , rlll , Ily
themselves on iu> non-appearance at churchy p for fear she should thin!,
for it made one less for his attentions to be, well die -sed for,
divided among. 1 know they w ere looking 1 1,0 tu ° vve11 dre “ Sea lor
forward to mv refusal of the invitation, as a
matter of course, but I would disappoint
them.
Yt s, I must go' but I must also have some
thing to wear; what it was to lie, I couldn’t
tell ilv mother had a pair of white kid recherchi toilette,
slippers w hich could fit at a pinch, and old J Mamnn listened in silence to tny spicy argu-
f iriiilv iewelrv she was not wanting in. But i ment, and decided to let me have my way
1 had iio dress’! 1 didn't know how I could | as no other half as good could be thought
manage that unless i w ciitdre-sei a.- a In id
Yes, that is the very same hack with its
short cropped head of ctt-ls. I wish he would i
turn his face in this direction and favor me J
wi ha look. 1 fiml myself wai'ing With such
in’entnrss for that glance that I have for-j
gotten all almut my entertainer, and am pay
ing no attention to his very enlivening eon- j
versatiou. I try to atone but it is too late, ,
he has noticed my inattention and in a fit of
pique leaves me to my own sweet devices.
1 am not sorry for by so doing be has left me
in; next dance free, on which I congratulate
myself, fori see the elegant Mr. Marsden
already making his way towards me. I 1
never wouhl have know n him but for my
prt vious glimpse. Perhaps oil closer insj.ee- !
my eyes retained a little of their youthful
expression, i will give you ail opportunity
of studying them closer, in hopes I hat some
of the old impressions may revive.”
He accordingly took a seat la-side me, in
order, I suppose, to facilitate my inspection
of his physiognomy. He surely was not
lacking in confidence; he was very much
like the Harry of old. With a sudden revul
sion of feeling I almost hated him for his
perfect self-possession, while 1 was neariy
burning with blushes. 1 had started out
very- bravely, but could not keep up under
the bewildering glances of his mischievous
eyes. 1 had been wanting this opportunity
and now wnen I had it was too overcome
with timidity to take advantage of it.
[ now became conscious that he was still
holding my hand, perhaps had been examin
ing my glove all this time. I knew he had
been an “enfant terrible” in his day: there
was nothing ever that he did not find out. I.
remember once coming to grief b • his find
ing out that I had no stockings on. The
cause of it w as, I had been rambling in the
Hut as I said, “1 certainly was not going
to undeceive them, if the people were silly
enough to be fooled in that maimer, and
w rite sham and made up of scraps, over my
tion the eyes might appear changed, but the woods alone and had the terrible
i entirely outgrown its boyish shape
and the mouth was concealed by a silky
moustache. Yes, he was advancing towards
me slowly but surely. I felt he was looking
at me, I suppose to see whether I had
cli .nged—lit.t.e did he imagine what an alter
ation my l-.oks had undergone in that one
.ri line
to fall into a ditch. What was my despair
upon making my exit to find myself clothed
in long, black tights from the waist down.
1 could not go home in that undignified con
dition, so l divesti-d myself of mv stockings
and other superfluous attire, and left them as
I thought concealed in the mud. After
in theoldnurs -ry rhyme: "In yellow ki I slip
j lias and a green glass breastpin. But I
imagine that was at a time more uncivilized
than this nineteenth century. W< 11, it was
no use looking among my clothes, 1 liuil
nothing more expensive than linens, and
percales. I would have to rummage through
mama's old finery, and
Well I was to go. That was now decided
since I had found the wherewith to go in.
As mama never went out, I was to be chap
eroned by my aunt, who with my cousin,
would stoji for me.
Of course the days went I >y with leaden feet
B _ 0 __ , after I had made my preparations. I drearn-
what 1 could find, j ed of nothing night and day but ball and
i had the faculty of fixing, if I could find Harry Marsdtn.
anything to fix—, hat was the d fliculty. j I had some faint hopes that he would call
Everything was so antiquated, that. I h.d
almost given up iu despair, when to my sur
prise, I found an old silk skirt which made
up the present style would look well enough
il I could only find something to go w ith it.
Fortunately 1 was not large, had plump
shoulders and arms, could go lowncck«-il aim
it would not take much to make me a waist,
but I must have something to meet me haif-
Mainma had a handsome lace shawl, that I
remembered having seen her wear m our
better days; if she would only let me have
that. She had hithe rto kept it out of my
sight, for fear I would be tempted to wear it,
und she did not consider it exactly in keep
ing with my extreme youth. 1 woul i not
of course want to wear it as a shawl, but oh.
w hat a lieautiful overskirt I could m ke of
it over mv black silk. Yes, I must have it;
so I mustered up courage, and marched
straight to in v mothei’s room.
“Ahem! mamma. I want your lace shawl to
wear. Don’t look horrified, I will only wear
it as an oversk rt, over the black si k, if you
will lend it to me.” . ,
Of course I was successful. The shawl waH
resurrected from its hiding place, and .
marched off in triumph to begm my prepara
tions. Boon train and overskirt were arrang
ed to my entire satisfaction, corsage, 1 had
none. Why can’t people do without them
majesty and queenly grace. Yes, 1 intend
to enjoy my: elf us much as possible, imagine
inyse.f to be ri-.-h and till that, just to see
how-it feels, and wall not even think of to
morrow when I will be sitting in sackcloth
and ashes contemplating my ruined boots
and gloves, lor I know they will be all soiled
when 1 turn them the right way nga n.
Mamma, please tilt that glass a little so chat
1 can take a look at my train and sweep it I evening. I felt myself grow red and white ' washing the black coating from my boots, I
after the most approved style. Oh, you need by turns, which isn’t at all becoming, but thought 1 could venture home, as they came
not look skeptical, I know 1 will manage it | everybody knows how embarrassing it is to up high and mv dress was notsbort. I know-
all right, and not get it tangled and have to t f t ! somebody (and that somebody a young l could have passed all scrutiny unnoticed
kick it once, although it is my first. Well, geutlemin) looking at you intently, and to but for Harry, who, with his proverbial cu-
now 1 believe 1 am rt-ady. i wish aunt | make believe that you are totally oblivious riositrv of course noticed and must know the
would come. I feel so fun- y; I feel stately j of the fact. Besides 1 could not decide reason of that strip of tiesh-eolor between
whether to call him Harry or Mr. Marsden.
1 would wait to see what he called me, and
then l would follow suit.
| 1 struggle hard for self-possession—I dan
not raise my eyes again—I see his feet with
in two yards of where I am sitting—i have
iio*. a m -ment to lose. One rapid glance over
| ni\ train shows me that it is in perfect order.
anil demoralized at the same lime. Oh, me!
Where is my fan, how could I have forgot
ten that? Is there nothing I can find? If
ever poor girl had a hard time, I have.
Mamina, would it look odd if 1 took the
feather duster, they might think it the latest
style, or else some freak of my eccentric
genius? But no, happy thought, I w-iil coui-
and renew our old acquaintance before the
unimportant event, but be did not. I sup
pose those other girls were only t<xi glad to
keep his attentions to themselves as long as
possible, by telling him all sorts of romances
and nonsense about 1113’ pride and seclusion.
But never mind, wouldn't I cut them out,
when the time came, for I certainly had a
prior claim to his society.
Well, the all important day arrived. I was
up bright and early, for I still li id extensive
preparations to make that could not have . .
been done before. I must have something to I crowded hail, up the stuirs to the dressmg-
brighten my dress; I could not afford to buy room.
promise matters. Flense hand me that little j just as if 1 had arranged it on purjiose,
hand screen and pick ail the red feathers out 1 glance down to examine the fastening of
of the duster. Now, you see, 1 stick them my glove and conceal a small piece of lining
into this frame. I am sure i will have a fan that is too deep for cream color, letting nit
as fine as it is original. Whew! a red fan! laslies rest on my blushing check until he is
Why, l am out in his Satanic majesty’s liv- directly in front of me (following the exam
ery. Well, 1 may as well make it complete,
so please pin these bunches of haw horn on
my slippers. Ah, there is the carriage at
last.”
So, with a hasty good-by anil one long look
ut the glass, I wrapped my shaw l around me
and springing into the carriage was whirled
to t he scene of action.
Alighting from the carriage assisted by
persons I had never met before, I daintily
raised the end of my train in my left hand
after the latest style and swept into the
artificial flowers, but I bad a substitute,
which would I thought be much prettier,
bawthorne berries. They would contrast
beaut fullv with the black. I had a very
pretty pair of coral earrings, but that was all,
no bracelets to match.
I decided to make myself bracelets and
dog collar of haw thorne berries, strung on
1 Minds of black velvet; corsage and overskirt
trimmed in the s-iine manner, and looped
with clusters of it. How fortunate that 1
was a brunette ! _
1 proceeded to comb my hair, and in that
at least I was honest. Thee was no sham
there, and that was more than those other
girls could nay of theirs I did it up in the
If 1 hml been elated before 1 was doubly so
now, after a glance around the room satis
fied me that I was us well dressed as any and
if my toilet was not as costly as some of
theirs, at least it was more elegant. What
lsiots and dress,
Finding that I would not answer his ques
tions. lie raised the alarm and turned the at
tention of all beholders to my elongated
members. Finding myself beset on every
side with astonishment and inquiries mingled
wi'h his shouts and cheers, i sat down en
deavoring to hide the objectionable members
and “wept a little weep.” It was some time
before I could moderate my sobs suflic-ientlv
to tell my dismal tale. Of course universal
sympathy was now my compensation until
Harry reappeared waving in triumph my
black, attenuated jiieces of apparel fastened
pic or a noted belie that I had lately read of) as banners to long poles. This ridiculous
and then raised them slowly arid shyly to display was too much for human nature. All
find two very handsome brown eves looking j the lookers on shrieked with laughter. 1
imo mine. Bui there was something in the | again bursting forth in wails of anguish and
expres-ion of them that made me feel un j outraged pride sought shelter up in mv
comfortably silly, for I could not help won room. Not thinking tny mortification sut'
dering whether he had been reading my
thoughts all the time he had been looking at
me so intently.
But i had not much time for such doubts,
forextending his hand tie said:
‘ May 1 dire hope that I can dispense with
an introduction to you and lie remembered
sufficiently to c- ntinue our friendship?”
‘ Oh. certainly,” I replied, “that little cere
monial would be quite unnecessary to us.
How glad I am to see you again. Why you
are so changed, that I would scarcely know
you but for your eyes; they, I think, have a
a delightful sensation it is to feel well dressed, little of their old expression left.”
We sallied from the dressing room. I was j ”1 was so afraid 1 had changed that I
introduced to the crowd of gentlemen wait- j assure you 1 had great difficulty i7i summon
fieiently complete, he proceeded to take
further revenge by placing the triumphal
banners of the topmost branches of an old
tree beside my w indow where he finally left
the -i waving in the breeze. However, as 1
was naturally of a forgiving disposi ion i
gradually reinstated him in my favor.
I hastily withdrew my hand, and as I did
so the band struck up a most tantalizing
waltz, whereupon he recaptured it. and with
the owner’s consent we w ere soon mingling
with the crowd of dancers. Howl congrat
ulated myself upon having learned the “Bos
ton” with my cousin.
Harry was a most delightful dancer, but
it is unnecessary to explain how we got
ing to conduct us to the ballroom. My ami- j ing sufficient courage to make the test. In ! through with that wall z ami all the succeed
able cousin, to whom all this was no novelty,
was willing to resign all claims for that even
ing to me, while from the others I was deter
mined to meet them if possible.
We swept into the room, I enjoying the
rustle as much as the conversation of my at
tendants. Soon I was whirling round in
latest stvle puffs and frizzles, made an j waltz after waltz, until in self-defence I was
aigrette of the red berries, and was so chang- I compelled to sit down.
you 1 do not think there h.is been as decided , ing ones, or how we progressed in re-estale
an alteration (I knew very well that I had al- j ishing the oM friendship, or sweet hear;ship
terea decidedly, much to the improvement j which ever it was Time flew by on golden
of my goodliHiks.) 1 would have recogiczed j wings; supper was announced. Of course,
yo* anywhere. But I am very sorry indeed Harry Marsden was my gallant servitor,
that I have changed so much, for in those ’ As yet he had not addressed me by name; I
dais I flattered myself that I was one of 1 was still undecided what to call him; liroba-
yqir favored admirers. But as j r ou have bly he was laboring under the same difficulty,
given me some faint hope by admitting that Following the example of the re-t of tae
I company, I drew off my gloves, squeezed
them into a tight httle knot and buried them
j in the fold of 11 iv overskirt, for I unfortu
nately had no pocket. Healths were drunk,
i jokes were crack d, flirtations carried on.
' Mr. Marsden and I entertained ourselves to
mir entire satisfaction, oblivious of the vn
rioits dances, inquisitive, sharp and satirical,
which were levelled at our devoted heads.
I was listening to him all at cation, while he
iv;is littering a series of those nonsensical,
but nevertheless very sweet compliments
with which men delight to fascinate th*- fem
inine ear, when I found that all the guests
had risen and were about to adjourn to the
dancing room. Not ex ictlv relbhing the
idea of being made the heroine of to-mor-
! row’s gossip, l hastily sprang uj> and taking
! my companion’s arm, hurried after the
j others.
' But Mr, Marsden instead of turning into
j the ball room as I had intended, walke I, to
I my surprise, out upon tne promenade which
was deserted; but I knew this Would only
make matters worse for me on my return to
the company. In my embarrassed state 1
could not talk. He didn’t seem to notice my
silence, but on the contrary supplied it by
his own conversational powers.
But now the music struck up. We hurried
in to join the dancers, but what was my dis
may to find that my gloves were mislaid.
My partner observing my dilemna offered to
go in quest of them. He was already haif
way down the room, when I remembered it
would lie preferable to lose them than have
him discover tny little sham.
I called af er him. In nly co .fusion I
don’t know whether I addressed him as Mr.
Marsden or Harry. I11 vain. He was ai-
I ready out of hearing.
! Oh! what should I do? He would certainly
1 find out now and would think it such a good
| joke.
I could almost have cried. There was only
I one thing that suggested itself to me in my
| difficulty. He should not witness my rnorti
! fieaiion at the discovery. I would go to tie
1 dressing-room, anywhere, o ly to be out of
the way when he returned. 1 hurried uji-
stairs, itetiding to wait there until mv aunt
was reav y to depart. Tired of sitting in the
warm room, l stepped out on the balcony,
j from where I could hear the music and see
1 al] the delightful dances I was missing. How
I h^no- l, stood there I don’t know. Suddenly'
| “Why, is it possible! 1 h i e lieeii looking
: for you everywhere; in the gardens, sum-
mer houses and in every conceivable spot
| but this. Your aunt and cousin have gone
home in despair, i promised that I would
| undertake to conduct you safely home, if it
were possible to dis over your whereabouts.
! I was just considering whether it would not
! be advisable to have all the jionilsand ditches
in the neighborhood dragged. You see
among other things i remembered your old
penchant for ditches.”
This was too much. I could stand it no
longer. Again I burst into tears at the very
recollection of that old wrong, added to my
present ones. Wasn’t it bad enough to have
him discover about my gloves, and have lay
aunt go off and leave me in this manner, as
it, seemed at his mercy, without hi-t ?asing
me so terribly.
I snatched the unlucky gloves from his
hand as it lav near mine on the balustrade,
and blinded by my tears and fury, pitched
them right into the branches of a stately or
ange tree that stood near. There they stuck,
white and spectre like among its dark
branches, securely pinned b\ r the thorns.
As he stood before me. deferentially suing
for pardon, but with misebiet lurking in his
eves, how he recalled to my wounded sen
sibibties the Harry of old.
“Really, I had no id-a that I was hurting
your feelings by referring to that ungaliant
conduct of mine, allow me to apologize most
stueerely tor that unlucky circumstance.
But I culd not help referring to it particu
larly after ! had seen some of the detuils so
forcibly revived.”
Here he gla iced mischievously at the
gloves. It was impossible to remain angry
w ith him, so jnitting a brave face upon the
matter, I made Known to him quite meekly
my willingness to be taken safelj' home, i
stepped into the dressing-room, arranged in>-
wraps in the most artiste and becoming
style, wiped away all traces of tears and
toned down my face to correspond with my
queenly attire. What a happy evening it
would have been blit for that unfortunate af
fair of the gloves. But then something
whispered to me if it bad not been for them,
would j'our old intimacy and frien iship have
been as quickly re-established, or would he
have been deputed to take jam home?
But notwi: hstaniling all this, as I passed
them by, hanging so cons, icuouslj' near. 1
could not make up mj" mind to take them.
“Well,” said my tormentor, “as 1 see you
do not want them, l feel privileged to aje
propriate them as a reward for mv search.
Ashe spoke he captured the gloves and
holding them up to the light scrutinized
them closely, then turned and favored me
with as searching a look.
“Do you know l don’t thick that you have
changed much after all in some things, maj'
I hope that in one particular respect your
feelings' remain the same, and that i may !<e
admitted to the old p >sition I u»ed to oceupv
among y ur youthful sweethearts?
What ! answered I know not. From the
subsequent events 1 have conclude.) that it
must have been satisfactory. 1 onljr know
that I was being whirled along the road be
si lo him. I felt d zzv and confused: it may
have b-en the speed at w hich the fiery blacks
<r,iing or the excitement of the evening.
I coufi not tell: I did not then attempt to
analyze it. The low murmuring conversa
tion of nj’companion i hear i,but as if it were
in a dream. The white road, trees and ali,
seemed, bathed in the silvery moonlight, to
have a subduing, quieting effect upon me
after the glare of lights and noises we hid
just left.
The road here, over which we were going
rapidly, for several miles, ran parallel with
the railroad track, from wh ch it was sepai
nted by a thick hedge of w ild roses, while on
the other side, we were pro'ected from the
river by the continuous line of levee.
How long I remained in this semi-dream
ing state 1 cannot tell. I was aroused by a
wnis le—a shriek! The locomotive with i's
fiery lights rushed past us, awakening the
quiet night with its itiscordant velis for miles
as it continued on its pa'h to N. 0.
A plunge—a surging from side to side of
the carriage. The terr tied nor.-es dash
mudly fm ward—now rearing, kicking—leap-
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