The Argosy — page 189: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

174 Fack’s Nuece. Several weeks passed very pleasantly at Feltham. Alice Denf and Daisy had many things to talk of, old jokes to laugh over, old friends to discuss. Once or twice Daisy felt half tempted tc tell her friend of her dreadful mistake at Overbridge, but her courage always failed. The memory of it still made her feel miserable, anc even in-the privacy of her own room brought hot blushes to he: cheeks. Mrs. Dene was delighted to have an opportunity of showing her new home to an old friend, and they rode and drove about to gether, and, as the neighbourhood was a sociable one, there were luncheon and dinner-parties to vary the monotony. ‘There was als; the County Ball to look forward to, when all the houses round woul pe filled for the occasion. Mrs. Dene had collected a large anc merry party of ‘‘ young men and maidens,” and felt that her prett friend would certainly be one of the belles of the ball. When the night of the ball arrived, Daisy could not bring herse] to wear again the white dress she had worn at Overbridge—it woul be too painful, she felt ; so she chose a very pale pink, which was a’ most equally becoming. In a very short time after entering the bal room her card was nearly filled ; the men of the house-party all begge for dances, and Daisy was feeling most bright and happy, when suc denly she saw a sight that covered her face with blushes, and almo: brought tears to her eyes. It was only a tall, good-looking, soldierly young man, but her co; — fusion was great as she recognised ‘‘ Uncle Jack”—no—“ Capta’ Kerr.” She hurriedly looked for Mrs. Dene to beg to be allowed ‘ go home—a sudden “headache,” any plea would do, by which st might effect her escape ; but nowhere could she see Alice. She fe — miserable, wretched, wished the floor would open and swallow hg ‘‘T hope he won’t see me,” she thought—but at that mome Jack Kerr turned and saw her. A bright smile of recogniti¢ lighted up his pleasant face, and, before she could escape, Capta | Kerr stood in front of her. “May I have a dance?” he asked, and without waiting for ‘ answer, took her card and wrote in the first vacant space one word ** Jack ”—-then bowed and moved on. Daisy felt that now escape was impossible. She danced ea } dance, but as the one for which “Jack” had written his nar’ approached, she became more and more silent and nervous, till I’ partners wondered why Miss Douglas was so absent and pre-occupit: When Captain Kerr’s dance began, he silently offered her his ar, They joined at once the throng of valsers, and Daisy could not hi) enjoying the real pleasure of .a good valse to charming music with)! c e 0 (2 partner whose step suited hers perfectly. At the close of the dar? 4 Jack led her into a conservatory. ‘Now let us have a talk,” he said. First he asked her to ‘| him all she had been doing since they met, then gave her new! the Allartons, etc. Jack talked so naturally and calmly, that Dai's CORMGCOOOKSaKefe) 11m