trying to understand her. He looked confused. Then, as if to
persuade her through what he perceived to be of interest to all
women, he changed the subject to shopping.
“How you can stand such an uncivilized world
is beyond me!” he exclaimed. “They don’t have the shopping stores
and the social life we have here. If you marry me, I’ll buy you
whatever your little heart desires.”
Melinda shook her head. “I can’t. I don’t
love you, James. I told you that before I left.”
The carriage stopped in front of her home
and James once again put his hand out to help her out of the
carriage. Then he smiled and said, “Well, I still have a week to
convince you until you go back.”
Melinda grinned and decided to forgive his
inability to understand her. “You’re incorrigible, James.”
“I know. And I’m not giving up until you’re
on that train heading west.”
Melinda smiled as he took her hand and led her
to the front door.
Chapter 15
THE NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
The rest of the week went by much more
quickly than she realized, and before she knew it Melinda was
packing to leave for the West. After she packed, she hurriedly
dressed for the New Year’s Eve party. She was happier than usual
that evening, not for the fact that she was going to the dance, but
because she was returning to her second home in the morning.
As she walked down the stairs, James was
waiting. He gave her a hug and said, “Melinda, you look lovely.
I’ll be the envy of every gentleman tonight.”
He escorted her to the carriage and they talked all
the way to the dance. As they entered the party, Melinda saw a few
of her friends and they had a brief visit before James escorted her
onto the dance floor. She spent most of the dances that night with
James and several friends whom she had not seen for months before
she stopped to rest.
While conversing with her friends, one young
woman inquired with derisive laughter, “Well, what’s the Wild West
like, Melinda? How can you stand being away from society that
long?”
Melinda did not comment because the rest of
her friends roared in laughter. Nothing she could say would make
her friends understand the peace and tranquility she felt among the
mountains and the countryside.
Melinda looked around at everyone. The room
was a clamor of noise and the people were bustling about. Women
were flirtatious with anyone who noticed. Men responded with
insincerity. Both men and women had drinks in their hands and acted
as if there were no tomorrow and they didn’t care about anything
but the moment. And especially on this night, fidelity and respect
did not seem important to anyone. To these people, money was
important. Women sat around admiring one another’s dress and waving
their fans in the air with feigned sophistication, batting their
eyes at anyone who was male.
There was such worldliness in the air and it
bothered Melinda. She neither smoked nor drank and she had high
standards—among them, fidelity towards one’s spouse. These beliefs
were part of her upbringing and religion and she practiced them
faithfully.
When the New Year’s chimes rang, they all cheered
and threw their hats in the air and blew their horns while music
played on stage. James grabbed Melinda and kissed her. “Happy New
Year, sweetheart.” Then he went down the line kissing a few more
friends in a most jovial manner.
Melinda felt numb from all the cacophony of
noise in the room. She felt out of place. She had been to New
Year’s Eve parties before, so why was this year so different to
her? As she stood in thought, she wondered how those in Bear Lake
were celebrating. Her thoughts began to stray to Uncle William and
Aunt Martha and she wondered how they celebrated the New Year. Then
her mind wandered to Gilbert and Jenny and she wondered how they
were celebrating.
Meanwhile, back in Bear Lake Valley, Gilbert
and Jenny celebrated a little differently. They sat together at the
table playing checkers and
persuade her through what he perceived to be of interest to all
women, he changed the subject to shopping.
“How you can stand such an uncivilized world
is beyond me!” he exclaimed. “They don’t have the shopping stores
and the social life we have here. If you marry me, I’ll buy you
whatever your little heart desires.”
Melinda shook her head. “I can’t. I don’t
love you, James. I told you that before I left.”
The carriage stopped in front of her home
and James once again put his hand out to help her out of the
carriage. Then he smiled and said, “Well, I still have a week to
convince you until you go back.”
Melinda grinned and decided to forgive his
inability to understand her. “You’re incorrigible, James.”
“I know. And I’m not giving up until you’re
on that train heading west.”
Melinda smiled as he took her hand and led her
to the front door.
Chapter 15
THE NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
The rest of the week went by much more
quickly than she realized, and before she knew it Melinda was
packing to leave for the West. After she packed, she hurriedly
dressed for the New Year’s Eve party. She was happier than usual
that evening, not for the fact that she was going to the dance, but
because she was returning to her second home in the morning.
As she walked down the stairs, James was
waiting. He gave her a hug and said, “Melinda, you look lovely.
I’ll be the envy of every gentleman tonight.”
He escorted her to the carriage and they talked all
the way to the dance. As they entered the party, Melinda saw a few
of her friends and they had a brief visit before James escorted her
onto the dance floor. She spent most of the dances that night with
James and several friends whom she had not seen for months before
she stopped to rest.
While conversing with her friends, one young
woman inquired with derisive laughter, “Well, what’s the Wild West
like, Melinda? How can you stand being away from society that
long?”
Melinda did not comment because the rest of
her friends roared in laughter. Nothing she could say would make
her friends understand the peace and tranquility she felt among the
mountains and the countryside.
Melinda looked around at everyone. The room
was a clamor of noise and the people were bustling about. Women
were flirtatious with anyone who noticed. Men responded with
insincerity. Both men and women had drinks in their hands and acted
as if there were no tomorrow and they didn’t care about anything
but the moment. And especially on this night, fidelity and respect
did not seem important to anyone. To these people, money was
important. Women sat around admiring one another’s dress and waving
their fans in the air with feigned sophistication, batting their
eyes at anyone who was male.
There was such worldliness in the air and it
bothered Melinda. She neither smoked nor drank and she had high
standards—among them, fidelity towards one’s spouse. These beliefs
were part of her upbringing and religion and she practiced them
faithfully.
When the New Year’s chimes rang, they all cheered
and threw their hats in the air and blew their horns while music
played on stage. James grabbed Melinda and kissed her. “Happy New
Year, sweetheart.” Then he went down the line kissing a few more
friends in a most jovial manner.
Melinda felt numb from all the cacophony of
noise in the room. She felt out of place. She had been to New
Year’s Eve parties before, so why was this year so different to
her? As she stood in thought, she wondered how those in Bear Lake
were celebrating. Her thoughts began to stray to Uncle William and
Aunt Martha and she wondered how they celebrated the New Year. Then
her mind wandered to Gilbert and Jenny and she wondered how they
were celebrating.
Meanwhile, back in Bear Lake Valley, Gilbert
and Jenny celebrated a little differently. They sat together at the
table playing checkers and
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