The daily gazette., 1881-12-24
Hereward we're, OF course, among the
invited guests,

haIIeQulnade.
He merely covered his usual evening
DR. IS With ar inscfutab'e black domino
OF fine cashmere, and his handsome face
with black ma, Of fine velvet.
Shelby some subtle sympathy dlvIn
ing his thoughts and Intentions on the
subjec.-also eschewed the queens, gip-
sies, peasants, Duns, and nights and
mornings, into which the ladle. would
try to transform themselves for one
evening only, aud over her dress she
wore white silk domino, and over
her fair face white mask Of satin and
lace.
Neither had received any intimation
Of The others disguise, yet the same sub
tie sympathy which had directed their
costume for the evening brought them
together through tine immense crowd OF
maskers that filled all the reception
rooms, dancing rooms, supper rooms,
and cOnserva oTies, and overi1owed iiItO
the halls, balconies, piszzis, aud even
into the glass rooted wiuter garden Oh
the grounds.
Dazzling light and deafening music
were streaming through every window
OF the crowded mansion When the Black
Domino, our hero, passed out of the con
seryatory, entered the wlpler garden ,ane
looked about hiu.
moonshne pouring In through the 81 ass
roof flooded the wonderful, beautiful
scene with a soft, bright raiianee.
The Black Domino stood peerine
down the lovely walks, boidered With
evergreens and hardly roses in full
bloom. His eyes were searching for the
"swan," as he mentally called a lovely,
white form whom he had been wa ching
all the evening, and whom he had seen
glide through the crowded room out OF
the house, ard n the direction oil the
winteT garden.
He had followed her slowly and with
difficulty, for he could not slip through
q "jam" as easily as she had done.
Now, In this freer space and purer air,
he hoped TO hnd her.
But she was nowhere TO be seen.
There seemed to be no one In the gar
deD.
Nevertheless, he walked down be-
tween the hedges Of blooming roses un
I'll be saw,in corner Of the rear hedge,
an sbor OF climbing roses, in the midst
of which his eyes caught CLEAN OF sill
very raiment.
He hastened directly to the spot,
and found her there.
She was reclining on the rustic seat,
and had taken off her mask for air,
revealing the fair, proG3 face Of Leda
Won Kirscdberg.
He had not expected this revelation
of her identity, and he felt that his pres
enee at this moment might be consid-
cred an ipexcusable intrusion upon The
privacy Of the lady.
"Leds," he said, deprecaringly, al
he stood before her and removed his
own mask, "please TO pardon my in-
| discretion, but l have been trying to
make an opportunity for speaking with
YOU all the evening-in facr, all the
day-but have not succeeded even in
| seeing you until tonight"
"Iudor, sit down here for little
while. The rooms were 80 warm and
the crowds 80 dense that l felt like
suffocating 80 came out here to un-
mask and inhale breath of fresh all" "
she said, as she smilingly made room
| Tor him Deslue ner.
81 am very glad you did so, l pre-.
sumed to follow you. Do you for
give me for my presumption ?" he
INQUIRED, as he bowed and took the
offered seat.
"That depends" she answered
archly. GLOW could you know me,to
follow me? Or were you, perhaps
following an unkn0Un white doMln'
that had caught your fitting fan
oy?n .,,
allow could l know you ~ he re-
peated, gravely, taking her hand ane
| liking his eyes on her lovely face
CHOW could l know you by th'
same simple, universal law of nature
Though which know my elf-for 20,
are nv sweeler, purer, higher self
Leds, my queen, do you imagine tha
any disguise could hide You from my
knowledgef My heart would Away
recognize you, Leda y
ooh. Mr.. Hereward ~ she mur
INJURED in low, distressed tone, who's,
: meaning he could not have perceived
for he went on TO pleai.
"I have been seeking you for man!
! hours, my love, my queen Not u
: tall Won in set speech that which IN.
whole life in your dear presence ha
been telling you ever since we 1irs
, met. and in that metting recognizes
each otberl All, lady mine ! Eve
since that sacred moment OF meeting
, and mutual recognition, ! nave pee
. tempted to believe in the old heathel
) myth. that man and woman wer
: originally one being but that Jove,
] a rage clef. them IN two' leaving w
D halves TO seek each other sorfowin
] through all the ages 10 seek ID val
-as we see by all the m sma'ched c't
{ nles in this lower world-except !
z such happy cases as ours ior, s~et
D ,ady. have found my cpmple'ion
YOU and you yours in me. And "
u know 1t now u
v ooh. Mr.. HerewaId ~ she moane'
d In an almost inaudible Tone
!. "Thns, dear Leda, have not iol
% lowed you here to tell you that wnlc
you feel and know 80 well, but only
y ask your permission to speak, az one y
d to your good father and invoke u
70 blessing on our betrolhal. But eVt
1t this scarcely need to mention-i'
" surely | know l have your saheti'
10 tor it."
10 "Oh, Mr.. Hereward ! Pray, pray
not talk to me in this manner !
,e moaued, in agitation, as she witsdre re
,e her hand from his fond clasp and co
I'd cred her white face. :,
IN He gazed on her in surprise ana anu = =