Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-06-03

II
all, she had heard that it was well for
young wives 10 assert thems' Ives.
An hour later, und, on Count BelZO-
nj = arm. she entered upon tue brilliant
scene. So far lie had not even seemed
curious tn ascertain her identity. She
experienced at this singular sense of
relief.
The ball was at its height as the
clock rang ont the honr of midnight; !;
bnt, for the first time in her life, light
and gayety were distastefni. A hun
dred times she wished herself at hope
Il will tell Gerald. have already
been punished, she whispered to her
self, AS she stood for a moment alone il
quiet corner.
lyon lcoK more like nun than n
fsiry--ratler like one who had fore
sworn the vanities Of the world than
siren to tempt meu to their Gestruc-
ticn. said voice close to her, though
to the latter know DO one more fitted
"Sir." she exclaimed, indignantly,
recoenizing as she spoke the count
standing at her elbow.
"Ah. you thought did not know
you. | should penetrate any disguise
you wore. Besides, you have forgotten
to remove badge Of recognition.
She followed With her eyes his down
, ward glance, and saw that it rested on
her hand, uDgloved, "a in better accord
with the exigencies of her costume.
Involuutariiy she drew it away, with
the ring which had betrayed her.
Denial was useless.
"Siuce you know me. then, eEe
said, Eve will no further play part.
TO others We are masks: to ourselves,
We are ourselves"
"Ah. madame" be whispered, {" let
us rather say to the world We are our
selves, to each other We are mask.
Can men, think you, look coldly on such
beauty as you possess? Can"
Indignant and alarmed, she checke d
his further speech by starting forward
TO escape him. His hand closed on hers
as in q wise. She wrenched it from
bim, sprang among crowd of maskers,
and so made her way to the door.
"Call carriage for me-" she di-
rected.
Ten minutes later sine was within her
own house. Her first impulse was to
tear off the hated costume which had
caused her such trouble; her next to
throw herself on the bed and sob out
her excitement and ccntrition. The
morning sun, streaming in her room,
awoke her.
With a shudder she remembered the
events Of the past night. She looked
down at her hand-the hand which had
been polluted by another's touch-as
though in some way she expected to
find the contamination branded on the
soft, white surface. Ii was all un-
marred; but-she looked again she
looked away and back-she rubbed
her eyes and looked-the color, mean,
while, fiuttering out Of her cheeks and
her pale lips quivering, as if her heart
seemed to stand still in sudden agony
of fear. for from the third finger was
missing the talismanic ring.
When ard where had she lost it, and
how could she now fiud the courage 10
confess all to Gerald? She rose and
dressed, revolving aud re-ievolving this
problem in her mind.
At apy hour her husband might re,
turn. For the first time she dreaded to
meet him-dreaded to look into the
kindly, handsome eyes, and read there
all his incredulous reprOach. mingled,
perhaps, with scorn and anger.
The day wore on. Her friend, Mrs.
Martin, ran in to scold her for her de-
sertioD but her pale face and trembling
tones made good her plea for sudden
illness.
At nightfall Gerald arrived. She
threw herself in his arms, in burst OF
pervous weeping; but when he wonder.
inely asked it's cause. her courage failed
her.
Why was it she never imagined that
he might look stern until to-day?
A week passed, when one evening
sitting in the twilight, step sounded
close beside. She looked up to discover
the count.
"Pardop!" he began, in answer to
her indignant, questioning look; why
must you be SO cruel? May now see
you?"
"Sir, command you to leave me.
am now under the protection of my
own roof"
He was about to answer, when @
lstch-key was heard inserted in the out
81 le door.
In an instant he had sprung into
some place of concenlment, but the
fact that he was near lent to the young
wife q sudden courage. born Of the
moments desperation. Her husband,
entering, approached her, but she mo
toned him back.
"Gerald," she said, =" have bitter
confession to make. 1t is fitting you
should hear it now"
He listened, with arms folded across
his breast. while she told him all the
story of that fated night.
"And this is ALP" he questioned,
bitterly, when she had paused.
"No, not all" she continued, raising
her voice.
MY confession has another witness,
who has forced his hated presence again
upon me. The Count Belor ri is here
again, Gerald"
tain; but the form she expected to dis
close was gone, the opening window at
testing to its flight.
Silently the husband drew paper
from his pocket and showed her a par.
agraph Offering q reward for the arrest
of thief and swindler known as Count
Belonzj.
My darling" he said, "my little
wife has learned good lesson that she
will never forget. 1 have known this
story ell the time, but have waited until
you came to tell it to me. 1 returned
the Eight of the ball to take you with
me, when found you had gone. I'm
agine what I suffered and my added
suffering. when, arriving at the scene OF
eijoyment. where 1 followed you, !
discovered who was Your companion.
| stood near you and heard the words
he addressed to you; heard with joyful
heart your answer; saw you wrench
your hand from his hold. and also ga u
what you did not, the sparkle of the
ring he drew from your finger. Poor
little girl! I watched you hast n
through the crowd. and knew that you