Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-11-24
CHAPTER III.

So the week slipped by, and the mo-
mentous night came, and before d
long mirror in her dressing-room, stood
a fair girl, dressed as Italia Rookh, u
IN rose-colored satin and pearls.
Never was there any one half SO
charming, thought Sidney Dalton, as
he sat by her side in the carriage.
What pity you have to wear a
mask" he said, as they entered the
ballroom.
II feel more comfortable behind it, .
she replied, "fOr | think [ had better
not have come"
At this moment Clara was seen in
the garb of a Nun" advancing through
the crowd on the arm of gentleman
disguised as q Prince" What was ii
that made Lille involuntarily shiver as
the stranger addressed her through his
mask and claimed her hand for the
next dance. She could not tell, but
something in the tone of his voice
seemed strangely familiar. But the
music has begun, and Lille is whirled
through the waltz by the prince, ,
and then Sidney claims her, and while
dancing with him, she asks who hel
former partner could be, but he does
not know, and some time passes until
supper is announced, and the masked
Prince approaches to lead her in. She
cannot shake off a strange misgiving,
and her com paniOn seems stern and
silent. Clara is very quiet, too, as she
leans on the arm of Sidney Dalton.
"What is your name, may I ask?'
said Lille, to her companion. "Youl
voice is like that of an intimate friend
Of mine; should think it was really
he, but that he sailed for Europe a
week ago."
GAS we unmask in the supper-room
few minutes will show you who | am
you also remind me of my dearest
friend and were it not that she could
not and would not possibly be here, !
should fancy you were She"
Il wish [ had not come! said Lille
''fOr [ ought not to be here"
off you have not left duty at home,
should think one so bright would enjoy
such a scene," answered her compan-
ion, and as they paused at the door Of
the conservatory, and looked back
through the long suite of rooms, lit by
electricity, adorned with flowers and
scented with fountains Of perfumed
water, while crowds of masked figures
in all kinds of gorgeous costumes,
made the scene like fairy-land, the gay
scene was one well calculated to please
a young girl not yet satiated with life.
But this gorgeous scene failed to
charm. Lille was sad, and the prince
inclined to moralize.
81 dare say there are as many
masked purposes as masked faces here
tonight" he remarked. "It came
with purpose: life is a masked bali,
full of deceit and unreality, but we
have reached the supper room.
The signal is now given, the masks
fall off, and Lille faints in the arms of
the prince" He starts back with sur
prise and grief on his face, but recov-
ering himself, carries her to the near
est balcony window, and the same
moon looks down on the lovers that
heard their parting VOWS, and the man
in the moon laughed again IN the same
unfeeling way.
A few minutes later, AMI Lille quite
recovered, was seated beside her lover
ina carriage, with Sidney Dalton and
Clara opposite. Mutual explanations
followed. Charlie told how he had at
the last moment received a telegram
from his father, saving that lis wife
was sick, so he would go himself, and
leave his son to attend to the business
in his absence, and how the desire to
prove his Lilies fidelity had induced
him to wait for the ball and see for
himself if she kept her promise, and
how Clara had eagerly fostered his
whim, and thus proved herself false
friend to Lille, by urging her to go to
the ball, when she knew Charlie would
be there
Poor Clara sat in the corner of the
carriage conscience-stricken; it was all
terribly true she had urged Lille to go
to the ball, in order that Charlie might
lose faith in her, and perhaps transfer
his affections to herself, which was the
result she most ardently desired, for
she had loved Charlie ever since they
first met, some five years ago, but in
vain. All her fattery was lost upon
him, and now this last trial to win his
love was a failure.
Sidney Dalton was devoted to Clara,
and although she did not return his af-
lection, to be thus humbled before him
was deadful to the girls proud spirit,
so after the explanation, there was
silence for a few minutes. Then Lii