The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-03-15

after all. sine had heard that il WIS
well tor young wives Ia assert ihvI,-
selves.
An hour later. and, on the Count
B,izoni's arm. she entered upon the
brilliant Scene. ~ far, he hal net
even seemed curious IN ascertain her
identity. She experienced a. this a
sicular sense Of relief.
| The ball was 1T its height as the
clock rang out the hour Of midnight /;
bet tor the first time in her life light
and gayety were distasteiul. 4 hun
dred times sne wished herself 1T
nome.
II will tell Gerald l have already
been punished" she whispered to her
self. rs she stood for u moment alone
in a quiet corner.
"fou look more like nun than a
iairy-rather like one who had fore
sworn the vanitIes Of the world. tbsn
siren to temnt men to their destruc-
tion," said a voice close TO her,
Though to the latter l know 10 one
more fitted"
''Sir !" she exclaimed. indignantly,
recognizing, as she spoke, the count
standing at her elbow.
"Ab, you thought | did not know
you. ] should penetrate any Dis
guise you wore. Besides, you have
forgotten To remove badge OF
recognition"
She followed with her eyes his
downward glance. and saw that it
rested on Ter hand, upgloved, As in
better accord with the exigencies Of
her costume.
Involunt.rily she drew it array.
with the ring which had betrayed
her.
Denial was useless.
"Since you you know me, then,
she said, eve will not further play a
part. To the others We are iassks
to ourselves We are ourselves.
"Ah, madame he whispered.
let Us rather say to the world We are
ourselves, to each other mask. Can
men, think you, lcok coldly on such
beauty a. you passes? CAN
Indignant and alarmed, she checked
his further speech by starting forward
To escape him. Ills hand ciH-esi on
hers as in a wise. She wrenched it
from him, sprang among crowd Of
maskers, and SD made her way To the
door.
Gall carriage for me- she d.
rec,,d.
Ten minutes later she was within
her own home. Her frs; impulse was
to tear of; the hated Costume which
had caused her such trouble. the next
to throw herself on the bed and sob
out her excitement and contriiion. |
The morning sun, streaming into her
room, awoke her.
With a shu,ider, she remembered
the events Of the last Uight. She
i,Dked down at her hand-,he hand
which had been polluted by aIothers
iouch--us though in some way she ex-
ptttCu ~ Hsiu tuc COMMUNICATION
branded on It's soft white surface. Ii
wss all unmarried: but-she looked
away aud back-she rubbed her eyes
and loOked--tiie color meanwhile hut-
:ering out of her checks. ard her pale
lips quivering, as If her heart seemed
to stand still In q sudden agonv of
fear for from the third finger was
missing the talisn,anic ring.
When and where had she lnst il,
and how could she now find the
courage to confess all tn Gerald,
Size rose and dressed, revolving and
re-revolving this problem in her mind.
At any hour her husband might
return. For the first time she dreaded
10 l,ok into his kindly. handsome ewes.
and read there all his incredulous re-
proacf. mingled perhaps with scorn
and anger.
The day wore on. Her friend. Mrs.
Martin. ran in to scold her for her de-
sertion ; but her pale face and trembling
tones made good her plea Of sudden
illness.
AT nightfall Gerald arrived. She
threw herself in his arms. in a burst
o. nervous weeping: but when he
wonderingly asked its cause, her
courage failed her.
Why was il she had never imagined
that be might LOOK stern until to-day
A week passed, when one evening.
sitting in the twilight. a step sounded
close beside. She looked up to discover
The count.
Pardon he began. in answer to
her indignant, questioning look; "why
must YOU be so cruel? May l no: now
zee you?'
"Sir, / command you to leave me.
am now under the protection Of my
,wn roof"
He Was about to answer, when a
a:ch kew was heard inserted in the
outside door.
In an instant he had sprung into
ome place Of concealment. bat the
act that he was near lent 10 the Young I
sife sudden courage, horn of the :
desperation. Her husband. :
approached her, but she
nofionsA him hack.
Gerald" she said, 81 have a bit. .
or confession to make. Ii is fitting
'ou Should hear it now"
He listened, with arms folded
cross his breast. while she told him
he story OF that fated night.
"And is this all?' he questioned
utterly, when sire had paired.
mo. d.; ali. she continued, mis-
NJ her voice. MY confession has
mother witness, who has forced his
sted presence again upon me The
cunt Belzoni is here again, Gerald"
As she spoke she drew aside the
urtain; but the form she expected
D disclose was gone, the open window