Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-07-05

domino, as the clock on her mantel
chimed ten, it seemed to Sophie that
every stroke said: "Stay stay 7"
She was almost tempted to obey it
but she had promised Ellen; and, after
all, she had heard that it was we'll fox
young wives to assert themselves.
An hour later and, on the Count Rel.
zoni's arm. she entered upon the brilliant
scene. So far he had not seemed curl
ous to ascertain her identity. She ex-
pcrienced at this singular sense Of
relief
The ball was at its height when the
clock rang out the hour Of midnight, but
for the first time in her life light and
gaycty were distasteful. A hundred
times she wished herself at home.
II will tell Gerald. 1 have already
been punished" she whispered to her
self, as she stood for moment alone in
qu1et corner.
"lou look more like a nun than
fairy-rather like one who had fore
sworn the vanitics of the world, than a
siren to tempt men to their destruction,
said voice close to her, "though to the
latter l know no one moro fitted"
"Sir T. she exclaimed Indignantly, rec
ognizlng, 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 re-
move badge of recognition"
She followed with ner eyes his down
ward glance, and saw that it rested on
her hand, unglovcd, as in better accord
with the exigencies of her costume
1nvoluntarly she drew it away, with
the ring which had betrayed her.
Denial was useless.
"Sincc yon know me, then," she said,
eve will not further play part. To
the others we are masks, to ourselves VIC
are ourselves"
"Ah, madame" he whispered, "let us
rather say to the world we are ourselves,
to each other we are mask. Can men,
think you, look coldly on such beauty as
you possess? Can---"
Indignant and alarmed, she checked
his further speech by starting forward to
escape him. His hand closed on hers as
in vice. She wrenched it from him,
sprang among crowd of maskers, and
SO made her way to the door.
"Call carriage for me-" she directed.
Ten minutes later she was within her
| own home. 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 ands contrition. The
morning sun, streaming into her room,
awoke her.
With q 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 brand on its soft
white surface. It was all unmarried;
but She looked again-she rubbed
her eyes and lookcd-the color mean
while tiuttering 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 tallsmanic ring.
When and where she had lost it, ant
how could she now find the courage tt
confess all to Gerald? She rose ant
dressed, revolving this problem in he
mind
AT any hour her husband might re
turn. For the first time she dreaded t.
meet hin-d dreaded to look into hi
kindly, handsome eyes and read there al
his incredulous reproach, mingled per
haps with scorn and anger.
The day wore on. Her friend, Mrs
Martin, ran in to scold her for her deser
ton; but her pale face and tremblin!
"And is this oil ?" he questioned bit
terlv, when she had paused.
mo, not ALL" she continued, rails
ing her voice. my confession ha
another witness, who has forced hi
nAtStt pACcSACC oSuAA ufod LAC. l. ~
Count Belzoni is here again, Gerald
As she spoke she drew aside the cur
tain; but the form she expected to dis
close was gone, the open window attest
ing to its flight.
Silently the husband drew a pape
from his pocket, and showed her a pars
:, graph offering a reward for the arrest {
thief and swindler known as the Cour
> Belzoni.
: my darling" he said, my little vii
Q has learned a lesson she will never fo
Get. have known this story all til
! time, but have waited until you came
:, tell it TO me. ! returned the night
&c the ball, 20 take you with me, when
. found you had gone. Imagine what
A. suffered, and my added suffering whel
arriving at the scene OF enjoyUen
u where 7 had followed YOU / discovers