The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-04-12

rirs-a gold band aet with five large dia.
monds. TEhIs
1t had been her charm, her taisman,
not to be taken from her finger until soul
and body had parted; bu. this morning IL
had lost lis charm. II II failed to scatter
the clouds, it failed TO bring back the aun.
shine. .-.-.-r
Even when the hour came round for
Gerald's home coming be missed The rgua!
warm welcome but he thought he might
lrust his wifu'g heart, and said nothing,
The next day he started on his journey.
YOU'RE no. going my dear?' exclaimed
Mrs. Marlin, bursting III upon her friend
on the morning OF the ball. "And why
moi p e-
Gerald is away" replied Mrs. Sinclair,
With some little show OF wifely dignity, IS
though the Tact were in itself sufficient ex.
PLANTATION. So
"And why neSd tiat make shy differ.
ency pursued Mira. Martin, a bewi!chinp
little widow some few years her aenicr. II
will share my pgcort with YOU"
Sophie Sinclair looked up amszed Shr
knew that the nan mentioned had bu,
lately gaiuedieutree into society, and knew
also that her husband disliEed land dis.
trusted him.
Once or twice she had seen his eye fixed
sdmiringly upon hsresY, and had i,lt
somewhat as the bird might feel beneath
the hasi!isk glare Of the serpent.
"Wel!, why don't you answer" con.
tinued Mrs. Martin. "Wlll you go?'
No, no. che replied, trying to speak
with firm decision. "Besidss. / do mt
think that Ge.ald admires the Count"
PRE- JUDGE, my dear, al. prejudice. The
Count is ono Of the most charming men |
know. Indeed, l think l should be canon
lz'd for my Willingness TO share his at:en.
tions, especially as have heard him say all
manner Of pretty things ahopt' you."
"Noneeuse, Ellen" re,orled Mrs. Sin
c'air.
But she f.lt the ground slipping beneath
her feet as she spoke.
Alter all, Gerald had not said positively
no! Hadhe thought it Eecesfasy after he
mad openly expressed his disapprobstion
Of her going?
lie had no. known that she would be
S, sorely tempted. Besdee, she would
wear a mask. No one would know her,
and when eto!d Gerald he would for.
give her. A sudden thought came 10 her.
II will 60" che said at Last, after cor
tinued u,giDg, and looking at tho picture
in all i,s brigl t:st lights. "cr one condi.
ton, and that liz that no one ia TO know ME
not even the count. Say that you uaye
persuaded a friend to accompany you, who
wishes to remain unknown. Twill come
10 your house, where he will find me, and
thus gain no cleS." H-5
So it was decided; but, in spite Of her ex-
quiste costume Of fairy as she conc. al, d
it and herself beneath u largs domino, as
the clock of her mautel chined ten it
seemed to Sophie that every stroke said !;
"Stay stay!' 'Ef eN
She was almost tempted to obey it, but
she had promised Ellen; and after ali, she
had heard that it was well for young wivss
10 assert themselves.
An hour later, and, on the Count Belz,.
mis- am, she entered upon the btilliau,
scene. So far he had not seemed curious
to ASCERTAIN her ideality. She experienced
at this singular sense Of relief.
The bsll WAS at its height IS the clock
rang out the hour OF midnight, but Tor The
first time in he. life ligh! and gayety were
dis,asteiul. A hundred times she wished
herself at hcm..
N will tel! Gerald. have already been
punished" she Whispered 10 herself as she
stood for moment alsnein qpiet corner.
/ You look more like nun Than fairy
rather like one who had foresworn the
vanities Of the world than siren to tempt
men 10 their destruction" slid voice
close to her, though to the latter know
no one more fitted"
"sil!" she exclaimed, it, dignantly, rec.
ognizing, rs che spoke, the Coun. standing
at her elbow. .
"Al !! you thought did not know You. I
should penetrate any Disguise you wore.
Besides you have forgotten 10 remove II
badge Of recognition"
She followed " i.h her eyes histlownward
glance, and saw that it rested on her hand,
upgloveJ, rs in better accord with the ex.
ieencies OF her costume.
Involuntarily she drew i. away, with the
ring which had be!ray ed her.
Denial was useless
"Sirce you know me, then" shs said 1--WE
will not further play part To the others
We are masks To ourselves We are cur.
selves" 81. 5l .H'l,l,.
"Ah, madame" no whispered, "let us
rather say to the world We arc ourselves, 10
each other We are masks. Can men, think
you, look coldly GU such beauty as y II
posseRt? Cap" ~.
/ Indignant and alarmed she checked his
further speech by starting forward to es
caps him. His hand closed on here az in
q wise. She wrenched it from him, apraug
around crowd maskars, aad so made
her way to the door.
Call a carriage Tor lne, abe directed.
Ten minutes later she was within her
own home. Her first impulse wa, to.tear
off tho hated costume which had caused
her such trouble; .htr next 10 throw herself
OH the bed and sob nut her excitement and
coutrition. The morning sun, s!resuiug
into her room, nwoke her.
With q shudder she remembered the
events OF the past night. Sho lookel do s
ut her hand, the hand which had baeu DO
lu,ed by ano!her's touching thou,h ID
ZONE way she expected to find. tbs con
tanination branded on It's soft white eur
face. Il wss all unmarried, but Sh,
looked again, she rubbed her ewes auf
looked, the color meanwhile latt.rinc GU
oil her cheeka, and her pale lips auiyetipr
as il her heart seemed to stand III in :,
sudden agony Of fear, for from the third
finger was missing the talismanic ring
When and where had abe lost il? sn,
how could she find the courage to COMES
all to Gerald? She rose and dressed ~
yolvng this problem in her mind. :
AT my hour her husband might return
For tho trs. time she dreaded to meet hin
dreaded to look into his kindly, hand
some eyes and read there all his ircre,;r
} lous reproach, mingled, perhaps, vii,
scorn aud anger. I.t.
4 The day wore on. Her friend, Mrs. Ma,