The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-05-03


a voice close to her, Though to the lat
ter l know no one more fitted"
"Sirl" she exclaimed Indignantly, Ie-
cognizing, ss she spoke, the count stand
ing at her elbow.
"Ah, you thought did not know
you. 1 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, ungloved, as In better accord
with the exigencies of her costume.
Involuntarily she drew it away, with
the ring which had betrayed her.
Denial was useless.
"Since you know me, then," she
said, tive will not further play part.
To the others we are masks; to ourselves
we are ourselves"
"Ah, madame" he whispered, "let
us rather say to the world we are our
selves, to each other we are a mask.
Can men, think you, look coldly on
uch beauty as you possessp Can"
Indignant and alarmed, she checked
his further speech by starting forward
to escape him. His hand closed on hers
as in a vice. She wrenched it from
him, sprang among a crowd Of maskers,
and 80 made her way to the door.
"Call a carriage for me, " she direc-
ted.
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 and contrition. The
morning sun, streaming into her room,
awoke her.
With 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 its
soft white surface. 1t was all unmar-
red; but She looked again-she rub
bed her eyes and looked-the color
meanwhile fluttering out of her cheeks,
and her pale lips quiyering, as if her
heart seemed to stand still in a sudden
agony of fear; for from the third finger
was missing the talismanic ring.
When and where had she lost it, and
} how could she now find the courage to
confess all to Gerald2 She rose and
: dressed, revolving this problem In her
5 minds.
At any hour her husband might re-
/ turn. For the first time she dreaded t
l meet him-dreaded to look into hi
kindly, handsome eyes and read there
: all his incredulous reproach, mingled
D perhaps 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 trembling
y tones made good her plea of sudden ill
4 ness.
AT nightfall Gerald arrived. Sh
: threw herself into his arms in q burs
i Of nervous weeping; but when he won
n deringly asked its cause, her courag
> failed her.
Why was it she never imagined tina
|. he might look stern until to.daYp
d A week passed, when one evening
7, sitting In the twilight, step sounde,
s. close beside. She looked up to di scove
the count.
o 'Pardonl" he began, in answer t
d her indignant, questioning look. "Wh
81 must you be so cruelp May not nov
r see youP"
"Sir, command you to leave me.
L am now under the protection of m
own roof"
n He was about to answer, when
~ latch key was heard inserted in the out
side door.
In an instant he had sprung int
g some place Of concealment, but the fac
L that he was near lent to the young wifi
y sudden courage, born of the moment
5, desperation. Her husband, entering
II approached her, but she motioned hir
back.
s. "Gerald," she said, ''I have bite
confession to make. 1t If fitting yo
B. should hear it now."
He listened, with arms folded acros
l. his breast, while she told him all tn
y story of that fated night.
s. Sand is this alp" he questioned bit
terly, when she had paused,
70 "No, not all, q" she continued, raising
ID her voice. "My confession has anothe
r; witness, who has forced his hate
f. presence again upon me. The Coun
70 Belzoni is here again, Gerald.
AS she spoke she drew aside the cul
er tain; but the form she expected to dis
le close was gone, the open window attest
IN ing to its flight.
Is Silently the husband drew a pape
W from his pocket, and showed her
G paragraph Offering reward for I'll
In arrest of thief and swindler know
9, as the Count Belzoni.
10 "My darling" he said, "my littl
wife has learned lesson she will new
er forget. have known this story all I'll
u time, but have waited until you can
Se to tell it to me. 1 returned Il
81 night of the ball, to take you with m
at when found you had gone. Imagii
what L suffered, and my added suffe
lt, ing when, arriving at the scene of e
CT ioyment, where 1 had followed you,
OF discovered who was your companio
1 stood near you, and heard the wor
ell he addressed to you-heard with joyf
IL neart your answer; saw you wrenc
en- your hands from his hold, and also sa
m what you did not, the sparkle of Il