The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-08

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convinced her of it.
/ Cecil stepped forward scarcely da
= ing to allow herself to speak, fearin
mutual recognition. Should she as
disguise assume a deep masculine ton
, of voice, or one squeaky suggestive r
. Illumination like asmatic Professo
! Megs.
II have danced but little" Gee
said, "and if an Indifferent partne
will not be Objectionable, will"
81 am not proficient in that sort O
thing myself so there is little to fea
on either side," he said, leading Ceci
out upon the floor.
81 see some fine costumes display
ed tonight" Mr.. Pepperton said il
his familiar, jerky way, which wa
habitual, but as Mr. Pepperton was al
admirer of attractive habiliment.
rather than personal beauty or clever
ness, Cecil did not wonder at the re
mark.
''As well as fine figures" Cecil re-
sponded choosing the asmatic tone OF
voice, not from choice perhaps, but
rather from lack of time to gather
up her strength for deeper tone,
CHANGING as she spoke at the two head
couple who were going through the
form of forwarding. The first lady,
from her enormous proportions, and
who wore the costume of fairy queen,
Cecil felt certain was none other than
Mrs. Goldberg, her Aunt Maria's
especial aversion on account of her
superior wealth. She was sure of il
now as she caught the familiar hoarse
wheeze as that lady broke into sort
of jog-trot, quite as unconscious of
time-keeping as her opposite gentle
man was that both of his feet were
turned directly inward, as he wove the
intricate masses of the dance.
Cecls partner regarded her curious
ly through the Sits in his mask, then
drew himself together as if offended.
Yet she heard him laugh.
She felt her face grow red beneath
her disguise. She always had the
faculty of offending Mr.. Pepperton,
and now she vaguely wondered why
he did not recognize her; but he failed
to do so; and when the dance came to
an end, and she lost sight of the Prus-
sian officer, whom she thought no
doubt had gone in search of partner
whose knowledge of gaily-tinted fab
RIGS was more complete than her own. |
She again came upon her Uncle Pat
tington sitting among the spectators
with Aunt Maria beside him, who was
tanning her heated face vigorously.
Cecil moved away. How angry she
would be she thought if she knew that
ler young niece whom she had been
wont to regard with cold indifference
vas there not fifty rods away from her
md decked in expensive lace and dia-
nonds, and that very niece was happy,
Vi, so happy. While she stood think
ng it all over again the band struck
Up q waltz. She adored waltzing; to
Ter eager, restless feet the quadrille
eemed slow and dragging.
Was there no one to ask her to Join
n this dance? How few there would
e before the hour arrived for her de-
arturo.
"There is but one dance following J
MS waltz before unmasking," the {
russian officer said, appearing sud-
emily from the midst of the crowd. d
Do you waltz? If so, can l claim you h
u my partner?" n
If this was to be the last waltz be- d
IRE the removal of the masks, it was Il
her last; and even to dance G.
with Mr.. Pepperton would be pre- A
rable to sitting it out. But for mo- y
ent Cecil hestatcd in uncertainty. Of
he man beside her suing for the al
lnce she felt was scanning her close
as if endeavoring to penetrate the tie
'aqueness of her mask. What if she tL
ould be recognized at the last mo- h,
ent, she thought. She drew back. ..
Not if you try to discover my ident- ST
= Cecil said, little coldly til
The Prussian officer laughed. ''Well, NJ
promise you that will cease my i'm he
rtenance if you will not deny me III
is dance and we will leave the I'M w
Yelling of the mystery to time"
Does that always clear up mystic da
So" Cecil asked, as they whirled off, w
Time is never so brief as when some pc
,asure, whose intensity exists in its tn
velty, absorbs the mind of the par gu
ipant, and Cecil felt a pang of re- stt
1t as the sound of the three strokes lal
the quarter to midnight came to fol-
:. She must leave this elysium of IN
s. too soon. Did Cinderella feel &c
,nly the sorrow when she fled from tol
palace at the midnight Ginning. hi:
I'll wondered, and she sighed at the Ms
efness of the hour.
Il have but one more favor to ASK wa
ills pardner said, as the music ,Ju
ne to sudden stop, and the waltz bri
sought their seats or promenaded hel
vn the long hall. hal
What is that?" she asked, as they the
owed the promenaders. There was
ing of merriment IN her hitherto
sezy voice, for she was so intensely c
ply that she had forgotten her role.
That | may have the first dance a.
r the masks have been removed" os.
And that is but one after the next" VI
il said, in tone of regret Il will NC nc
say yes, for a promise never made n NO.
'etler than a promise broken. | ' Uu'
:, like Cinderella, be obliged to fly up
n all this when the clock strikes rec rec
but should we chance to meet a.
IN, l will give you tho liberty of s 81.
,ting it from me-" She laughed a gu gu
9 maliciously as she spoke when , pua
thought of Mr.. Pepperton's futile ntl
ch for her thrOuoh tho orowd Jus