Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-11-14

to have considerable self-poSsession. but
not one Of them was capable of getting
herself into such a scrape;it was impossible
for me to connect any one OF them for a
single moment with such ar escapade. OF
course it was some one of she rnad-cap
crew with whom | had so many a Jolly
romp IN the play room or pavilion on
recreation days when Uncle Joseph was in
town.
There was no doubt that she was young.
the firm, cool flesh told that, and so did
the wealth of her hair and the girlish slen-
derness of The form which now felt in my
arm. / spoke again: TELL me what is
the matter and why you were going down
stairs; perhaps can help you to what you
want This with thought of the pantry
No answer.
Il cannot let you.go unless you assure
me in some way that everything is ali
night. l should. otherwise, feel myself
guilty A contemptuous shrug OF the
shoulders answered this argument Every
one of the pretty girls of the school was
fitting through my brain, but somehow
none of them would fit. That hair baffied
me. l cautiously tightened my clasp of
her waist, let 90 her wrist and took ND
/ handful of it, 1t seemed alive So soft
and yet with so much spring, what color
could 1t bef Not black, it seemed too soft
for that-nor blonde, it was too firm and
| strong-the only color which seemed to me
to suit this wondrous thing was auburn,
rich, burning auburn. But no one had
auburn hair at Morris Hall, unless it was
little Sadie Jones, and hers would have
been moro brilliant hue had she not per
sistently used some sort of pomatum.
laughed to myself at the idea of connecting
her with this tall, smooth creature with the
wavy name.
Decided on this point, l started on one
more investigation. l shut my eyes tight
in hopes of intensying my other senses, and
! put my hand to her face. At first she
moved her head restleSsly, so as to prevent
my receiving any impression as to her
features, but as ] persisted she drew her
self baughtily up and stood as still as tho
carved from stone Her forehead was
broad and well shaped. the bang not too
heavy or long, rather conservative in cut
and mentally decided. The eyes were
shut so tightly that ! could not decide on
their size; the eyebrows were rather heavy;
cheeks firm, smooth aud well round; lips
apparently thin but probably tightly
closed; chin round and full; ears small and
ringless; throat full, soft and long-but
here my statue came to life again and
shrank away from me piteously. l felt
some slight compunction, got possession
Of her hands and let her stand free,
"Now, don't be foolish, !" I whispered,
''the housekeeper or DR.. Traynor himself
may wake up and appear on the scene with
light at any moment, and then what will
you dof"
Silence.
''Just promise to tell me if 1 IN right and
let me guess who you areW
No answer.
''Well. promise to tell me some time, in
broad daylight, when you have your pref
tiest frock on?''
Not movement or a sound. / was seiz-
ed by an inspiration and examined every
finger Of the two little hands | held. Their
symmetry was not marred by single ring,
so my quest was vain, but their velvet
smoothness so impressed me that made
mental note of it.
th;nE 10 af t, ho
hall preceptresses aud have the rooms
searched"
Absolute silence. 1t is inexpressibly
tantalizing to hold so much sweetness in
ones arms and not know whether or not
it would be safe to venture the smallest,
most selfrestrained caress. That instant
my resolve was taken. Still holding her
hands in mine, began sternly: "Now, do
you mean ever in any way to disclose to
me your identity or am / to believe that
you intend this little episode to remain for
ever a mysteryR If you are positively
resolved never by look, word or action to
give me the slightest clue by which / may
| find you-press my hand, my left hand,
which holds your right"
Whew! What vicious squeeze! Ny
| seal ring made its mark, and / was con
vinced that the muscles of that velvety
hand were well developed!
30 very good, mademoiselle, very good.
| We understand each other now. You are
not sufficiently my friend to confde in me,
that is evident, but revenge is sweet. As
| you have sworn never in any way to reveal
yourself you cannot OF course resent any
thing which may occur, and therefore |
will make one more experiment on my own
behalf"
wrapped the helpless mischief tight in
my arms. If she was frightened she gave
no sign save that her breath came in
quick little gasps, which felt rather than
heard. / drew the dainty head down to
my shoulder and spread the tangled silken
net Of her hair all over me, then | bent
down aud kissed her full On the lips. What
in all the world could compare with those
| lips4 Full soft quiyering and half apart
her breath went like wine to my bead
I shivered and dropped my arms.
What a brute ia been-how she must
despise mel And she was 50 sweet, | could
not let her go thinking 50 i'll Of me. But
she was already gone, with little patter
| of her bare feet on the hard wood stairs,
| and yet | whispered imploringly, "For-
give me, il you can; | shall never forgive
myself"
Notwithstanding my contrition, listen
ed painfully for the sound of her footsteps
in hopes that / might at least discover
| towards which wing she turned. OF course,
the heavy carpet in the corridor bailled me
in this, and when she left the stairs all
was still. / pulled myself together, and
all forgetful of my lost match, | CROPPED my
way TO my own room, where ! spent the
rest of the night in going over my adyen
ture and making wild plans for discovering
its heroine.
In the morning it seemed to me, so
strong was my memory of the mysterious
she, that / must recognize her immediate
| ly. i searched each face, | studied every
| figure especially | watched for a tawny
name. Alas, how different figures seem
in tight-ftting basques or flannel blouscs,
and what was there in "a monotonous array
of pig.tails and door knobs to recall the