Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-30

said, fixing his gaze on her mask, Il am
SO glad that | came as lngomar.
She was listening but did not mind his
words. Perhaps 1t was the rich strength
Of ais voice that caught her ear.
Because, don you see, my costume
privileges me to devote myself to Par
thenia'
She bowed her head for pleasure,
He fancied he could see a heightening of
| color even beyond her velvet mask How
ever, she remained silent, and he went
! OF:
And yet there is subtle feeling Of
sorrow IN the thought that it is lingo
mar and not myself that you have favor
ed"
Her gaze still seemed to pass through
him and beyond She had the air of
speaking from the shadow of dream
No, she said quietly. Il have enjoy
ed the dances very much. You are like an
old friend Of mine After while she
asked DO you ever fancy yourself differ
ert, do you ever feel as you used to in the
years gone by? have felt all the evening
as if ! were living my girlhood again
Yes, sometimes, he said, las | used
to feel when | was happiest and most light
hearted"
She seemed pleased at this and repeat
ed Il have enjoyed our dances very
much. "
And I may have the waltz after the I'M
mas hing?" he said smiling at the naivette
of her remark. Because. you see. as vet
| have only known Parthenia. And |, too,
have enjoyed our Dances
She shook her head slowly. mo, l shall
go home before unmasking"
She arose, and they descended to the
hail. His heart was filed with delig t
at her presence. Already he had con-
ceived friendship for her. She was so
simple and graceful that it seemed as if ne
had always known her The thought o.
her going filled him with tender regret.
The quadrille had ended. 1t was but d
moment before the unmasking
Come" he said. You say you have
really preferred myself to lngomar; can t
you give me just this one last dance? The
rest you know were scarcely my own"
No, said she, ''the unmasking wonId
spoil it all. Let US part unacquainted. "
Now, what shall believer" he burst
cut with pretended pique. 1T is | not
Ingomar; and yet the unmasking would
spoil it air. The waltz music began.
The dancers threw aside their masks
There was burst Of murmur8 and laugh
ter, the regret of disappointment and the
surprise of recognition. In the confusion
she drew nearer to him. He laughed for
! Joy, seized her hand and broke into the
| dance.
No. 10! she cried, tossing her head and
struggling from his arm. 'Oh, you must
not! Do let me go!'
He laughed again. She was enhancing
III her despair. However, he was forced
reluctantly to loose his hOld.
! There was a culver in her voice, Il am
( frank, she said 6 | must go. 1t is neither
you nor lngomar. Your presence has
been the spell of a long-Iost friendship. 1t
o@-' = = IN hour. would not dispel it.
| You came understand Oh, leave NE my
dream!'
She was ravishing IN her emotion.
without this one favor" he pleaded,
'yonr whole presence is dream to me- -
No" she said, turning her face from
him, Il must 90.
An unmasked man in motley garb came
up. 1t was EtheIbert Perry.
MASKS off, he shouted, and selling
one in each hand, tore them from their
faces.
"Hello, Marvin!' he exclaimed in sur
pre-, With ulCi you COLl5 nome! linen
turning, he said why, May! Why
didn t you tell me"
A moment Miss Craig gazed on Marvin s
discovered features, then her face blanched,
and she leaned against the wall like one
who sees a ghost.
May, Miss Craigi Oh, | thought it
must be you!' Marvin burst out in de
light. Nov | demand the waltz, it must
be mine"
But their masks were off, and the
! wltchery was gone.
Perry was aghast, still holding the
masks in his hands. He looked at Mar
vim in mute surprise and at Miss Craig in
mute reproach. Marvin was dazed with
the realization of what had passed She
was choking with emotion, and her eyes
were filed with tears.
Goodnight, sir, she said at last.
Marvin pickt d up her Handkerchief from
the floor, and stood motion,ess, watching
them ascend the stairs.
The next morning he received note.
| 1t read as follows:
DEAR EARN: 1t seems that we must
| have had some subtle intimation of each
others presence, last night, that brought
| back The thoughts of those summer times
| The generosity of our childish friendship
has always been one of my pleasantest mem
ores. Ethelbert and have often regret
Ted that your life has grown so far apar'
from ours He dimes with us tomorrow
Will you not come. also, ana let us tall,
over the pleasant old days together?
Sincerely, May
81 thought had forgotten her, long
ago unused Marvin, as he wrote his re
grets to the invitation. No doubt she
thought, too, she had ceased to care for
me- What simplicity, what delicacy, what
tact! How strange that could have lost
her image for so long? And thus it
! pp19 -