The morning call., 1891-02-24

self, but rich"
" How old was she?'
Eighteen years"
" Forty-eight and is. The difference is not
so very great-perhaDs she loved him."
q" She was incapable of loving anybody"
he calculated with fury.
You know her better. therefore l will
not contest the matter with you"
" But tell me the reason your engagement
was broken Off"
" The loss of my property"
fault?"
Through the undue confidence 1 placed
in the honesty of man."
Did you discuss the separation with
her?"
=" No; it was enough that 1 heard her say
all was over between u.s."
" And you had no objection to offer to her
decson?"
- [ was too proud to make any,"
Where is she nOw?"
" Probably with her aunt in Paris"
All, then she Is Countess? That les
sens her guilt"
" Do You think SOP"
" OF course-fOr how often people sacri-
flee love to an emptying tide. Why shouldn't
one sacrifice his hand for q understanding
name?"
''Curious philosophy"
.'Women's philosophy. isn't it?'
"Of course. But enough of this. have
INV tOAu al anu ~ 10 y Oul luIU.
Not yet. You have not mentioned her
Chistan name"
"Well, certainly this is unnecessary"
That depends. l, for my part, often
judge people by their Christian names"
a. | could tell lie and give you a false
name"
- There is no occasion for your doing this.
and, therefore, you Will not do it,
=" Then you persist in wanting to know
q feel as if lhad made this plain enough"
she said impatlently; $50 what is it?"
" Helena"
Aha" escaped from the lips under the
mask.
"What is the nfatter?"
" YOu have sroken my name"
"Really! That is curious, very curious.
But now that have told you, if you are
satisfied fulfill your promise and lay aside
the mask"
Here is my hand without mask" she
said lau9hlngly, as she extended to him
the one from which she had just taken the
glove.
A peculiar shudder came over him as he
touched this hand; old feelings and memo
ries he had long believed buried awOke in
him. She-Julia-had once given her hand
thus to him.
Take off your mask!' he said, almost
rudely.
Not yet" she replied, shaking her head,
What is the meaning OF this? Do you
wish to make fool of ME, even at a mask
ball? 1t IS dishonorable to break ones
word. Take off your mask. I've q right TO
insist upon it."
you have not the right"
mot? and our agreement?"
Was her name really HelenaP"
Didn 7 speak 1t distinctly enough? You
begin TO be tiresome," he added. making an
effort to conceal his embarrassment
Then, perhaps ia better CO."
Never, until you've unmasked; indeed l
am ready to"
TO tell me her true name?"
even this"
Then il is"
'Is-is-Julia," gasped out Henry; ''but
now take your mask off-quick, quick. i" he
cried, excitedly. and raised his hand to her
face.
She drew back few steps.
Il have given my woodland will keep it."
she said, with uuieigned voice, at the same
time slightly lifting the mask
Henry could only catch a glimpse of her
profile. He trembled. 1t seemed to him as
If he had fallen into profound, troubled
sleep, from which, spite of all his efforts.
he could not rouse himself,
Can 1t he possible?" he exclaimed half
aloud, at the same time selling her madly by
the hand and shrieking in hoarse voice,
tremulous with excitement, Take your
mask wholly off, l insist upon it,
She apparently hesitated moment. and
then with single motion took the mask
quickly from her face.
"Juliar he cried, and standing back stood
as If petrifed.
She approached him slowly, laid her hand
upon his shoulder and whispered in a soft
voice: I" Do l still exist for you, Henry?"
Her voice had the same sweet, silvery tone
IS earlier and yet 1t was like the Kissing of
a snake. Her touch like that of n cat NAV
ing with its victim. Notwithstanding, in the
first moment he would have thrown himself
at her feet, kissed the hem of her dress and
pressed the dainty hand with its rosy tipped
fingers TO his heart.
But only for moment. Then he recalled
the hour OF their parting. Her cold words.
"All is over with Us" sounded again in his
ears; he heard the rustIing of her silk dress
as she proudly drew herself I'D after these
words and went away leaving MIN in stony
despair.
lie slowly lifted her hand from off his arm.
looked searchlngly into her eyes and asked
with smile:
Don't you find this ball dreadfully tedi-
Gus, Contest"
A perfect fury famed up in her ewes at
there ironical words, then controlling her
sell she whispered IN a tone of gentle re-
proof:
"Have you only scorn for the confidence
which has led broken heart to throw itself
upon you?"
Pardon me. Countess, 1 was never in
tended for the pilot of an adventures ship"
and realized only too late by these words
that he had been guilty of Offering her
direct insult.
She recoiled, and to hide her anger
quickly covered her face again with the
mask.
For a while she was silent, then said
slowly and with effort:
g discover that you are armed not only
with scorn but with insults. Have l de-
served them?"
Madame. between you and ME exists
such unreasonable difference of views.
conceptions and feelings that neither scorn
nor insults from Inc could affect YOU
And yet there was time when you did
not see this difference. Then you loved ME.
Have you entirely forgotten that?" she
added softly.
"On the contrary / remember it well, and
often live over again those hours with de-
light. Somewhat, however. as mature
man recalls his boylsh pranks, and rejoces-
that they belonged to an age which is gone
forever"
And have you only such recollections of
meY' she asked with smothered voice.
Gould you expect or demand of me any
others p he replied, sarcastically.
Stop! DO not revenge yourself on de-
fenseless woman"
"Defenselessl Do you think have for
gotten the weapons you welded by which
TO wound me mortality"
That was in the past: but to-day il is
Inherent to-day | love you.-love you with
ami repulse me-" she said, in one hurried
breath, as II by this confession to relieve
her overburdened heart
You love me? Wouldn't It be too child
ish In me TO believe 1t? Didn't you say
these same words to me only few years ago
and yet"
All, then and now! What chasm sep
arates these moments. l formerly looked
upon love merely as an indispensable enter
tainment oil an evening. party. To-day it
has become necessity of my heart, aud |
would share this sacred feeling with him to
whom, though unconsciously to myself, for
a long, long time my heart has alone be-
longed. /! feel that If you now repulse me l
shall die like a flower on which tile dew no
longer falls"
After uttering these passionately excited
words she added, as If ashamed of them, in
tlmid and frightened tone:
All, how you must despise me-"
Henry felt how the little hand trembIed
which again rested upOf his arm