Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-10

Because. you see. my costume priv.
ileges me to devote myself to Parthe-
MIA"
She seemed pleased at this and re.
peated: Il have enjoyed our dances
very much"
And / may have the waltz after the
unmaskingP" he said. smiling at the
naivette of her remark. Because,
you see. as yet l have known only
Parthenia. And /. too. have enjoyed
our dances"
She shook her head softly. No.
l shall 60 home before the unmask-
ing"
She arose and they descended to the
hall. His heart was filed with delight
at her presence. Already he had con-
ceived friendship for her. She
seemed so simple and so graceful thai
it seemed as if he had always known
her. The thought of her going filled
him with tender regret.
The quadrille had ended. It wa,
but moment before the uumaskiny
Come" he said You say YOU
reslly preferred myself to Ingomar;
can you give me just this one last
dance. The rest. you know, were
scarcely my own"
No" she said, 1.-THE unmasking
would spoil it all. Let US part unac-
quainted."
Now what shall l believer" he
burst out, with pretended pique. 1T
is /, not Ingomar and yet the nnmaSk-
ing would spoil it all" Then the
waltz music began. The dancers
threw aside their masks There was a
burst of murmurs aud laughter, the
regret of disappointment and the sur
prise of recognition. In the confusion
she drew nearer to him. H., laughed
for joy. seized her hand and broke into
the dance.
No, no." she cried. tossing her
head and struggling from his arm.
"Oh, you must not! D. let ne GOT
He laughed again. She was en-
trancing in her despair However,
he was forced reluctantly to loose his
hold.
There was culver in her voice. Il
am frank" she said; Il must go. 1t
is neither you nor Ingomar. Your
presence has been I've spell of long
lost friendship. 1t ctn last but an
hour. l would not di~pel it. You
can not understand. On. leave NE my
dream!'
She was ravishiny in her emotion.
Without this one favor" be plead
ed, your whole presence is dream
to me-"
No." she said, turning her face
from him. Il must 60.
AID unmarked man in motley came
mp. 1t was Elhelbert Perry.
Masks Off he shouted, and Selling
one in each hand. tore them from their
ftccs.
Hello, Marvin?" he exclaimed. in
<nrrrl>e. When did You come homer"
Zen. turning. he said:
Why, May! Why didn't you tell
A moment Miss Craig gazed on Mar
wins discovered features. then her
face b!amched and she leaned against
the wall like one who sees a ghost.
"May-Miss Craig! Oh, | thought
il must be your' Marvin burst out in
d'li-ht- Now demand the waltz; it
must be mine"
But their masks were off, and the
wi'chery was gone.
Perry stood aghast. still holding the
masks in his hands. He looked at
Marvin in mute surprise and at Miss
Craig in mute reproach. Marvin was
dazed with the realization of what had
passed. She was choking with emo
lon and her eyes were filled with
tears.
Goodnight, SIR" she said. at last.
Marvin picked her handkerchief from
the floor and stood motionless, watch
ing them ascend the stairs.
The next morning he received a
note. 1t reads as follows:
DEAR EARLE: 1t seems that we must have
had some subtle information of each Others
presence last night that brought back the
thoughts OF those old summer times. The
generosity of our childish friendship has al
ways been one Of my peasantest memories.
EthelbeTt and J have often regretted that
your life has grown 80 far apart from ours.
He dimes with us tomorrow. Will you come
also. and let rs talk over the pleasant old
days together? MAY.
Il thought had forgotten her long
ago." unused Marvin. as ne wrote his
regrets 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 ends. "-Harvard AdUocate.