The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-01-26

the question.
"NvthiDg," she replied softly. "ouly
l once had friend at Harvard, very
dear friend"
"rbat is such a distinctive misfor.
tune" he remarked, with touch Of
smiling irony.
She seemed sRdder and more thought
full and did not reply. His curiosity
wss aroused; possibly he was touched
with the dreamy regret OF her voice.
~ ouC6 lived in Cambridge" he said
tentatively, "and knew many college
men,"
She shook her head and was silent.
81 knew E:helbert Perry aud Earl
Marvin"
She was startled.
Eyes," she replied, after a moment's
hesitation, "Mr. Perry is engaged to a
Miss Craig and Mr.. Marvin is now in
Europe"
He bit his lips in perpIexity. Yet why
need BIZ seek TO discover who she was?
However, she seemed. dissatisfied.
"You know Mr.. Marvin p she asked,
He laughed consciously. ayes, l have
heard OF him. He was wild, harun
scarum fellow, well known in his class,
bat great prig."
"He had many friendsf" she asked
wistfully.
"At first sight people liked him"
Then he demanded abruptly, "Do you
know him? 2"
"No,", she answered, after slight hes
itatiou. Then she added, ~ have heard
ha v,pn vnFv DnnufOr -
"Pshaw, no" he replied with nerv-
GUS laugh. ooh, well, YES, at first sight,
as said, buthe got many rebutfs. Did
YOU ever hear the story Of his conquest
Of Miss BOARDWALK? She WAS an opera
singer who was 80 fascinated with the
ay he played football that she paid
him much attention. He went to her
reception in the green room the night
Of victory, proud Of the honor. When
ne got there, however, 0'Leery, pitcher
OF the Boston nine, was ahead Of him,
and she turned him over to one OF the
chorus girls to be entertained. He
never heard the last OF 1t from the fel.
lows, and in the future confined himself
70 Cambridge society. That is the way
it always was. He was good deal OF
aunkey."
She danced very well. As often hap.
pens with girls OF her restrained dispo
4itiou, she became strangely impnlsive
with the excitement OF motion. When
they ceased and went together into the
conservatory she was beaming with glad
ness.
"How pleasant" she exclaimed "oh,
it makes me feel as il were girl again
and thought Of nothing but friendship
aud dowers!"
He was amused at her assumption of
maturity.
you bear your age wonderfully; you
are remarkably well preserved"
She laughed at the odd banter OF his
one. "Do you really think me so
young?" she asked, little piqued.
"Ah," he said, with languishing
look, "you are as young as the unfold
ing lily, as young as the rosebud at
dawn"
"That is true" she said demurely.
My mother has often told me that
was born young"
Very soon she relapsed into her mood
4 silenCe. After all he liked her better
thus. As she chung to his arm she
brought him dreams Of his boyhood,
when he had cared for one as lovely as
4he, perhaps, but now 30 long forgotten.
They walked out into the hall and
tscended the central stairway, where
hey could overlook the dancers beneath.
he leaned his head sgainst the balus.
rade. She sat clasping her knee and
Jazinr at him abstractedly. She was
under the strangely imaginative inhn-
ence OF the masquerade. Perhaps 1t
was Just this very dream Influence that
oleased him so, for Is not all friendship,
all passion, dream? Certain 1t was
that as they sat together, strangers
though they were, there was q perfect
understanding between them, 30 perfect,
indeed, that for long time neither
poke nor wished to speak.
At last, as If recalling his fancies, he
turned and said, fixing his gaze on her
mask, ~ am 80 glad that came as lingo.
mar"
She was listening, Tut did not mind
bis words. Perhaps 1t was the rich
strength Of his voice that caught her
ear.
"Becauso, you see, my costume priv:
lepes me to devote myself to Parthenia."
She bowed her head for pleasure. He
tancied he could see q frightening color
even beyond her velvet mask. How
ever, she remained silent and he went
on.
"And yet there Ia a subtitle feeling OF
sorrow in the thought that 1t is 1ngomar
And not myselithat you have forced"
She arose and they descended to the
hall. His heart was filled with delight
at her presence. Already he had con-
ceived a friendship for her. She was so
simple and so graceful that 1t seemed as
II he had always known her. The
thought Of her going filed him withten-
der regret.
The quadrille had ended. It was but
moment before the unmasking.
Come" hesaid. "You say you have
really preferred myself TO Ingomar
can't you give me Just this one last
dancer The rest, you know, were
mo" she said, ''the unmaskinp
would spoil It all. Let us part unac'
/ quainted."
"Now what shall / bslieveP" he
burst ont with pretended pique. ut IL
|, not Ingomar, and yet the unmasking
I would spoil 1t ALL" The waltz music
began. The dancers threw aside theii
mask. Their was q burst Of murmurt
and laughter, the regret OF disappoint
ment and the surprise OF recognition
In the confusion she drew nearer tC
him. He laughed for Joy, seized hel
hand and broke into the dance.
mo, no" she cried, tossing her head
j, and struggling from hts arm. "0h, yot
}. must not Do let me gol"
He laughed again. She was entranc
ing In her despair. However, he wa
forced reluctantly to loose his hold.
There was a culver In her voice. I"
am frank, "she said II must go. It i
l--iLL y. ~, nor Innnmnf Ynnr nrRl