The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1891-11-14

l
wished to speak.
| He had been watching the gay move.
ments of the quadrille. The motley
dancers in the parlors beneath wove
in and out in turmoil of movement
and color. He felt peculiarly isolated
among such mirth and gayety. A
stranger in a strange land is not half
SO lonely as a stranger in the home of
his people.
AT last as If recalling his fances he
turned and said. fixing his gaze upon
her mask: Il am SO glad that came
as Ingomar."
She was listening but did not mind
his words. Perhaps it was the rich
strength of his voice that caught her
ear.
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
| unmasking? he said, smiling at the
naivette of her remark. Because,
YOU see, us yet 4 have known only
Parihenia. And /, too. have enjoyed
our dances
She shook her head softly. mo.
shall go home before the unmask-
ing"
She arose and they descended to the
ball. His heart was filled with delight
at her presence Already he had con-
caived friendship for her. She
seemed SO simple and SO graceful that
1T seemed as II he had always known
her. The thought of her going filled
him with tender regret.
The quadrille had ended. II was
but moment before the unmasking.
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 | believer" he
burst out. with pretended pique. ut
is ]. not lngomar. and yet the unmask-
ing would spoil it ALL" Then the
waltz music began. The dancers
threw aside their masks There was n
II,
regret of disappointment and the sur
prise of recognition. In the confusion
size drew nearer TO him. He 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! Dp let me go!'
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 lngomar. Your
presence has been the spell of long
lost friendship. 1t can last but an
hour. l would not dispel it. You
can not understand. On. leave me my
dream.'
She was ravishing in her emotion.
Without this one favor" he plead
ed, your whole presence Is dream
to me-"
No." she said. turning her face
from him. II must go.
Au unmasked man i'm motley came
up. 1t was Ethelbert Perry.
maShs oh. He shouteu, ana seiZlnI
one in each hand. tore them from their
faces.
Hello, Marvin?" he exclaimed.nin
surprise. When did you come homep"
Then. turning. he said:
Why, May! Why didn't you tell
me-
A moment Miss Craig gazed on Mar
wins discovered features, then her
face blanched aud she leaned against /,
the wall like one who sees a ghost.
''May-Miss Craig! Oh thought |
it must be your Marvin burst out in
delight Now demand the waltz; it
must be mine"
But their masks were of, aud the |
witchery 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 tie realization of what had |
passed. She was choking with emo
ton and her eyes were filled with
tears.
Goodnight, sir" she said. at last.
picked her handkerchief from
the floor and stood motioniess, watch
Ing them ascend the stairs.
The next morning he received .
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 th' So old summer times. The
OF our cnildish friend ship has al
y. NAYS been QUO OF my pleasantest memories
aud j have often regretted that
your NE has grown So far apart from ours.
He dimes WITH us tomorrow. VIII you come
days togethert NAY,
II thought had forgotten her long
ago." mused Marvin, as he wrote his
regrets TO the invitation. No doubt
She thought. too she had ceased to
care for me. What simplicity, what
ielicacy. what tact! How strange that
could have lost her image for so long
Aud thus il ends. w HarURrL Adrocake.
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