The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-12-19

staring at the centerplece. Her
cheeks and chin were smooth and
pale, and near the corner OF her
mouth toward the chin was a square
piece of black court plaster.
Still smoothing back his mustache
with the napkin, Carrell looked at
the small black square. He would
have given a years income if it
would have fallen off. He looked at
the shape and set of her head, at
the pose of her folded hands. He
looked at her cheek and chin and
then, lowering his eyes, tried to re-
call the exact appearance of the
cheek and chin he had seen under
the masks undulating flap. Then
he glanced up.
1t was the same, there could be no
doubt. And still it seemed incredl
bic. She was not more than eighteen
years old, and she looked so pensive
and wistful. She seemed to be
absorbed in her own melancholy
ponderings, staring at the center
piece with thoughtful dark eyes.
"Mr5 Lafarge tells me-" he said,
suddenly, leaning toward her, that
YOU have only just come to town"
She started and looked up at him.
He even seemed to recognize the
eyes with their look of scared sur
prise. For a moment she seemed
confused, then she said
Eyes, but | am going to stay for
the winter. My brother is here at
college. | have come to look after
him. We are orphans.
Having given her explanation she
looked away, and seemed to be
about to once more relapse into
silence
you will be able to have gay
winter" he said, determined to make
her talk. "You are fond of society,
suppose ?"
She was silent for a brief space,
and then answered as if reluctantly y
mo ; | don't care tor going out"
Il thought all young girls loved
dancing, parties, balls" he con-
tinued intently watching her.
"Others may. | don't"
you like the country lite best ?"
She turned her eyes on him and
said with deep sigh
ooh, yes p
Ii there was anything needed to
confirm him in his belief that this
young girl was one and the same as
the woman he had seen at the ball,
the sigh was all that was necessary.
As it tell upon his ear, plaintively
soft and melancholy, he seemed once
more to be looking through the
tluttering fan.
Full OF conflicting doubts, he
leaned back in his chair to think. AT
the same moment the lady on his
other side turned toward him with
some laughing remark which re
quired quick answer. Then came
challenge and retort from farther up
the table, and for some moments the
conversation ran on brilliantly. Din
ner was nearly at a close when his
opportunity came. Every one about
them was talking or laughing. The
girl beside him alone was silent, sunk
in her broodirg g thoughts. Without
a word of warning, he suddenly
leaned toward her and said, almost
in a whisper
What we're you doing at the
masked ball on Thursday evening ?"
She turned pale, but sat silent
without moving. He was silent, too,
waiting for an answer. After a few
seconds she said
II had to 60"
"You had to go ?" he repeated in
surprise.
eyes | didn't know what else to
do. | found out that Charlie-that's
my brother-had gone. 1t was too
late to find him, and anyway he
would have only got angry with me.
He says | am always interfering.
But it isn't that. There are only two
of us, and we have to take care of
each other. | must take care OF him,
and he of me. | knew it was a
wrong place for him to go, but he
was already gone. SO | had to go
dllCI IliIil. II AOuld DG ulllSI Git ii
he was not so young, and he's lived
in the country all his life. And then
to suddenly come to the city, and
he forgets about the money-that
we've only just got enough Per
haps-I m afraid-that he doesn't
seem to know very we'll how to take
care of himself like the others. But
they've lived in the city all their
lives, and so it is different"
She paused and looked at him with
sort of pleading apology for the
weak boy. Then she went on
"I've come from our home to take
care OF him. The others have
mothers and brothers, but he has
only me. It's hard to keep from
making him angry and yet to loos
aft him, and SO ] went with r-~-r
:. | knew il iJ-could find hi.~2~