Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-06-27

1 lUttS-
The more she began TO understand
him the more she realized their unfit
ness for each other, and his photo
graph brought matters speedily to a
crisis. Again and again she stared at
the somewhat faded picture. How
young. how handsome he was. Just
the hero for lS-year-old MallY.
Helmine had held lAer present trusted
position for the past ten Years and
some six years ago Wally had been
committed TO her care, regarding her
as a sort OF second mother Although
cousins, Helmine was always address
ed as ''auntie' by her young charge.
In the sadness of her heart Guilpar-
zu's Sappho came viyadly 70 her mind.
Helmine, like Sappho, was in bosses
sio of rare intellectual beauties, and a
heart which glowed with the passion
ate fervor Of a first love. There was
Melitta. the beauteous youthful COM
panion OF Sappho and Pharon, whose
love both sought.
No, no. she would not lend herself
to play part in the repetition OF this
sad story. 1t was then she deternlin-
ed to see 'Tristan-Phaon, Seeing
Wally was loving her, and as for her
self he would esteem her highly, which
was all she could now expect
She wrote, inviting him to come TO
town, making mention in an off-hand
manner, OF the Young relative, whose
youth and cheerfulness sometimes
made her forget her own aga. An
answer to this epistlecame the follow
ing day Il am trembling with impa-
thence, he wrote, for the moment TO
come which viii either verify or crush
the fond hopes which have uncon-
sciously arisen within me. lam. alas.
far different from what YOU imagine. =
He comes, said Helnine. 'and
my Joyous dream is dispelied. All. il
is not only painful; it is humiliatins
Is there no way in which TO prolong
the delusion?"
The following plan suggested itself to
her, and she wrote: That disappoint-
ment may not be too keenly felt by
either OF us, have devised this plan
for our first meeting Let US attend
III disguise, OF course, the masked ball
OF the Philharmonic Society"
This idea met with his approval, and
it was agreed that he appear in a black,
she in blue domino, both carryingin
their hand white camelia. They
would not remove their masks. and
not until next day would they look
upon each other countenance Then
she would invite him to her house, re-
ceive him in her plain house dress, the
charming Wally at her side.
1t certainly seemed apparent that
Naily was Interested i'm the near
sighted doctor, for had she not lately
displayed wonderful interest in the
latest results of DR. Koch's new
method, and was she not posted on
facts concerning it like a physician?
Still this would hardly make 4 differ
ence, and Wally would soon come to
her senses.
All these thoughts darting through
the pOorgirl's head, made her feel sad
~ out Of place in this gay scene.
A couple Of masks passed bv, carry
ing on lively dispute oil some kind.
There. too, was Wally in her dainty
pages dress Helminc had been pre-
pared to swear that the ribbons on
her shoes were blue. but perhaps the
light was at fault Certainly, there
stumbled a near-sighted Huguenot,
undoubtedly the Doctor
Helminerenlained shyandhumbledin
her velvet seat. regarded fixedly the
trescoes on the opposite wall Sounds
OF music echoed from the distant ball
room. Her mask fairly burned her
hot face. What folly was shecomnlit
ting, and for what purpose? Hadloy
and happiness indeed parted company
with her forever
Her thoughts We're beginning to be
unbearabIe.
Suddenly a black mask, holding a
white camelia. stands before her. She
seeks self-control, for he must never
guess her thoughts. He is evidently
tall and slender, and in a polished.
gentlemanly way excuses himself for
having kept her waitingat all, pleading
his ignorance Of the rooms, ctc. He
takes her hand, and his warm clasp
says far more plainly than the white
camelia Isolde, it is |. !"
4 feeling OF tenderness takes posses.
SION Of her. and q sadness born Of
lost youth She throws it off. how
ever and chats pleasantly without
apparently DFlilE ElIIDhtfhSsGl Nv lIef
uncomfortable feelings at this mas
querade. There they sat quietly side
by side, yet the lifting OF those masks
might reduce to misery two longing
hearts. She tried to prepare him
gradually by reciting wittiIy her many
doubts and the disappointments con.
nected with her appearance at the
ball, and how the evening had seemed
spoiled beforeit had fairly commenced.
To this he replied bitterly: "Lifeis ali
one sad disappointment"
Hesltatingly, Perhaps" passed
over her lips.
The crisis had now arrived, and
with manly decision he said: Let US
throw off these masks; ], for one, have
not told YOU the whole truth. I"
Nor ]. "
u have deceived you, Isolde. That
photograph is certainly my own, but
it was taken twenty years ago, and
since then have passed through a Sc
we're illness. | can lay no claim to
lovc--I am old"