Omaha daily bee., 1891-02-20


given her hand thus to him.
Take off your mask,n he said almost
rudely.
Not yet" she replied, shaking her
head.
what is the meaning of this? Do
you wish to make fool of me, even at a
mask ball2 1t is dishonorabe to break
| ones word Take off your mask I've
right TO insist upon it,
You have not the right"
Not? and our agreements"
WAS her name really Helena?"
Didn't speak it distinctly enough?
You begin to be tiresome," he added,
making an effort to conceal his embar
rassment.
Then, perhaps I'd better GO.
Never, until you've unmasked; in
deed | am ready to-
ITO tell me h er.true name?"
Even this"
''Then it is"
"Is-is---Juia, gasped out Henry;
"but now take your mask off--qucll,
quick" he cried, excitedly, and raised
his hand to her face.
She drew back a few steps.
II have given my word--and will keep
it," she said with unfeigned voice, at
the same time slightly lifting the
mask.
Henry could only catch a glimpse of
her profile. He trembled. 1t seemed to
| him as if he had fallen into Il profound,
troubled sleep, from which, spite of all
| his efforts, he could not rouse himself.
"Can it be possible?" he exclaimed
| half aloud, at the same time seizng her
| madly by the hand and shrieking in a
hoarse voice, tremulous with excite
ment, Take your mask wholly off, L
insist upon it.
She apparently hesitated moment,
and then with a single motion took the
mask quickly from her face.
Julia" he cried, and sprin ging back
stood as if petrified.
She approached him slowly, laid her
hand upon his shoulder and whispered
| in u soft voice, "Do | still exist for you,
Henry?"
Her voice had the same sweet silvery
| tone as earlier and yet it was like the
kissing of a snake: her touch like that
| of cat playing with its victim. Not
| withstanding, in the first moment he
would have thrown himself at her feet,
| kissed the hem OF her dress and pressed
| the dainty hand with its red-tipped
fingers to his heart.
But only for moment. Then he re-
called the hour of their parting. Her
cold words, 'All is over between u.s.
sounded in his ears; he heard the rus
tling of her silk dress as she proudly
drew herself up after these words and
went away leaving HIM in stony despair
He slowly lifted her hand from off his
arm, looked searchingly into her eyes
and asked with n smile:
Don't you find this ball dreadfully
tedious, cOuntess"
A perfect fury famed up in her eyes at
Il -,
herself she whispered in q tone of gentle
reproof:
''Have you only scorn for the conf
dence which has led broken heart to
throw itself upon you?"
Pardon me, countess. | was never
intended for the pilot of an ad venturess'
ship" and realized only too late by these
words that he had been glilty of offer
ing her direct insult.
She recoiled, and to hide her anger
quickly covered her face again with the
mask.
For awhile she was silent, then said
slowly and with effort:
Il discover that youare armed not only
with scorn. but with insults. Have de-
served themy"
Madame, between you and me ex-
lists such Unreasonable difference of
views, conceptions and feelings that
neither scorn nor insults from me could
affect yOu."
"And yet there was a time when you
did not see this difference. Then you
loved me. Have you entirely forgotten
that?" she added softly.
ION the contrary, | remember it we'll,
| and often live over again those hours
with delight, Some what, however, as a
mature man recalls his boyish pranks,
nd rai ipinnS th ut tbav 1,ol 10
which is gone forever"
"And you have only such recollections
of me?" she asked with smothered voice.
Gould you expect or demand of me
any others?" he replied sarcastcally.
stop! DO not revenge yourself on
defenceless woman"
"Defenceless! Do you think I have
forgotten the weapons you welded by
which to wound me mortally?"
"Thatwas in the past, but today it is
different, today / love you-love you
with my whole soul, Notwithstanding
you dispise and repulse me-" she said,
in one hurried breath. as If by the
confession to relieve her overburdened
heart.
You love me? Wouldn't it be too
childish in me to believe itp Didn't you
say these same words to me only u few
years ago-and yet"
'Ah, then and now! What chasm sep
arates these moments formerly look ed
upon love merelyas an Indispensable en-
tertainment of an evening party. Today
1T has become a necessity of my heart,
and l would share this sacred feeling
with him to whom, though unconsciously
to myself, for long, long time my heart
has alone belonged. | feel that If you
now repulse me | shall die like flower
on which the dew no longer falls"
After uttering these passionately ex-
cited words she added, as if ashamed of
them, in u timid and frightened tone:
"Ah, how you must despise me'
Henry felt how the little hand trem-
bled which again rested upon his arm.
He could not account to himself for the
change in his thoughts and feelings.
He forgot the whole world, forgot the
mass OF people crowding hither and
thither about them-forgot the suffering
of past years-and saw only the living
being who leaned timidly on his arm and
behind her mask was choking back tears
of shame and humiliation.
Conscience commended that he take
pity on the unhappy one, but reason
remained hushed under the magnetic in