San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-24

for one as lovely as she, perhaps, but now
so long forgotten. They walked out into
the hall and assembled the central stair
way, where they could overlook the dan
| GERS beneath. He leaned his head against
the balustrade. She sat clasping her knee
| and gazing at him abstractedly She was
under the strangely imaginative influence
of the masquerade. Perhaps it was Just
this very dream influence that pleased him
so, for l. not all friendship. all passion, u
dream? Certain it was that as they sat
| together, strangers though they were,
| there was perfect understanding between
them, so perfect, indeed, that for a long
time neither spoke nor wished to speak.
He had been watching the gay move
ments of the quadrille. The motley dan
GERS in the parlors beneath wove in and out
in turmoil of movement and color. He
felt peculiarly isolated among so much
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 fancies, be
turned and said, fixing his gaze on her
mask, 81 am so glad that l came as lingo
mar"
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 privileges
me to devote myself to Parthenia.
She bowed her head for pleasure. He fan
cied he could see frightening of color
even beyond her velvet mask. However,
she remained silent and he went on:
"And yet there is subtle feeling Of
sorrow in the thought that it is Ingomar
and not myself that you have favored"
Her gaze still seemed to pass through
him and beyond She had the air of speak
ing from the shadow of a dream.
NO" she said quietly, 81 have enjoyed
our dances very much. You are like an
old friend of mine" After a while she
asked, "Do you ever fancy yourself differ
snt. do you ever feel as you used to in the
years gone byS have felt all the evening
as if were living my girlhood again"
eyes, sometimes" he said; las used to
feel when | was happiest and most light
hearted"
She seemed pleased at this and repeated,
81 have enjoyed our dances very much"
And l may have the waltz after the I'M
masking?" he said, smiling at the naivete
of her remark. Because you see as yet
have known only Parthenia. And |, too.
have enjoyed our Dances"
She shook her head softly. NO, shah
go home before the unmasking."
She arose and they descended to the hall.
His heart was filled with delight at her
presence. Already he had conceived a
friendship for her. She was so simple and
so graceful that it seemed as if he had
always known her. The thought of her
going filled him with tender regret.
The quadrille had ended. 1t was but a
moment before the unmasking.
Come" he said. "You say you have
really preferred myself to Ingomar; can't
you give me just this one last dancer The
rest, you know, were scarcely my own"
No" she said; "the unmasking would
spoil it all. Let US part unacquainted.
'Now what shall | believer" he burst
out, with pretended pique. 1T is |, not
Ingomar; and yet the unmasking would
spoil it ALL" The waltz music began.
The dancers threw aside their masks.
There was burst of murmurs and laugh
ter, the regret of disappointment and the
surprise of recognition. In the confusion
she drew nearer to him. He laughed for
joy, seized her hand and broke into the
dance.
mo, nop' she cried, tossing her head
and struggling from his arm. oh, you
must notl DO let me SOl'
He laughed again. She was enhancing
in her despair, However, he was forced
! reluctantly to loose his hold.
There was culver in her voice II am
frank" she said; II must go. It is neither
you nor Ingomar. Your presence has been
the spell of long lost friendship 1t can
last but an hour. | would not dispel it,
You cannot understand Oh, leave me my
| dreamP'
She was ravishing in her emotion.
without this one favor" he pleaded.
your whole presence is a dream to me-"
NO." she said, turning her face from
him; II must 60"
An unmasked man in motley came up
1t was Ethelbert Perry.
Masks Off" he shouted, and Selling one
in each hand tore them from their faces.
Hello, Marvinp' he exclaimed in sur
| prise. "When did you come homer" Then
turning he said: "Why, May! Why didn't
| you tell NEE
a moment Miss Craig gazed on Marvin s
| discovered features, then her face blanched
and she leaned against the wall like one
who sees ghost.
MAY, Miss Craigl Oh, thought it
| must be your Marvin burst out in de
| light. Now demand the waltz; it must
| be niue"
But their masks were off and the witch
| cry 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
the realization of what had passed. She
| was choking with emotion and her eyes
were filed with tears
Good night, sir" she said at last.
Marvin picked her handkerchief from
| the floor. and stood motionless watching