Evening journal., 1892-02-17

phans"
Having given her explanation she looked
away, and seemed TO be about to once
more relapse into silence.
"You will be able to have n gay winter, !"
be said, determined TO make her talk
aYou are fond Of society, | supposew
She was silent for a brief space, and then
answered as II reluctantly;
mo; don't care for going out"
II thought all young girls loved dane
ing, parties, ballsn he continued intently
watching her
"Others may. ! DON'T
You like the country life bestSn
She turned her eyes on him and said
with a deep sigh;
"Oh, yes"
If 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 il fell upon his ear, plain
lively soft and melancholy, he seemed once
more 60 be looking through the gilded
grating at the masked figure and the flut-
tering fan.
Full Of conflicting doubts, he leaned
back IN his chair to think. At the same
moment the lady on his other side turned
which required a quick answer. Then
came challenge and retort from farther up
the table and for some moments the con
versation ran on brilliantly. Dinner 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 brooding thoughts
Without a word Of warning, he suddenly
leaned toward her and said, almost in a
whisper;
What were yon doing at the masked
ball on Thursday EVENING"
She turned pale, but sat silent without
moving lie was silent, too waiting for
an answer After a few seconds she said;
II had 70 go
"lou had 10 goa' lie repeated in sur
prise
Yes; didn't know what else to do. I
found ont that Charlie-that's my brother
bind 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 us two,
and we have to take care of each other
! must take care Of him, and he of me.
knew it was wrong place for him to go,
but he was already gone. So / had to 10
after him. 1t would be different II he was
not SO young, and he's lived in the country
all his life. And then to suddenly come
60 the city, and he forgets about the money
that we've only just got enough. Per
haps-I'm afraid-thut De doesn't seem to
know very well how to take care of himself
like the others. But they've lived in the
city all their lives, and so il Is different
She paused and looked ut him with a 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
look after him and so / went with my old
nurse. knew il | could find him could
bring him back with me. We got the
masks and dominoes from a man near the
door who had them to hire. Then went
into that empty box and waited till he
came by, hecauso there was such a crowd,
and the people couldn't see me Soon after
you had gone he passed, aud then | called
60 him, and he came, and we went home
She hesitated aud stopped then said hur.
riediy;
When ! saw you tonight knew you
again, and thought you would know me.
ran up stairs and put this piece Of court
plaster Pr the mole. ! was afraid Of your
knowing me. ! was afraid you would
think badly Of me for being there"
She was interrupted by the rising Of the
ladies' AS she turned to 10 she paused,
aud looking at him with wistful Inquiry
saidi
DO your
He looked q her without speaking. but
shook bis head