Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-05-27

I
all in vain; the new rufile at her throat
aud the spotlessly ironed white apron
were donned to no purpose. She extin-
guished her little lamp at ten o'clock.
and, creeping into her alcove-bcd, cried
herself to sleep, she did not exactly
know why.
The next night was the night of the
much talked-of masquerade ball Evan
Merris hated and despised these miscel-
lansous gatherings from the bottom Of
his heart-aad yet, just when carriage
after carriage was driving up. and the
crowd arriving, he CHANGED to be stand.
ing in the brilliantly lighted street. lean
ing against a lamp post, aud moodlly
watching the pretiily attired figures Git
by.
Suddenly he gave a start There was
the black lace dress, starred over with
gold, floating across the pavement, worn
by n slight, graceful figure, and leaving
q faint odor Of musk and patchouly in
its pathway. But no did not see the
triumphant fash of the yelled eyes, as
for an instant they rested on his face.
There she goes" he murmurei to
himself, as the diaphanous folds Of black
and gold disappeared under the decor
atod archway land there, beneath her
feet. crash to ruins the air. castles that
my silly brain has been building for the
last three months !"
SO he went on his way, determined to
see or hear no mere of pretty Katie
Carleton. the yellow haired girl who had
somehow contrived to cast n glamour
about his heart and brain decidedly pre-
judicial to the influence of Miss Henri
eta Lacy.
But mans resolves are made neither
of gutta- percha nor adamant, aud he
could not help pausing instinctively
directly in front Of the tenement house
in which Miss Carleton lived and Az
he paused he saw, through the big,
brightly lighted window of the grocery
below, the slender figure Of Katie her
self, in gray dress, like little nun.
buying the humble loaf Of bread and
tcn.penny worth Of tea which were to
serve for her morrow mornings break
fast.
ut cant DO possible p said Evan
Merris TO himself. "No, IL can't"
But just at that moment Katie turned
and he saw her whole face; little sad.
perhaps, but quietly self. contained and
sweet Involuntary no walked in and
held out his hand TO her.
Katie dropped the loaf of bread in her
embarrassment.
"Mr. Merris ~
"Miss Carleton ~
'lIow came you here2"
81 might, with better reason, ask
hew came you here? For was certain
fifteen minutes ago." he added. seeing
her surprised and bewildered face, "that
| saw you cross the pavement, opposite
Hsbe Hall, 10 black lace dress Gov
cred with gilt stars, aud enter the ball
room door"
"0h, no." cried Katie. "I--I had
long ago given up all idea of going. aud
Henrietta Lacy asked me for the loan Of
my dresa, as she hadn't time to make
up one for herself. IL was Henrietta
you saw, not me-"
Henrietta eh? repeated Evan
Merris, slowly, as n certain light broke
in upon his brain. II always suspected
that girl was not quite straightforward
in her dealings, and I'm sure Of it now,
Miss Carleton"
aft m Ia Ia
Are you disengaged this evening :"
quite"
"May come up and sit with you 70
IL shall be delighted snswere l sim
pie Katie. flushing all over.
The next day Henrietta Lacy came
around to Katie's room. with the black
lace dress folded up in a fat paper
parcel
"Tm so much obliged to you. dear"
said she 81 had such charming even
ing"
80 did l." said Katie, whs longed
for some congenial ear into which to
pour the story Of her happiness. "Mr.
Merris spent the evening here"
"Mr. Merris p
ayes. And, oh. iIetta. only think!
Hc has asked me 10 DO his wife, and
we are to be married in February and
don't know how it ever CHANGED that
so much happiness should be in store
for me"
Henrietta lacy bit savagely at her
nails, as she listened. SO all that plot
ting and plannisg had been in vain,
after all. Aud the magnet, Love, had
attracted Evan Merris to the right and
rue, after all