Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-12-30
A MASQUERADE.

A MASQUERADE.
Oh, nothing matters" she said, with
soft, ironical smile as she tossed bit of
sugar to the cockatoo.
"Quite so" was his reply, and he care
fully gathered in loose leaf of his cigar
Then, after q pause: "And yet, why so:
It's very pretty world one way and an
other.''
"Yes, it's a pretty world at times"
At that moment they were both lookin
out over part of the world known as the
Nindobar plains, and it was handsome To
the eye. AS far as could be seen was Il.
carpet of flowers under soft sunset. TIL
homestead by which they sat was in
wilderness of blossoms To the left was
high rose colored hill, solemn and mysteri-
Gus; to the right-far otf-a forest Of gun
trees, pink and purple against the horizon
At their feet, beyond the veranda was
garden joyously brilliant, and bright
plumaged birds fitted back and forth.
The two looked out for a long time; then
as if by a mutual impulse, suddenly turned
their eyes on each other. They smiled, ant
somehow that smile was not delightful to
see. The girl said presently, 'It is all on
the surface"
"You mean that the beautiful birds have
dreadful voices; that the flowers are scent
less; that the leaves of the trees are all on
edge and give no shade; that where that
beautiful carpet of blossoms is there was a
blazing quartz plain six months ago, and
there's likely to be the same again-that.
in brief, it's pretty, but hollow" He made
slight, fantastic gesture, as though mock
ing himself for SO long aspeech, and added
Really. l didn't prepare this little ora
tion."
She nodded and then said, "Oh, it's not
SO hollow-you would not call it that ex
actly-but unsatisfactory.
you have lost your illusions. Miss Ash
FORTH
"And before that occurred you had lost
yours, Mr. Tom Sherman"
do betray it, then?" He laughed not
at all bitterly, yet not with singular cheer
fulness.
'And do you think that you are possessed
of such acuteness, then, and p She
paused, raised her eyebrows a little coldly
and let the cockatoo bite her finger.
81 did not mean to be egotistical, believe
me. The fact is live my life alone, and |
never hear any remarks upon myself. }
was interested for the moment in knowing
something Of how l appeared to others
You and have been tolerably candid with
each other since we met, for the first time
three days ago. | know you would mol
hesitate to say what was in your mind, ane
| ask out of honest curiosity. One fancies
one hides ones self, and yet-you seep'
"You are forgiven of course. Do yol
find it pleasant then to be candid and fres
with some one?"
'sWhy with mes" She looked him frank
IL in the eyes.
"Well, to be more candid. You and !
know the world very well, l fancy. Yon
were educated in Europe, Travelled, en-
ioyed-and suffered" (The girl did not
even blink, but went on looking at him
steadiIy.) "We have both had our hour
with the world; have learned many sides
of the game We haven't come out of it
without scars of one kind or another.
Know ledge of the kind is expensive"
.'You wanted to say all that to me the
first evening we met, didn't your" There
was smile of gentle amusement on her
face.
81 did. From the moment saw you |
knew that we could say many things to
each other without preliminaries.' And
to be able to do that is a great deal"
"And it is relief to say things, isn't
it?"
SIT is better than writing them, though
that is pleasant, after its kind"
81 have never tried writing-as we talk
:. lie yof flot hot
fom of it, though. l believe"
"Of course But vanity is kind of vir
tue too" He leaned over toward her.
lropping his arms on his knees and hold
dng her look 81 am very glad that met
you | intended only staying here over
night, butt
But interested you in a way-you see.
am vain enough to think that. Well
you also interested me, and l urged my
aunt to press you to stay. You did. 1t has
been very pleasant, and when you go ii
will be very humdrum again; our CONVEX
Sation. mastering, rounding up bullocks
and rabbits. Which is interesting in a
way, but not for long at time"
He did not stir, but went on looking at
her.
"Yes, believe it has been pleasant for
you, else it had not been SO pleasant for
me- Honestly, don't believe shall ever
get you out of my mind"
''That is either slightly rude or badly
expressed" she said. "Do you wish, then.
to get me out of your mind?"
mo, no. You are very keen. 1 wish
to remember you always. But what | felt
| at the moment was this. There are mem
| cries which are always passive and delight
| full We have no wish to live the scenes OF
which they are over again; the reflection is
enough. There are others which cause us
| to wish the scenes back again, with kind
of hunger, and yet they won't or can't
| come back. wondered of what class this
memory would be-"
The girl flushed ever so slightly, and her
fingers clasped little nervously, but she
was calm. Her voice was even. 1t had
indeed little thrilling ring of energy
you are wonderfully daring" she replied,
| ito say that to me. To schoolgirl it
| might mean so much. To me?"- S
| shook her head at him. as if compassion
ateIy.
He was not in the least piqued. 81 WI
absolutely honest in that. said nothin;
but what felt. | would give very muc
I to feel confident one way or the other
| Forgive me, for what seems incredible egg
| tisnl- If l were five years younge.
| should have said instantly that the mel
| ory would be one"-
(which would disturb you, make yots
| restless, cause you to neglect your work
fill you with regret, and yet all too ls.te
| isn't that it?"
''You read me accurately. But why
| touch your tones with satire2"
4 believe 1 read you better than you
read me. I didn't mean to be satirical.
Don't you know that what often seems
irony directed toward others is in realit.
| dealt out to ourselves? Such irony as wa
in my voice was for myself"
"And why Cor yourself?" he asked qui
city, his eyes full of interest. He was cut
ting the end of a fresh cigar. "Was it'' Che
was about to strike a match, but paused
| suddenly because you had thought the
same thing?"