Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-03-01
NUMBER 8.

~e passed. many pleasant evenings 10
grther. but suddenly his visits ceased
Without word of warning he stopped
romins 20 see me. Our pleasant even
in.-s come % amend Doyou know whyi
IT, hai formed pIeasantsr friendship
~i,h another young lady. and was for.
gotten
"You Are cruel; formed no pleasant
er friendship; have never entertained
but the one feeling for you since the trst
time ] saw you" aid Rush before he
knew what ha was doing.
what do you meanT asked Helen In
tlIo most innocent manner. knowing psr-
fcctly well all the while. "You formed
no pleasantsr acquaintanool you have
entertained feeling. for met This Il very
mysterious One expects mysteries at
masked balls. lat ! am more than sur.
pris"i at icing spoken TO In this way by
an unknown mask"
Then you don't recognize me. aid
Rush. taking some comfort 10 himself In
the thought that he had not betrayed hls
identity after all by this time they
had reached the end u the south lobby,
ani were Just about 20 rctraoe their
siet-. when Rush felt Ilelen's hand
tighten its grasp on his arm.
There u d. 20 awful man. shs gAsped.
a. a man. walking very unsieadily. came
out % the directors room. and. seeing
Helen. started forward A. II ho would
nis, her mask. "Ah. here's my sweet
violet he said. In a thick. uncertain
voice. bat. bcfore the words had fairly
left his tongue. Rush gave him quick.
sharp blow between the eyes and sent
him crashing up against the door of the
room he had just quilted
"Oh. Mr. llurlstone. what have you
doncy- exclaimed Helen, In trembling
tones; ,quick. take me 10 my aunt"
Rush'thought her advice good. and at
once acted upon IL. lie was only sorry
that he hal not taken her 30 her aunt In
the first place. and then come hack alons
aud knocked the in-olent fellow into .
cocked hat Fortunately there happened
10 h. no one at that end u tho lobby Just
at that moment. but ha heard people
coming. AMI was drcadfully worried for
fear ~ the annoyance % Helen N she
were discovered under such circum.
sianceA
Come this way said shc. leading
him through the little passage way .,
the hack - the lower tier % botc..
there L. a door here that opcns on tho
stage. and We can 80 around and get 10
my aunt and Mr. Archer without being
noticed. Oh, why did ! come 20 this
dreadful plaosi Aunt Rebeoca didn't
want me TO Oh! II l had only listened
to herr
Rush felt extremely mortified. IL bss
your PARDON. Miss Knowlton." sAid he.
IIc had taken OF his mask. and they no
longer played at mystery. II should not
have struck that fellow with you on my
arm, Tat I am not u-cd to masked bAllA
don't know their etiquette. only
knew that you were insultsd, and my ln.
dignation ct the better of my iudg'
mcnt."
Il forgive you. Nr IIurls,one." shs
replied. "but don't forgive myself for
coming to such place. IL Is lesson !
shall never forget Here arc my friends,"
she added. And Rush saw the two Ia
dies and Mr. Archer and Archie nlling.
hast.
Aren't you ready 10 go homo yety-
said Bessie II think 10 pretty duh
here"
They all agreed 20 90. and Rush hais
them good night at tho door. Helen aid
nothing about tho little episode of tho
lobby. and he was grateful 10 her.
After he had sccn their carriage drive
of. Rush returned 10 the lobby 10 80
what had bccome ~ the man he had
knocked down. on the way be saw
many curious .cencs-amOng them tho
blue domino Who had flr~i spoken to him
.issing the bald pate % the general lie
~. glad enough that Helen had gone.
When be got around by the directors
room hs heard loud voice proclaiming,
"rd know the damned rAscal II | ~
him. be took me right between the eycs,
before I hal time To defend myself. damn
hlmf''
Rush prcs.ed through the crowd. lie
aw the man be had knocked down
standing with his hack against the wall.
his hair numpled and bis shirt front
pretty well demoraliLed A younger
man had him by the arm. and vas evi-
IDENTIFY urging him to 50 home. The
Young man. back was turned to Rush,
and hi. figure swayed slightly a. hs
tuggcd at the arm Of his companion.
Rush stepped up 10 him. is your
friend much hurtr he inquired.
"The colOnels not a. hurt as he ls
mad" answered the young man. turning
around slowly. though he got . pretty
hard blow. ssryed him night. he ~as
too fresh. making up 10 another mans
mask And the young man steadied
himself by the wall a. be turned. Rush
thought be detected something familiar
In the voice. though II was thick with
drink. but when the fellow turned around
to the light he saw who IL was.
"Johni'
"Rush.-
And thus the brothers met for tho
frst time In New York.