The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-12-09
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.

# 80 you are not going to the mas
luerade ball, Marie!"
No, L am not going to the masque-
rade ball. That is the third time / have
answered that question, believe .
4. She was SO absorbed in her own
scheming thoughts, so anxious to pre-
vent his reading them in her eyes, that.
she did not see the look Of exultation
/ that lit up his dark face. She only
feard his voice in a tone Of WelEas-
su1ned 1egret that deceived even her +
What is the meaning of that strange
caprice? When have anticipated this
i ball for weeks-we all have. Do you
know that it's. chief attractiveness will
be gone without you-to one person, ut
least?"
ITO one person. Marie muttered IN
der her breath, clincEing her hands saw
agely. "Ay! to one person it will be
the bitterest night in her life, if can
but work my plans welI.''
Then aloud she added with simulated
gayety:
l. ''Of course expect you to be perfect
~ miserable, Carlo mio-that goes with
out saying. But one cannot always be
favored Of fortune. You must learn to
do without me once in while.'
h. "A lesson that you will have to learn
after tonight not once ia awhile,
but forever!' muttered Carlo in his
turn.
Then once more aloud:
"Can nothing make you alter your de-
eision, Marie?''
Nothing, my dear Carlo. There will
be other masquerade balls, plenty Of
them; but find it impossible to at
tend this one, for reasons that I cannot
even tell you, at present-but you shall
know all in good time. Au reyoir"
and waving kiss from the tips Of her
fingers she turned away, feeling that
she could not trust her face and voice
further.
''Ah, poor, credulous foolr' she mutt
tered, as soon as she was safe dis
lance away. How easily I can wind
you around my finger until the last
moment! And how you will storm and
rage when you find how Marie has de-
ceived and outwitted you; how I have
kept secret the love that has been con-
Stunning my heart all this time-ever
since I looked upon Arthur Masters
face, so secret that you, secure as you
thought, have ventured to f1irt with his
betrothed Elma Deane, until she, silly
little fool fancied that you were IN love
with her, and prosecuting her with your
attentions. You have had the name OF
it, now you shall have the game of it,
and lose the one that you deem SO Sc
crlrely yours. How fortunate that L
happened to overhear that conversation
Arthur urging her to slip away to-
night from the ball long enough to be
married-and heard also Elmas aser-
ton that Carlo-ha! ha!-had been per-
scouting herSWith his attentions. wen,
thanks to that bit Of eavesdropping-
have the game in my own hands.
even know the costume she Is to wear
. and if you urge your request at the ball
tonight, my handsome Arthur, you will
find no more hesitation from your lady
love. And tomorrow there will be two
1ove-lOrn people to console each other
if they are SO disposed-one to regret
his over-confdence, the other to bewail
her lack Of prudence"
She was at the house by this time;
the place where she and her fiance, Car
10 A1atteo, had been spending some
weeks, and where also month before
Elma Deane had come with a maiden
aunt, for short sojourn, to be followed
in weeks time by Arthur Masten,
who had taken rooms at another hotel
near by But to all intents and pur-
poses he had lived under the same roof
with his betrothed, and the four had
easily become acquainted, with what
~
story have described in brief.
Locking the door of her room, Marie
took from her closet long, plain DOM
ino in which she made few changes;
then when it was completed, tried it on
{ before the mirror with low, exultant
laugh.
"Now?'' she exclaimed as she stepped
back. Il defy even your sharp eyes,
Carlo milo, to pierce that disguise! We
are about the same height, too, and
figure, and the change can be effectual-
j " made-especially with the aid Of a
few drops of this!" She took up q bot
" tie from the table filled with a dark
colored liquid, and shook it exultantly.
E And if with all this to aid me, am
not skillful enough to effect my pur-
pose, I will marry Carlo, as a punish
.nent for my failurev'
The masquerade ball was at it's height
when a tall 81 anish cavalier and q
Swiss peasant girl, who lad been dane
ing togsthcr nearly all the evening,
turned away from the throng of dane
.rs, and making their way to all lin
proyised lower just outsid, of the
# .aIse ballroom sat down.
The man did not however, release
. his companions hand, but kept it in
hii Own, gently strcking it.
1--WE could not have q better oppor-
y tunity than now, my dal ling" he urged,
a.; if in continuation of some previous
& remark. He is not here; I have q
carriage ready--i7 * but a short drive
L to the nearest minister's. Let us go and
return man and wife-then let him dare
d to annoy you further if he will. !
know it is a hasty and informal way to
do; but we have loved each other too
long to stand at trifles now. Your aunt
will readily pardon us-and I would
8 like to see that fellows face when ]
take my seat ut the breakfast table
with you and introduce you as my wife.