The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1894-03-30

At the appointed hour the festivities
commenced with the grand march, and
the dancing went on without cards. 1t
was gay throng. The costumes were
Il mixture Of the exquisite and grotes
que, but the masks made Il complete
disguise. Haskell could only discover
an acquai intance by some peculiar ang
lie or gait.
The 81 i'm women all resembled each
other except in costumes. 1t being
leap year the ladies were privileged to
invite the gentlemen to dance. Has
keIl had made himself attractive in the
court costume Of Claude, the gay lover
of the Lady of Lyons" and his en-
gagements gave HIM no odd moments
to discover his wife.
At twelve o'clock just as the clock
struck, all unmasked before going to
supper, and what was Haskell's sur
prise to find that he had made the grand
march and danced twice with his wife.
tie remembered thai her manner Was
rather distant, and she only replied to
his remarks by mol or in monosylla-
| bles
That surprise must have been the
best part Of the evenings entertain
ment, replied, Mrs. Smilax. | don't
see how he could have been so stupid.
| don't think any woman could have
outwittad me in that fashion, answered
Smilax.
Well, [ should like to try my skill
on the problem, replied Mrs. Smllax.
believe in thought transference and
mind power. Would you be willing to
promise me if | succeed, that you will
take me on that trip to California that
[ have been coaxing you about? Oh
yes. l will agree to the bargain if you
will promise to give up talking about
it until YOU do succeed.
Ii was a bargain, and Mrs Smilax
set her wits to work in good earnest.
1t had long been her desire to take
Raymond excursion to California.
The conversation was apparently for
gotten by Mr.. Smilax and not referred
to by Mrs. Smilax. A few days after
Mr.. Snilax remark one evening he
thought he would go to Boston on the
early morning train. You will dine at
Parker's, [ suppose, and get home in
time for tea, and | will have an opp Jr-
tunity to use my power of thought
transference on you.
If YOU will promise to be at Parker's
promptly half-past twelve and take o'lr
favorite seat at the tables by the win
dow, l will impress you what to order
for lunch, and to prove my ability will
wri te the menu on a card, seal it up in
an envelope and you will not look at it
until your order has been given. Mr..
Smlax smilingly agreed thinking how
simple and childIlke women were at
times.
Mrs. Smilax happen ed to have a
young lady cousin visiting with her at
this time. They were about the same
size and hei 5ht and she took her cousin
into her confidence in this contemplate
ed arrangement.
lore retiring Mrs. SIN ilax gave Or
ders for an early breakfast and made
her plans for the I2y. She was up
rather earlier than usual, ,,.i.c7Sed her
self in a street costume and slipped a
long loose wrapper over her dress,
breakfasted with her husband, remind
ed him not to forget to carry out the
days arrangement about the lunch -
As the outside do or closed on Mr.. Smi-
lax's retreating footsteps, Mrs Smilax
dropped off her wrapper her cousin
handed her the Dor rowed cloak with
one hand, the hat, with its dark cause
double veil, with the other. She starr
ed for the depot just five minutes after
her husband left the house. He was IN
sight all the way: she was able to OBJ
serve which car he entered. 1t hap
pened TO be stockholders day and the
seats We're very we'll filled, no seat WAS
without one orcuplnt. Mrs. SmllaN
sauntered lelsureIy through the car to
the seat her husband WAS occupying
and seated herself Mr.. Smilax was
near the window and politely m we'd to
make room. The cars soon began to
/ move and Mr.. Smilax unfolded his
morning paper, and did not seem inter-
ested i'll aught else.
As time passed the sunlight flashed
into the window rather more than was
: desirable under the circumstances, and
Mrs. SmiIax reached over to lower the
shade. Mr.. Smi'ax kindly shut out
the glare and inquired if she would
prefer the seat by the window. He re-
l ceived no reply but a negative nod.-
| As he had tinished the newspaper and
politely offered it, another nod Of relu-
sal was given.
: They reached Bos on OH the usual
| time without announcement. Mrs
: Smllax passed an hour i'll shopping,
: then leisurely wended her footsteps t.
: the Pa ker House, entered the Cafe and
: found her fayorite table unoccupied.-
, She ordered lunch for two to be ready
: at ha'f past twelve.