The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-12
YES. DARLING. y

II think you re very unreasonable, said
Helen Morton Eearfully.
''And I think you're very selfish, . said
Dick Morton angrily.
ssWell, I am going to that masquerade
party, and you may just as well make up
your mind to it right now"
ST may just as well make up my mind,
then, that you going to do just exactly
as you please, regardless of my wishes or
my Judgment" said Dick.
'sWhen your judgment is as much at
fault as it appesrs to be in this instance,
you may make up your mind that shall
exercise my own Judgment. y
'sYour what?'' inquired Dick sarcastic
ally, and Helen was so angry at this last
shot that she hounced herself out of The
room.
They had been married just six months.
Helen was 10 and Dick was 20. They
had always agreed perfectly about their
mutual affairs till the question of the mask
ball came up.
Dick did not like the young fellow who
had sent them the invitation. Paul Ell
lott had been a little too attentive to Hell
en- of late to suit Dick, who was a trifle
jealous, as most husbands of young, pref
ty women are.
Helen was fond of attention. But she
was perfectly devoted to her husband, al
though she did love to tease him at times.
80 Sn0 pretended IllEb with RaQl Ill
lott, to Dicks intense annoyance and
chagrin.
He lighted a cigar and started off down
town without seeing Helen. 1t was the
fist time he had ever left the house with
out kissing her goodby, and she watched
him from an upper window with lump
in her throat and an angry quicker between
her pretty brows. /
"All right, Mr.. Dick, - she said defantly, !
brushing tear away at the same time. !
'fYou can be spunky and so can L Eli
go to that mask ball if I have to get di-
voree to do it.
And the silly girl Immediately began
her arrangements for her costume and
mask. She telephoned to her friends, the
Browns, who, she knew, were going, and
asked theln to take her with them.
Helen decided to wear an old fashioned
gown made in she style of the frocks of
colonial days. 1t of rich yellow
! brocade, and, as the modiste said to her,
would suit her brunette beauty wonderful
J ~ we'll. Then she bought yellow ostrich
feather fan and amber satin slippers and
silk stockings of the same hue. Long,
yellow suede gloves completed her pur
chases, and she went home to luncheon
tired and unhappy, but with renewed de-
| termination.
The next night at 9 O'Clock Helen stood
| mirror at herself. Her powdered hair was
very becoming, and she turned instructive
| " to where Dick always stood when they
! were dressing to go out to seek his adIni-
/ ration. But Dick was not there, and with
smothered soh she gathered up her fan,
! gloves, bouquet and opera cloak and went
slowly down stairs.
1t was a brilliant party, but Helen en-
ioyed it not at all. She could not forget
/ Ei0I- -1~ ch0 fo1+ all
the time as if she must go off somewhere
| and have good Cry"
Once two tears did run down behind her
| little black mask, but she quickly wiped
them away and danced and laughed and
chatted on. Presently she saw tall man
coming toward her.
+ 81 wonder if that is Paul Elliott, - she
said to herself. He was masked, of course,
but wore simply domino over his even
ing suit.
''May have the pleasure of this dancer
| he asked.
Helens heart stood still moment and
then went galloping away with her. 1t
was Dicks voice.
Certainly she said in a queer tone.
They waltzed away together, she think
| ing: Surely he will know my step. Nc
one else ever danced so well with him; he
always tells me So.
!
some commonplace about the music and
the costumes.
When they stopped, he drew her into the
conservatory and, having found a quiet
nook behind some big palms, he sank
down beside her and began the most fin
ished Irritation the heart of a coquette
could desire
Helen was dumfounded. Could this
be her Dick-her loyal, devoted husbands
e -
This, then, was the way he acted in her
absence.
She replied wittily to his pretty speeches
and held up her end of the little pastime
very well. But just as soon as she could
she said, in response to tender remark Of
his;
FBut, my dear sir, you know you don't
mean that. It's very pretty and it amuses
me, but don't believe it. Why are you
SO shallow in your sentinents2 If you had
ever really cared for any one, you could
not play at love in this fashion,
'"Fhe only woman I ever cared for was
just like all the rest of your fair sex, mad
am said the domino sarcastically.
'She discarded the real love of lifetime
the affection of a man who would have
died for her, for the meaningless atten
tions of a fop. It fattered her vanity
and you know that after all that is wha
really counts with a woman.
He eyed her keenly, but could not SCI
the mouth beneath the short, black mask
for she had turned her head away, and tn
white hand that lay trembling on her kne
was the only sign of her agitation.
''Let us go back to the dance, " he SAT-
| quietly, unless you would like me to ge
you an ice"
The lady ia yellow seemed unable t
speak, but she made a gesture of assen
/. and he started away to get an ice for her.
Helen snatched of her mask as soon a
! he disappeared and gave way to her feel
ings completely. She sobbed as if be
heart would break and when the ia
domino came back she sprang up and erie
chokingly:
. ''Oh, Dick, LIN not such a wicke
wretch at all. 1 love you dearly, and
hate th at; man and ezelr hllfiv else hut VOL