The record-union., 1895-08-10


leastways on Miss Dorothy's." she
thought, as she looked down on her
pretty little embroidered white slippers.
but | can't help it, for | dare not get
cab in any other way than by walking
to it.''
1t was fine night, fortunately, and in
less than three minutes she gotta hanson,
and in less than ten after leaving the
house was at the Neville Rooms.
Now, thank goodness" she thought.
81 am as good lady as any here. and no
one will trouble about me unless, per-
haps, Mr.. Cosmo Clare does, and if ne
chooses to take me for Miss Dorothy, L
have half mind to see if [ can't get bit
OF fun out OF him."
She neither hoped nor feared that this
would be the case. She had come for
pleasure, and meant to have it somehow.
She thought il by no means improbable
that he would mistake her for Miss Do
rothy, for her fellow-servants had fre-
quently done so when they had net her
on the stairs or in the passages in doubt
ful light, and they had always said tha.
her figure was very like that of her young
mistress. She had no particular intention
with regard to Mr.. Cosmo Glare, though
when she had placed the anemones IN
her dress the thought had been in her
mind that It would be very amusing ii
she could in some way, without betray-
ing herself, put matters right between
Miss Dorothy and him.
She followed a stout lady who was not
unlike Mrs. Delaney up stairs, and seated
herself by her and her daughter.
mot that my being alone matters"
she thought, ''tor who can say that l am
not an old married lady who can go
about as she likesY'
She danced twice, and then began to
wonder why she did not recognize Mr..
Clare.
She almost felt disappointed that she
did not do so. She had not heard what
costume he was to wear, and did not
know what to look for. IL was twenty
minutes TO II, and ere long she would
have to go. 80 she put her anemones
where they could be seen, and took three
or four from the bunch and held them
in her hand as she stood up to watch the
dancers. The spirit of adventure had
taken possession of her. Before five
minutes had gone by Puritan, with
long Genevan gown and white bands,
but, like every one else. closely masked,
seemed to be good deal interested in the
fact that she was not only wearing ane-
mones from the Riviera, but carrying
enough for a buttonhole in her hand. He
looked earnestly at her and at the flowers,
and stood some time near her. She was
again only one seat from the lady who
resembled Mrs. Delaney, to whom for
that reason she had attached herself on
arrival.
"Will you dance this valse with me?"
he said.
She was almost certain that he was Mr..
Clare.
"With pleasure" she said in the as
sumed voice in which she had spoken
ever since she had entered the room
why she scarcely knew then, except
that she had gathered from the novels
which were her principal reading that it
was the custom to speak in an assumed
voice at a masked ball. Now it was
really necessary.
You have some anemones III your
hand" be said as if wanting to be helped
out OF difficulty.
"Yes," she answered, hoping that be
would ask moro.
"I wonder why you trouble to carry
them"
Partly as penance." she said; "some
one asked me this morning to give him
three or four to wear tonight and | re-
fused. I can't think why, for l wanted
him to have Them"
"Ah, l thought L had OWNED you even
in your Surroundings of black; my instinct
led me to you. VIII you give them
to me- now?"
LET me be sure that you are the right
person.; where was | when l refused
them?"
AT the far end of big drawing room
in Chester Terrace, Hyde Park.
begged you to give me one or two, and
you were"
"Oh, don't say what | was, and don't
always judge me by what [ say! never
can say what | mean or wish"
lis that true?"
at is quite true"
"Do you never say what you mean or
wish?"
Very seldom! 1 am so shy. 1 might.
perhaps, say what [ mean now that l II
masked, and no one can see how l look
while L am saying it."
There is a question which affects the
happiness of my whole life. For weeks
and months | have wished to put it to
you. | have tried once or twice, but
never even approach 1t without your
manner becoming so discouraging, and
your words so repelling, that I sec it is
OF no use to say more"
"W hat is the question?' she demanded
with an admirably ingenious manner.
Can't you guess?'
81 don't know. Perhaps I can, but l
seem to like you to put it.''
II do put it. VIII you be my wife?"
There was brief pause, aud then for
sole answer she put the four little ane-
nOn0S III HIS manu-.
Say you WILL" he pleaded.
81 will.o
Good heavens! And you did make
me so miserable this morning, and have
been so miserable ever since"
"You are sure you love me?" she asked
almost in whisper. Even though this
offer was not meant for her she was too
much affected by his words and manner
10 be able to answer him in an assumed
voice now.
"Of course l am. l never was so sure
of anything in my whole life l only
wish were as sure of your loving me.
Once or twice during the past two months
you have looked as If you did care for me-
Just little, and then the next moment
you have chilled me into silence and
hopeleSsnesS Even now [ feel as if I
scarcely dare to trust in such happiness.
| feel as ii 1t would fade away and leave
me. and that tomorrow, when | see you
again. you will look frightened and hesi-
tate, and when you do open your lips it
will be to say, L can't think what YOU
mean. l am quite certain that | never
said | loved you. How could [ say such
thingY In modified form that is
how you have treated me for some
months"
II know 1t is. and it has made me quite
AS unhappy as 1t can possibly have made
you. 1t is something that can neither
control nor alter that makes me behave
as do, and whenever you seem to like
me most. and l am most happy, l play
the fool and say something to drive you
away. [ warn you that l shall perhaps
do it again. 1t is quite possible that
when you next come to see me / shall
deny that | have owned l love you."
'Oh! impossibleW
Not impossible at all. From what I
know of myself l think it Is almost cer-
tain. | am afraid of it's happiness-so
afraid that L do so wish there was some
way of defending me against myself"
"Forewarned is forearmed. / shall re-
fuse TO believe. Besides, I think [ will
make sure of you by going to speak to
your father about this Tomorrow morn