Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-01

through the hall.
Hes gone out, ma'am, some time
ago. l saw him Co." answered the girl.
"Was he in evening dress?''
YES, ma'am," answered Mary,
somewhat surprised at her mistress
unusual ignorance
Mrs. Morton raised her eyebrows
slightly and swept past the maid, say
ing:
Come, put my cloak around me,
Mary"
A moment later the Browns arrived
and the carriage rolled away, carrying
Helen to the much disputed mask bali
1t was a brilliant party, but Helen
enjoyed it lot at all. She could not
forget Dick, try as she would, and
she felt all the time as if she must 90
off somewhere and have a 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 a tall man coming toward
her.
Il wonder if that is Paul Elliott"
she said to herself. He was masked,
of course, but wore simply a domino
over his evening suit.
May | have the pleasure of this
dancer" he asked.
Hele1's heart stood still moment
and then went galloping away with
him. 1t was Dicks voice.
Certainly" she said in queer
tone.
They waltzed away together, she
thinking: surely he will know my
step, no one else ever danced so we'll
with him, he always tells me so.''
But the tall man said nothing except
and the costumes.
When they stopped he drew her into
the conservatory, and having found a
quiet nook behind some big palms, he
sunk down beside her and began the
most finished filtration the heart Of a
coquette could desire.
Helen was dumbfOunded. Could
this be her Dick-her loyal, devoted
husband? "A spasm of jealousy con-
tracted her heart. 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 said, in response to
a tender remark of his:
''But, 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 senti-
ments? If you had ever really cared
for anyone you could not play at love
in Tins fashion,"
THE only woman | ever cared for
was just like all the rest of your fair
sex, madame" said the Domino sar-
castically.
'iShe discarded the real love of a
lifetime, the great affection of a man
who would have died for her, for the
meaningless attentions of a society
fop. 1t f1attered her vanity, and you
know that after all that is what really
counts with a woman. 1t means more
to her than the honest love of a man
whose life is wrecked by her frivolity
and heartlesSnesS.'
He stopped abruptly and then added,
lightly:
But come. we are talking queer
things for a ballroom-or, rather, am
boring you with a little tragedy which
cannot possibly interest mere
stranger"
He eyed her keenly, but could not
see the mouth beneath the short black
mask, for she had turned her head
away, and the white hand that lay
trembling on her knee was the only
sign of her agitation.
LET us go back to the Dance" he
said, quietly, unless you would like
me to get you an ice"
The lady in yellow seemed unable to
speak, but she made a gesture of as
sent and he started away to get an ice
for her.
"Poor little girlr' he said, tenderly,
under his breath.
Helen snatched off her mask as soon
as he disappeared, and gave way to her
feelings completely. She sobbed as if
her heart would break, and when the
tall Domino came back she Sprang up
and cried, chokingly:
ooh, Dick, I'm not such a wicked
wretch at all. [ love you dearly, and
hate that man and everybody else but
you"
Here She began to cry AGAIN. The
tall Domino dropped the peach ice into
the palms, and taking off his mask, he
kissed the lady in yellow several times,
and said:
"Come home now, little wife, and
let's hope that we will both be more
sensible and less childish in the
future"
And Helen said:
Eyes, darling. "-Chicago News.
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