The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-09-02
Spelling A SCHEME.


In the ballroom. The charity on account
Of which the entertainment was being
held was popular one. Some great ladies
had taken the thing up and made 1t Sue
cess. And as many of the men and nearly
all the girls were in fancy dress the scene
was striking and brilliant.
Among the Henrietta Marias, the Amy
Robsarts, Flora McDonalds and other char
acters that filled the rooms one girls face
took my heart captive the instant beheld
it. She did not look more than II, though
she may have been year or two older,
fair, slender, with sunny hair and milk
white complexion. She was dressed to
represent the snow image Of Hawthorne 8
charming fantasy, and the character suit
cd her style Of beauty admirably She was
pale as the snow wreath that crowned her
head, and she seemed almost as fragile as
the icicles that We're her only ornaments.
The girls beauty was indeed remark
able. People turned and looked at her as
she moved hero and there, and whenever
she stood still she was instantly surround
cd by small crowd Of men eager to got
their names put down on her programme.
I noticed, however, that there was sad,
distracted look in her eyes Her heart was
not In the ballroom.
In spite Of all my efforts I failed to get
an introduction to tho girl who had fasci-
mated me. failed even to learn her name.
But mono the less had fallen In love with
her-liko u fool. 1 had fallen In love with
stranger-a vision that in all Likelihood
should never see again, that would be for
lot, ,,tt ~ I,,
Snow Fairy whom she represented.
There was one other person at the ball
who attracted my attention. This was
tall, dark man, with a thick, short, black
beard, man considerably over the middle
height and evidently possessing a strong
will as well as a powerful body. More
than once this man approached the Snow
Fairy, and on each occasion she seemed to
me to shrink from him as If she in some
way had cause to fear him. They were
evidently connected, but what the rela-
tionship between them was could not DO
sure, for the man seemed too young to be
her father. Surely, said to myself with
jealous pang, surely he cannot be her
lover.
The whole evening I pcstered my friends
81 tiiS iioPS VI eOppihB Ill SoiliC ihNtHt GU Ndt
IN introduction to the girl who had fasci-
mated me, but I was quite unsuccessful.
Once her eyes met mine. What she read
there do not know, but she suddenly
turned aside, her pale cheeks showing a
sudden glow Of rose color. Vcxcd with
myself for making her blush, turned
away in the opposite direction, and I took
care not to approach so near her again.
The evening wore on, and 1t was evident
that my ambition was not to be gratified.
About o'clock left the ballroom, and,
muffled In my thick ulster, was making
my way along u side street which led to
the main thoroughfare where hansoms
were to be found when / heard rush Of
flying feet behind me.
turned, and there close to me stood tho
Snow Fairy, white opera cloak wrapping
her from head to foot and her sweet, sud
face looking out at me from within hood
Of swansdown.
stood and stared, too much surprised
to think or to form a conjecture.
rs there u letter box near" she gasped
out, for she was breathlcss, rs much from
excitement, it seemed to me, as from the
exertion of running. ooh, please, please
tell me- Where shall 1 look for one?" she
went on, without giving Inc time to collect
my thoughts.
Il don't know where the nearest letter
box is" replied, "but I can easily find
out. If you will intrust your letter to me,
l will see that it is posted
mo, l cannot l dare not trust 1t to
any one. Do try to find out for me-
The words died away on her lips, for
she, as well as l. had heard the noise of
some one running up to us, and tho next
the man with the short, black
beard stood over us. Rage knottod the
veins on his forehead till they seemed to
be near bursting. Rage for the space of
two seconds kept him speeches.. During
those two seconds the girl crcpt perccptibly
nearer to me, and something smooth, stiff,
thin like piece of thick pasteboard, was
pressed into my hand 1 slipped it ut once
into the pocket of my ulster
What are you doing hereP' he said to
the girl in tone of suppressed fury, and
before she had time to answer he turned
savagely upon nc. How dare you speak
to my daughter" he demanded advancing
On me in a slow and threatening manner.
had just time to sec look of muto sup
plication In the girl's eyes She was en-
treating me not to botray her.
Really, sir" said, with as much
coolness as could command, REALLY, you
must pardon mo for saying that you seem
little less than reasonable One is permit
ted to speak to Il young lady at a ball. ="
In the open street? In this clandestine
I've were not in great privacy, to DO
sure, but that might be urged In mitiga-
ion of the offcnsc," l said, with smile
"You shall rot hoodwink me. What
vas it that She was saying to you when
,amo upf'
"1f have been guilty of an indiscretion,
he fault is mine, and am ready to an
'wer for it, but you cannot expect me to
'epeat whatever trillcs may have permit
cd myself to say to ihe young lady, whom
fear ! may not have an opportunity Of |
Meeting again. No gentleman would be
guilty of such thing, nor, am sure,
would you if you had been in my place.
l saw by the mans face that I had
chieved my object had led him to be-