The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1896-02-28

to let it be seen.
The next night at O'Clock Heller
stood in the room gazing in the lOnl
cheval mirror at herself. Her pow
dered lIair was very becoming, anG
she turned instinctiyely to the spot
where Dick always stood when they
were dressing to go out to seek his
admiration. But Dick was not there,
and with Il smothercd sob, she gath
cred up her fan. gloves, bouquet and
opera cloak and went slowly down.
stairs.
where's your master. Mary 2" she
said to the maid who was passing in
the hall.
"lIc's gone out, ma'am. some time
ago. l saw him Co." answered the
girl.
"Was he in evening dress?'
"Yes, ma'am," answewcrcd Mary,
somewhat surprised at her mistress
unusual ignorance.
Mrs. Mortar raised her eyebrows
slightly and swept past the maid, say
ing
Come, put my cloak around me,
Mary"
A moment later the Browns ar
rived aud the carriage rolled away
carrying Helen to the much disputed
mask bail.
1t was brilliant party. but Helen
enjoyed it not at all. She could not
forget Dick, try as she would, and she
felt all the time as if she must go of
somewhere and have Il good cry"
One or two tears did run down behind
her little black mask, but she wiped
them away, aud danced and laughed
and chatted on. Presently she saw Il
tall man coming toward her
IL wonder ii mat Il, Paul Elliott"
she said to herself. lie was masked
of course, but simply wore 4 domino
over his evening suit.
"May | have the pleasure of this
dance 2" he asked.
IIelen's heart stood Still moment
and then went galloping away with
her. 1t was Dicks Voice
"Certainly," she said, in a queer
tone.
They walt2edS away together, She
thinking, "Surcly he will know my
step no one else ever danced so well
with him; he always tells me So"
But the tall man said nothing, cx
cept some commonplace remark about
the music and the costumes.
When they stopped he drew her
into the conservatory, and, having
found Il. quiet nook behind some
palms, he sank down beside her and
began the most finished Irritation the
heart OF a coqucttc could desire.
Helen was dumbfounded. Could
this be her Dick, her loyal devoted
husband. A spasm of jealousy con-
tractcd 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 she 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 amuscs me, but l don't believe it.
Why are you so shallow in your senti-
ments? If you had ever really cared
for any one you could not play at love
in this fashion"
"The only woman l ever cared for
was just like the rest of your sex,
madam" said the Domino, sarcasti-
cally. "She discarded the real love of
lifetime, the great affection of a man
who would have died for her, for the
meaningless attentions of society
fop. 1t hattered her vanity, and you
know that after all that is what really
counts with woman. Itmeans more
to her than the honest love Of a man
whose life is wrecked by her frivolity
and heartlessness."
He stopped abruptly, then added,
lightly:
"But come, we are talking queer
things for ball room--or, rather, |
am boring you with a little tragedy
that can't possibly interest Il 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 tile
only sign Of her agitation.
"Let us go back to the dance" he
said, quietly, "unless you would like
me to yet you an ice."
The lady in yellow seemed unable
to speak, but she made gesture Of
assent and he started away to get an
ice for her.
"Poor little girl" he said tenderly,
under his breath.
Helen snatchcd 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, chok-
ingly:
II love you very dearly and l hate
that man and everybody else but
vou y