The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-16

had taken the thing up and made IL a sue
cess. And as many Of tho men and nearly
all tho girls were in fancy sress the scene
was striking and brilliant.
Among the Henrietta Marias, the Amy
Robsarts, Flora McDonalds and other char
acters that filed the rooms one girls face
took my heart captive the instant beheld
It, She did not look more than IL, though
she may have been q year or two older,
fair, slender with sunny hair and u milk
white complexion. She was dressed to
represent the snow image of Hawthorne's
charming fantasy, and the character suit
ed her style of beauty admirably. She was
pale as the snow wreath that crowned her
head, and she seemed almost as fragile as
the iciclcs that were her only ornaments
The girls beauty was indeed romark-
able. People turned and looked at her as
she moved here and there and whenever
she stood still she was Instantly surround
ed by small crowd Of men eager to get
their names put down on her programme
noticed, however, that there was a sad,
abstracted look in her eyes. Her heart was
not IN the ballroom.
In spite of all my efforts / failed TO get
an introduction to the girl who had fasci-
mated me. / failed even to learn her name.
But none the less / had fallen In love with
her-like fool i had fallen In love with
"a stranger-a vision that In ali likelihood
should never see again, that would be for
mo as fleeting and unsubstantial as the
Snow Fairy whom she represented.
There was one other person At the ball
who attracted my attention. This was a
tall, dark man, with a thick, short, black
beard, man considerably over the middle
height and evidently possessing q strong
will as well as a powerful body. More
than once this man approachS the Snow
Fairy, and on each occasion she seemed TO
me to shrink from him as II she in some
way had cause TO fear him. They were
evidently connected, but what the rela-
tionship between them was could not be
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 pestered my friends
In the hope of getting in some indirect way
an introduction to the girl who had fasci-
mated me- but 1 was quito unsuccessful.
Once her eyes met mine What she read
there / do not know, but she suddenly
turned aside, her pale checks showing a
sudden glow Of rose color. Vexed with
myself for making her blush, turned
away in the opposite direction, and took
care not TO approach so near her again.
The evening wore on, and 1t was evident
that my ambition was not to be gratifled.
About o'clock left the ballroom, and,
rmuffied in my thick ulster, was making
my way along a side street which led to
the main thoroughfare where hansoms
were to be found when I heard q rush Of
flying feet behind mo.
4 t,,rpaI and fhoYSp close fO pna stood the
Snow Fairy, white opera cloak wrapping
her from head to foot and her sweet, sad
face looking out at me from within hood
of swansdown.
stood and stared, too much surprised
to think or to form conjecture.
lis there a letter box near" she gasped
out, for she was breathless, as much from
excitement, 1t seemed to me, as from the
exertion Of running. "Oh, please, please
tell me. Where shall look for one9" she
went on, without giving me timo TO collect
my thoughts
"I don't know where the nearest letter
box is" I replied, "but i can easily find
out If you will intrust your letter to me,
will see that 1t is posted"
"No, cannot 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 ], had heard the noise of
some one running up to us, and the next
moment the man with the short black
beard stood over us. Rxee knotted the
veins on his forehead till they seemed to
be near bursting Rage for the space Of
two seconds kept him speechless. During
those two seconds the girl crept perceptibly
nearer TO mc, and something smooth, stiff,
thin, like piece of thick pasteboard, was
pressed into my hand / slipped 1t at once
into the pocket Of my ulstcr
what are you doing here9' he said to
the girl in tone of suppressed fury, and
before she had time TO answer he turned
savagcly upon me. How dare you speak
TO my daughter" no demanded, advancing
on me In a slow and threatening manner.
/ had Just time TO see look of mute sup
plication In the girls eyes. She was en-
treating me not to betray her.
Really, SIR" said, with as much
coolness as i could command, really, you
must pardon me for saying that you secm
little less than reasonable. One is permit
ted to speak TO young lady at a ball p"
"In the open street, In this clandestine
manner"
I'VE were not in great privacy, to be
sure, but that might he urged In mitiga-
tion Of the offense," | said, with smile.
"You shall not hoodwink me. What
was 1t that she was saying TO you when
came ups'
"If have been guilty of an indiscretion,
the fault is mine, and am ready to an
swer for It, but you cannot expect me to
repeat whatever trnes may have permit
ted myself TO say to the young lady, whom
i fear l may not have an opportunity OF
meeting again. No gentleman would be
guilty OF such thing, nor, am sure,
would you IL you had been in my place.
i saw by the mans face that l had
achieved my object had led him to be-
lieye that there had been nothing moro
than little foolish Irritation between tho
young lady and myself He seized tho
girls hand, tucked IL under his arm and
marched of.
IA for having an opportunity OF meet
ing her again will Take precious good
care that you don't" Zee threw at me over
his shoulder
Alas, there could be little doubt Of it'