The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-08-15
Spelling A SCHEME.

Tho crowd grew thicker every mo.
ineht until II became almost impossible
TO move In the ballroom. The charity
on account OF which tho entertainment
was being held vas n popular onu; some
great ladies had taken the thing III and
made Il II success. And aB many OF the
men and ncnrly all the girls wcrG In fan
cy dress, the scene was striking and
brilliant
Among tho Henrietta Marlns. the Amy
ltobgaris, Flora McDonnlds aud other
characters that filed tho rooms, n
Glrl's face took my heart captive tho mo.
Inent ! bchcld II, She did not look moro
than seventeen, though che may have
been II ycnr or two older, fair. slender,
with sunny hair. and 10 represent the
Snow Image OF I%INwthorno's charming
Fantasy, and the character suited her
style OF beauty admirably. She was
pale ns the snow wreath that crowned
her head, and she seemed almost as fra
GLE nS the lciclcs that were her only
ornaments.
The girls beauty was. indeed. remark
able. People turned and looked ut her
aS she moved here ind there: and when
ever she stood still she was surrounded
by n small crowd OF men eager TO get
their names put down on her pro-
gramme. ! noticed, however. that there
was n sad, distracted look In her eyes.
He henrt was not In the bali room.
In spite OF MI my efforts, | failed 10
get an Introduction to the Girl who had
fascinated me, | failed even to learn
her name. lu none the less. | had fall
on In love with her-likc n fool. | Ind
fallen In love with Il strnngcr-a vision
that In NIL likelihood l should never sec
n trAtp lt,I ,rn,,IN kn fNr t,,a az. tnntl,..
and unaubstHntiGl NJ the Snow Fairy
whom she represented.
There was one other person at tho hail
who attracted my attention. This was
n tall, dnrk man. with n thick. short.
black beard, n man considerably over
the middle height. and evidently poe
sessing Il etrOng VIII as well nS q power
full body. More than once this man mp
preached the Snow Fairy. and on each
occasion she seemed to me to shrink
from him as II she In some way feared
him. They were evidently connected,
but what the relationship between them
was ! could not be sure. for the man
seemed too young to be her father. Sure
~. said 10 myself, with'a jealous panS.
surely he cannot be her lover.
The whole evening | pestcred my
friends in the hope OF getting. In some
indirect way, an Introduction t the girl
who had fascinated me, but | was quite
unsuccessful. Once her eyes me mine.
What she read there / do not know, but
she suddenly turned aside, her pale
checks showing 4 sudden glow Of rose
color. VTXed with myself for making
her blush ! turned AWAY in the, Oppo-
site direction; md | took care not TO APP
preach so ncNr to her again.
The evening wore on. and II was owl
dent that my ambition was not to be
%gratiHed. About 2 O'Clock | left the ball
room and. mutlici In my :hick ulster.
was making my way along n side street
which led to the main th%Oroughfare.
where hansomS were to be found. when
l heard a rush OF flying feet behind tue.
lrturned. and there, close to me, stood
the Snow Fairy, n white opera cloak
wrapped around her from head 10 foot,
and her sweet, sad face looking out at
me from within 4 hood OF swansdown.
! stood and siarHtd, t.o much surprised
TO think or form II conjecture.
us there a letter box near" she gasp
cd out, for she was brcnthless. as much
from excitement, 1t seemed to me-. as
from the eXtTttOn OF running. oh.
please, pl"lse tell me. Where shall l
lock for one?" she went on. without CIV
Ing me time 10 collect my thoughts.
81 cont know wlerc the nearest letter
box IS" | replied. but l can easily find
out, II you will cntrust your letter to
me, I will see that II Is posted"
no: l Cannot: l dare not trust II 10
my DO Try to find out for me-"
The words died away on her lips, for
she, as we'll as l. had heard the noise OF
snme one running up to us, and the next
moment the ma with the short, black
beard stood I've US. Rage knOtted the
Veins on his forehead until they seemed
TO be- near bursting. Rage, for the space
Of Two SECONDS. kept him speeches..
During those fro seconds the girl crcpt
perccptibly closer to ne, and something
smooth. Silt, thin. like n piece OF thick
~paHteboard, was pressed into my hand.
l slipped II at once into the pocket OF my
ulster.
what are you doing here?" he said to
the girl. in a one OF suppressed rage;
and before she had time to answer he
turned savagcly upon me. How dare
you 10 speak TO my daughter" he de-
mundrl. advancing on me In a slow.
threatening manner. | had just time to
see a look If nut supplication In the
girls eyes. She was cntreatIng me not
10 betray her.
Really. sir, l said with as much COOL
ness as | could command. really, you
must pardon me for saying that you
seem n IittI. less than reasonable. One
Is permitted to speak to u young lady at
n ball.
I'm the open street? In this clandes-
tine manner"
I'VE were no: in grrnt privacy, to be
sure. hut that might be urged in miti-
CATION OF tie OfGcnGr." l said with a
smile.
You Ehall not hoodwink me. What
was 1t she was saying TO you when l
came up?"
III had been guilty OF an indIscrctIon
the fault is mine, and am ready to an
swer X: but you cann0; expect nv to
repeat what trillcs may have permitted
myself to say to the young lady. whom.
l fc ar. l may not have an opportunity
of meeting ugnin. No gentleman would
be guilty Of such n thing; nor. am sure,
would you, II you had been In my place.
! saw BY the mans face that | had
achieved my object. | had led him to
believe that there had been nothing more
than Il little foolish Irritation between
the young lady and myself. He seized
the girls hand. tucked 1t under his arm
and marched off,
'As for having an opportunity Of
meeting her again. | win take precious
good care that you don't" he threw at
me over his shoulder.
Alas! there could be nc doubt about It.
And the letter, | hl DO doubt that 1t
was 4 note TO her lover. IT sceIne just
n little hard that, anxious rs was to
serve her, this should be the particular
service required Of me.
At the ilrst pillar box | came to !
took out the mIssiYe she had given me
It was hcr programme Tor the evening.
A. dainty card folded boOkwisc, and So
cured at the edges by 4 number OF post
age stamps stuck all around it. 1t vas
stamped with a penny stamp. and ad-