Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-07-17
UNMASKED.

met in society. He thought her cold heart.
ed and frivolous. She regarded him as a
society msn whom it would be senseless
to talk seriously to.
She had hidden away among the treas
urcs ut her heart, us every young woman
las. an ideal man. jack could not take
even the first step in an approach to this
ideal. but there was one, OF whom she did
not speak even to her bosom friend, Kate
Mays. who did approuch her ideal, had
indeed become that ideal, despite her tears
and self reproachcs.
For some time she had been u contribu-
tor to The youths department. Of u maya
zine. Now, it happened that one OF these
contributions, seeming to provoke an an
sScr, was replied to by a young gentle
man who was also q contributor to tho
magazine. This was repeated until the ex-
change of ideas pleasantly tlriftcti into u
personal correspondence through the de-
partrcnt editor, who consented to deliver
the sealed letters to the right persons.
In this correspondence they discussed
the sciences and classics, but more partic-
ularly ethics and romance, entering the
dangerous realm Of soul influences
Through these discussions Alne discov-
cred in herself powers and depths of being
which were new and surprising to hcr-a
new life, 1t seemed to her, which neither
she nor her friends had credited her with
possessing. She delighted in it and was
drawn unconsciously toward the other life
which by Il kindred thought and feeling
had revealed to her this inner self She
lived this life apart from the world in this
correspondence alone. To her friends sho
was the same gay, thoughtless girl Tt
La. H. II.
somewhat entertaining, but frivolous,
shallow society woman
Alinc's correspondent, who hAd already
declared himself her lover. was DESTROYS OF
meeting that other soul which he declared
beat with his own US one. But They'll had
agreed from the first not In any way to
disclose their identity, but to wait until
they should meet by accident, hoping that
they might ut once each recognize in tho
other the eongcnial spirit OF their CORE
spondcnce. But Prince, which was tho
llscudonym Of Aline's correspondent, WAS
impatient and urged an open meeting.
This being refused, he turned with some
hope TO the moonlight masq tteradc soon to
be given in u beautiful grove on the out
skirts OF the town AS Il means Of bringing
them together. Under the disguise Of the
masquerade surely they might meet and
hear each others voices if they might not
see each others faces. A pink camcllia
should be the sign Of recognition.
This WIS reluctantly cons.nt.a IN nv.
Aline. and in the character of Unline she
appeared on the night of the mnsoucralr
The long til1ny veil of her costume was
caught here and there with lotus blossoms
and fragrant water lilies over n sen green
gown beneath She took n mink cnn.Ilin
with trembling hand and hrsitntiuy "a
moment Fastened II Ian..tb ~, f,,Li 70
the veil She rcpronched herself m.,ntin,o
for her folly in consuming to this mcetin,.
and for her infat,Ation.
~ have always called myself u sensible.
practical girl, - she said ..but nm ns si1lv
MS Il schoolgirl. / never Thought tn te 81
weak, but us I stand here ut the confess
sionul of my own heart know cannot
dcny-that am weaker than the 1vc,l-ost
in love with one whom | have never seen
whose rc,,l name even is unknown to INC
Compelled forward by the agreement as
we'll as by reluctant desire, she ioincd her
friend, Kute Mays, who was to accompany
her to the grove. What a pcrfect renrc.
scntationr' exclaimed her friend. lyon
AFRO q vcritab!c sea spritc, with the excen-
ton OF that ca1nellin. WHY do Won yyear
it?''
"Just a fancy rcplied Alino
1t would he more in keeping with NV
costume, as the incarnation Of spring
poetry. Let mo have it"
Il will give you another
''Ahi sec it is for Identification.
Heavens, that blush! Though diyinelv
becoming it will ruin your character
What do you mcan?'' exclaimed Alinc,
her sensitive conscience touched by any
reference to her possible sacrifice OF char
actcr.
Your character as Undino''
The scene which just here burst upon
their sight as they entered the grounds
was indcscribably beautiful Amid tho
festoons Of flowers, ilnproviscd grottoes
and rustic views circleu tho dancers, in cv-
cry imaginable costume. led by tho ran.
furious music and lighted by the brilliant
Undino had just finished delightful
waltz with Henry OF Navarro and was
laughing incrrily ut some grotcsque cos
TUNES when her eye caught sight of the
Black Prince approaching her with u
caunclli,l on his cloak. The laugh died on
Alinc's lips and Il GOODNESS seized her heart.
She trcmblcu violently as he came near.
The Blucl1 PRINCE bowed low and asked