The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-24
you don't know me 2"

words in his ear as he stood leaillhs
against a pillar watching The crowd OF
masqueraders who were COMFORTING them
selves as merrily as an English crowd
could possibly do under the circumstances.
The genius of fancy dress does not attain
its hight on this side Of the channel. The
moment you dress an Englshman in any
thing which he is not accustomed to wear
he feels awkward. Mask him in addition
and he cannot shake off the impression
that he is making an exhibition of him
self
Hugh Folkard was in the scene, but not
of it. He had come 10 Covent Garden as
hundreds of other clubmen had come, sim
ply to pass an evening and "see the fun.
He was in ordinary evening dress and had
Just begun to feel rather bored when his
languid interest in the proceedings was
quickened by the challenge of the fair I'M
known.
He did not recognize sthe voice, but he
fancied that the owner of II was endeav-
oring to disguise it,
A prolonged scrutiny failed to reveal
any feature which would serve as clue
to identity. The lady was dressed in
blue domino. and the face was concealed
by a white satin "loup," the lace of which
fell rather lower than usual and conceal
ed everything but the chin.
''No-I-er-I really don't" said Folkard.
And you can't guess?"
'fNo-I-can't guess. won't you tell me?p
mo. that would spoil the fun said the
lady. in the blue domino. but 1 will tell
you who you are"
THAT should be easy If you know me. Il
am not masked"
Your face is not; but your heart is"
"Really-I-er-didn't know that was
possible. I should have thought that sort
of thing over ones heart would have
caused rather an uncomfortable feeling"
Perhaps it does"
A shade passed over Hugh Folkard's
face. There was something in the intona-
ton with which these words were spoken
which made him uneasy. He fancied that
perhaps with a few more questions he
might be able to get clue to the mystery.
S'Wen," he said, "as you say that you
know so much about. me- and my heart,
perhaps you won't mine proving that your
knowledge Is not ass med''
Not at ALL" replied the Blue Domino.
"but 1 must whisper; you wouldn't like
everyone to know as much as | do
Hugh Folkard shrugged his shoulders 81
don't think it would matter" he said.
Come, have the bump of curiosity very
largely developed, and l am anxious to
bear something about myself. especially as
/ fancy 1t is something 1 never knew be-
fore. II you really know me a very few
words will prove It, Give me a sign by
WHICH l may recognize myself"
The Blue Domino, her dark eyes flashing
through her mask. looked quickly round
TO see that no one was very close to them
then. bringing her face close TO Hugh
Folkard's, she whispered
I'VE haven't met for five years, the last
time you saw me was on your wedding day.
] think you know me now; If you don't I'll
tell you something else that may help you
to fix me in your mind Your wife died a
year ago Two days before she died she
managed to write n few words and put
them in an envelope, and she got the nurse
to post them. Your wife's last letter, let
ter posted unknown to you. was addressed
to me. / have it still, but have never let
anyone know its contents because, Frank
Marden, love you still"
Hugh Folkard listened in blank astonish-
ment. When the.lady had finished, il was
moment or two before he could find words
to reply.
Il assure you" he said. you have made
a msstake-I-"
1T won't do. Frank" said the unknown.
II know YOU Then she bowed her head
with mock solemnity, and moving rapidly
away, was soon lost in the crowd
Hugh Folkard stood dumbfounded for a
moment, then he laughed aloud so hearth
ly that people standing near him stared
al him.
BY Jove." he said to himself, az never
anticipated such an adventure as this
when / came 10 the ball. come unmasked
and Pm mistaken for a widower and a
lady in a blue domino tells me that my
name is Frank Marden, and that she loves
me still. must tell the fellows this, ii will
amuse them, but they won't believe me.
They'll think I've made il up. Frank Mar
den, must remember that name might
meet the fellow some day, and then could
have some fun"
Hugh Folkard's astonishment was per-
fectly genuine. The Blue Domino had mis-
taken him for somebody else, and had gone
away thoroughly under the impression that
his denial was an attempt to impose
upon her. He told his odd adven-
ture to two or three men of his acqualnt.
anee and to one lady. The men laughed
the lady looked serious. She was his
'fiancee,' and she didn't like the idea OF
any woman talking to her future husband
In such a manner, and telling him that
''she loved him STILL"
But my dear Madge," exclaimed Hugh
as he noticed the cloud upon his sweet
hearts face, 'it was a mistake. She called
me Frank Marden, and thought 1 was a
man whose wife died a year ago. My name
is Hugh Folkard and / haven't been mar
ried yet, you know, at all
Madge Hetherington shook her head. "Oj
course / know il was a mistake, Hugh
dear, but for this woman who told you she
loved you, to mistake you for another man
you must be very ike that man. | can
understand girl making a mistake In the
man she loves, unless the resemblance is
very extraordinary"
II suppose must be like the fellow" re.
Piled Hugh. laughing. but 1 can't helm
that, you know, and so long as he didn't
murder his wife, and / am not mistaken
for him by the police and brought up al
The Old Bailey can't see that IL particu.
larry matters"
Folkards attempt to treat the matter
jokingiy failed miserably. The picture thai
he drew of what might happen only made
Madge more serious still.