The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-08-11

"In truth, fair maiden, It does" he
answered "but 1t would please me s,lll
better II you would dance with me-
The eyes behind the white domino
had lost their merry look, but that
which had replaced 1t made the blood
beat quickly in his veins, as, without
word she yielded herself into his
arms. He felt her slight form tremble
in this clasp as they glided around the
room.
Are you tiredY' he whispered.
mo, no, my knight"
He bent again and whispered some
tender words in her ear; the scent OF
her violets, the Ginning OF her bells,
had intoxicated him. They neared .hs
entrance.
IT am tired now" she WHISPERED,
and before hes realized her intention,
she had slipped from him and fed.
Some eehing white lay at her feet. lie
stopped to pick It up; It was a sIip of
paper, violet scented. Three nights
hence shall be here again" was
written on it. He put it away in his
pocket and left the building.
"It will depend on Lady Vermo int
whether I come again or not" he said
to himself I've tried to keep straight.
but I'd be hanged II can go on with
this arrangement Mt nome much lon
ger. was fool 10 .,egin with It,
but I felt owed so much 70 he. that
did not like TO oppose her wishes.
Who would have imagined such
strength of cold purpose behind those
eyes of hers?" He bit off the end of
his cigar viciously, hailed a hanson
and was driven homeward. He tried
to think of his wife. but the jingle of
the horses bells recalled too vividly
the girl in the white cloak. She had
cast spell over him which Lady Ver-
mounts coldness-more pointed than
ever during the next Gay or two-was
calculated to loosen.
Lord Vermount found himself on the
night Of the second masked ball dress
ing eagerly; he even ran ND to his
room at the last moment with a thread
Of blue silk, purloined from his wife's
work bag, and with clumsy fingers in
serted 1t in the tail Of his coat. He
would lose no chance of being recog-
nized by his sorceress.
1t was hours before he saw her
white-cloaked figure drawing near him
through the crowd Of dancers. which
he had watched with all the WEAKNESS
Of hope deferred. She did not speak,
but slipping one white rounded arm
from the shelter of her cloak. laid 1t
on his.
my knight" she whispered. dare
/ say au revoir?"
DO not CO." implored Lord Ver-
mount, stretching out his hand to
catch. not her cloak. but a little slip
OF paper. He stood looking at It. sui
lenly long after the Ginning of bells,
which marked her flight. had ceased.
Little witch, le. her go" he muttered,
but untwisted the pape: all the same.
What impertinence! Well, I'll be
hanged! So this is some scheme of
her ladyship's; thinks to entangle me
with this young woman that she may
be free to carry out some little game
Of her own. wonder what she will
say to this revealing of her plot.
HIM." reading the note. "All Ameri-
cans are not as cold as you deem your
wife to be; go home and ask her who |
am; she knows" He smoked no ci- |
gar on the homeward drive on this
hight; his temper was too ruf1ed. He
meant to have 1t out with his wife:
despite the lateness, or rather earli- |
less of the hour; such affairs as this |
were better gone into at once. She |
would have to get herself into a dress |
ng gown and come down to her bou-
loir, or else give him. for once. access
o her bedroom. He went with no
light foosstep up the stairs. and
,aused at her door, which was on the
atch.
"Vermount, Is that you? Push open
he door a bit. ] want to tell you
'omething; have had letter from
'apa; he has just made a big thing
ver some railways; that means more
ollars for you some day Good night;
hut the door now, and firmly, please"
Lady Vermount's voice was hard and
old; he shuddered at 1t. For that
noment he was disposed to go and let
caters drop; then some faint scent of
'iolets which doubtless still hung
bout his coat sleeve altered his pur-
ose. He took step or two into the
com.
A rose colored satin curtain hang
ng down at right angles from the fire.
lace shut out his wife from his sight,
ut beyond its edge protruded little
ioorish stand on which were set
Office eqUipage and cups for two. N
uaint shaped liqueur carafe and
lasses were also on the tray.
"You here!"' he cried. Where ia
,y-wbere is Lady Vermount?"
"She is"-fumbling for one moment
'ith the mask which the next moment
ny on the foor-"she here"
she sprang to her feet as she spoke
nd stood facing him.>>tfe cloak with
IS gold clasp threaded through with
he strand OF blue silk. hanging hack