Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-25
LADIES' FRIEND i$$$ 81;


| high military tunics round their throats.
They were masked, and represented various
| original characters. More than all were
they astonished at being recognized so
| readily by Ralywood Rallywood drew his
finger ronud his throat by way Of eXplana-
| tion. There was a general laugh, and the
men scattered, each to seek his own par
| ticular pleasure. Rallywood remained, look
| ing down on the dancers. There was in the
back Of his mind some desire to identify
| the woman whose glove was still in his
possession. He fixed now on one tail
domino now on another, but without salts
faction. He was discontentedly coming to
the point Of knowing that he had made a
fresh mistake when he turned his head
abruptly with vague sense of being looked
at and saw a black domino standing for an
instant alone at the further end OF the gall
lery. Even under the muffling silken folds
he fancied he recognized the attitude of
the girl he had met at the chancellor's.
He began at once to make his way through
the crowd in her direction, but when next
he looked she was gone. He descended to
the saloon, where he danced with more than
one masked woman His six feet of stature
marked him out from the shorter Maasauns
and the tall athletic figure ot the game
keeper, who moved with so much of unex-
pected ease and grace, excited some atten-
tion.
After an interval, as he stood back
against the wall to allow a couple who had
been following him to pass they drew up
in front of him.
Il obey you, mademoiselle," said the
man.
His companion, who wore black domino,
made gesture OF dismissal. Then che
turned to Rallywood. "You have been look
Ing for me?' she said, as her late partner
moved away.
But naturally, mademoiselle." replied
Rallywcod.
you know who ! amp"
mot In the least. cannot even make a
guess, though ! have been waiting to know
since this day last week"
1T would have been easy to ask the uuee-
tion-of any one" she said, with an odd
lntonaton
by no means. There are questions which
cannot be asked-of any one, because the
answer touches too closely" Rallywood
pulled himself up, with a sudden sense OF
being ridiculously in earnest.
And then they were dancing.
yet you are not a stranger in Revonde
Nine de sagan could have answered your
question-had you cared to ask it," the girl
said.
"It did not strike me to ask her. trusted
to the fact that, belonging to the guard,
must some day have the good fortune TO
find you again"
"YOu are PATIENT"
"No," replied Rallywood 81 am not
patient. But know that all things come
to him who waits wait"
80 see-excellenuy!"
Have / not waited long enough to hear
your name first from your own lps?"
stop for a moment" Then, standing be-
side him, she continued: ASK me to-
morrow"
IF am alive l win," he laughed.
He felt her hand move with quick tremor
on his arm.
II knew It! Which OF them has chal- |
lenged you, Unziar?" The swift question, !
echoing his own thought. took him com
pletely by surprise
He passed his arm around her, for the |
waltz was nearing its end.
Shall We go on? No. no one has done
me the honor OF sending me a challenge" |
Let us have an end OF this absurd |
mystery" said the girl, impatienty. II am .
Valerie Selpdorf, and you are"
John Rallywcod OF the guard OF Maasau."
he interposed II had my commission from !
you in the anteroom OF the hotel du
Chancellor. But for that should have been
more than hah inclined to refuse It,"
81 wish you had refused 1t. 1t may cost
you-more than man cares to pay. /