River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-04-25

The Marshalls were going to a fancy
dress ball, and with great difieuiiy
had pursuaded Sir Neil to 30 with
them. There were many preparations
to be made, and Maud and her amt be-
gan dressing very early. However.
they decided to leave the powdering
of their heads until after dinner. Of
course, Alyne was much in request.
and was very busy with both their
hairs and getting up of their faces.
This was being done in Lady Mar
shal's little boudoir.
Send word to Sir Neil to come in
when he is ready; we want to see how
he looks" she said to her maid.
And presently Chester came in. He
looked very well in his costume of
Edward l., and his eyes flashed with
pleasure as they fell on Alyne. He
had been considerably put out at not
meeting her at the usual rendezvous"
and now scorned himself for nos at
once understanding that the hairdress-
er would be wanted later in the even
ing.
He watched her deft fingers as she
put little more rouge on Lady Mar
shalls cheeks, and scarcely noticed
Maud's rapturous remarks about his
own appearance.
Aren't you shocked, Sir Neil" said
Lady Marshall, playfully, "when you
see how 1 am getting myself up"
Chester smiled dreamily.
"Not at ALL" he said. II am think
ing of following your example. These
gay-colored clothes and your wig make
me look very pale, and 1 am sure that
was not right for Edward l."
Alyne looked up startled. So far
she had taken no notice of him at all.
He determined to have his revenge.
"Of course-of course, you must be
rouged," cried Lady Marshall. you
must come and sit in this chair, and
Miss Fortescue shall do it for you"
Sir Neil gave a triumphant smile
as he took the chair, but Alyne fidget-
ed with the powder boxes and did not
turn her head
81 don't think we have any too
much time" he said, mildly.
Indeed, no." cried Maud, 1--WE ought
to be off now. So be as quick as you
can, Miss Fortescue."
So Alyne reluctantly took up the
hare's foot and turned round. But
still she would not meet his eyes. She
only colored his cheeks a deeper
bronze than they already were. but
he could feel her hand tremble as she
did it.
"And now" he said, 81 think !
should like my eyes accentuated lit
tie with that sort of dark mark some
women have"
Alyne drew a deep breath, and
glorious color mounted to her face
as she took up the pencil. She was
obliged to look into his eyes now.
But what she saw there made her
falter, and her hand fell to her side.
81 can't! Oh, can't!" she muir
INJURED, only so that he could hear.
But perhaps something in her
glance told him all he wanted to
know, for he started from his chair at
once.
81 have been got up quite enough"
he said, and there was a glad ring in
his voice. "Ought we not to start?"
And so the three went downstairs
and Lady Marshall babe good evening
to Alyne, and told her that she had
ordered her maid to take her some
supper in her boudoir.
Alyne drew deep breath as she
heard the carriages roll away, but her
tears were falling among the rouge
pots, as she began to pack them away.
Ten minutes later she raised her
head and listened, for step was on
the stairs-that step which had al
ways the power to set her heart beat
ing, and then in another moment ed
ward L." stood in the doorway For
one second they looked at each other
in silence-eye to eye and heart to
heart, and then he held out his arms.
"Alyne!" he cried. 'Is a stupid
quarrel of two years ago to separate
us for ever?"
And Alyne left her rouge pots and
ran into his arms. and in the next mo-
ment was crying gently on his breast.
But her tears were only tears of joy.
1T is not right" she cried at last,
when he would allow her to speak,
'it was different before, but now
now-you ought not to marry a hair
dresser"
He laughed amusedly as he pressed
a kiss on her dark head.
'If the whole world had alt
cred, it would not matter much as
long as Alyne was not different"
She glanced up at him shyly.
Il never thought you would go
away" she whispered. 81 never
thought you would be so cruel"
Il was jealous brute. 1 found out
my mistake under the African sky. If
it had been any one else but Bow
den"
She hid her head ashamedly.
And you did quite right" she said.
HE was a scoundrel. 1t was through
him we lost all our money. He per-
suaded my father to invest in some
bogus mine"
"Was it really? Then I abhor him
still more, for it was THROUGH him