The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-10-03


with their look of scared surprise. For
moment she seemed confused, then
she said: ia
Eyes, ,butgI am going to stay for the
winter. My brother is here at college.
| have come to look after him. We are
orphans"
Having given her explanation she
looked away and seemed to be about to
once more relapse into silence.
you will be able to have gay win
ter" he said, determined to make her
talk. "You are fond of society, I sup
pose"
She was silent for brief space and
then answered as if @reluctantly: fs1Y
! "No; don't care for going out"
II thought all young girls loved
dancing, parties, balls he continued,
intently watching her.
"Others may; don't"
You like the country life best?'
She turned her eyes on him and said
with agdeep sigh:t n I eTI.{f
ooh, yesrs ~ &L1>-E
If there was anything needed to con-
| firm him in his belief that this young
| girl was one and the same as the wom-
| an he had seen at the ball the sigh was
all that was necessary. AS it fell upon
his ear, plaintively soft and melan-
choly,. he seemed once more to be look
ing through the gilded grating at the
masked figure and the Jfuttering fan.
Full Of conflicting doubts, he leaned
back in his chair to think. at the same
moment the lady on his other side turn
ed toward him with some laughing re-
mark which required a quick answer.
Then came challenge and retort from
/ farther up the table, and for some mo-
ments the conversation ran on bril-
liantly. Dinner was nearly at close
when his opportunity came. Every one
about them was talking or laughing.
!. The girl beside him alone was silent,
sunk in -brooding thoughts. With
out a word of warning he suddenly
leaned toward her and said, almost in
a whisper:
"What were you doing at the masked
ball on Thursday eyening?'
Sue turned pale, but sat silent with
out moving. He was silent, too, wait
ing for an answer. After q few Sec
.onds she said: s. 8lltl3
81 had to CO. -
You had to go z" he repeated in sur
prise.
Eyes. didn't know what else to do.
Il found out that Charlie- that's my
sbrother had gone [ Il was too late to
find him, and anyway he would have
only got angry with me. He says am
always interfering. But it isn't that.
There ars only us two. and We have
4 to take care of EACH other. I must
4 take careSof him and e'of me. knew
It was a wrong place for him to go,
but he was already gone. So had to
go after him. 1t would be different
If he was not so young, and he's lived
in the country all his life. And then
to sud denly come tos the city and-he
forgets about the money-that we've
.Fonly just got enough. Perhaps-I'm
afraid that he doesn't seem to know
very. we'll how to take. care of himself
Bike the others. But they've lived in
the city all their lives, and SO it is diff
ferent."
She paused and looked at him with a
sort of pleading apology for the weak
boy. Then she went on:
'I've come from our home to take
care of him. The Others have mothers
and brothers, but he has only me. IT'S
hard to keep from making him angry
and yet to look after him, and SO l
went with my old nurse. l knew if |
could find him l could bring him back
with me. We got the masks and domi-
nos from a man near the door who
had them to hire. Then l went into
that empty box and waited till he
came by, because there was such a
! crowd, land the people couldn't see me.
!, Soon afterssyou had gone he passed,
! and then called to him, and he, came
and we went home" -.,e.,-.g.4 - ,,.sS
1 She hesitated and stopped, then said
hurriediy:
when l saw you tonight, l knew
you again. and / thought you would
know me. ran up stairs and put this
piece of courtplaster on the mole. |
was afraid of your knowing me.
was afraid you would think badly of
me for being there"
She was INTERRUPTED by the risingve
7 the ladies'. AS she turned TO go she
paused and. looking at him with visit
full inquiry. said:
! do you p? p .--------.-..-.--... .---.---.-
He looked at her Without speaking.
but shock his head. :. - = -
II PAS The, men settled sbaek. INTO their
chairs one Of them, noticing Carroll
stiff standing gazing vacantly at win
dow opposites cried laugliinglyss ~
Look at vthe Sentimental lost 10
contempla tfon Of the starsv'~nas Nsa'e
Carroll started and. taking his seat
4 answered quietly g0f4 51SIqIfll.