Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1901-09-13
the masks undulatinr Gan. Then NJ

nave only Just come 10 town"
She started and looked up at him.
he even seemed to recognize the eyes
with their lock OF scared surprise. For
moment she seemed confused, then
she said:
Yes. but l 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 CAV win
ter, he said, determined to make her
tax. You are fond of society. l sup
poser?
She was silent for a brief space and
then answered as If reluctantly:
NO; don't care for going out"
L 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 a deep sigh:
"Oh, yes!'
III there was anything needed to con-
hrm him in his belief that this young
girl was one and the same as the WON
an be had seen at the ball the sigh was
all that was necessary. As ii fell upon
his ear, plaintively soft and melan-
choly, he seemed once more TO be look
Ing througa the gilded grating at the
masked figure and the fiuttering fan.
Full OF conf. citing 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 a close
when his opportunity came. Every one
about them was talking or laughing.
The girl beside him alone was silent,
sunk In her brooding thoughts. With
out word of warning he suddenly
leaned toward her and said, almost in
a whisper:
What were you doing at the masked
ball on Thursday evenihgY
She turned pale, but sat silent with
out moving. He was silent, too, wait
onds she said:
81 had TO CO.,
you had 70 go?" he repeated In sur
prise.
"Yes. | didn't know what else TO do.
1 found out that Charlie-that's my
brother-had gone. 1t was too late TO
find him, and anyway he would have
only got angry with me. He says am
always interfering. But II Isn't that.
There are only us two. and we have
10 take care of each other. l must
take care of him and he Of me. knew
II was 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 suddenly come TO the city. and he
forgets about the money-that we've
only just got enough. Perhaps-I'm
afraid that he doesn't seem to know
] very well how TO take care OF himself
like the others. But they've lived in
the city all their. lives, and so 1t is diff
| ferent."
She paused and looked at him with
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
went with my old nurse. knew IL ]
could find him | could bring him back
with me. We got the masks and domi-
nos from man near the door who
had them TO hire. Then ! went into
that empty box and waited till he
came by. because there was such
crowd. and the people couldn't see me-
Soon after you had gone he passed.
and then ] called to him, and he came
and we went home"
She hesitated and stopped, then said
hurriedly:
when l saw you tonight. ! 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 rising OF
the ladies. AS she turned TO go she
paused and. looking at him with visit
full inquiry, said:
do your"
He looked at her without speaking.
but shook his head.
AS the men settled back into their
chairs one Of them. noticing Carroll
still standing gazing vacantly at win
dow opposite, cried laughingly:
Look at the sentimentalisi lost in
contemplation OF the starsp'
Carroll started and. taking bis seat.
answered quietly:
Eyes. I've been looking at a star"
| Priceless Letters Destroyed.
Sir Walter Scott once made an itin-