Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-05-24

II do not love you little Bit
merrily "And 1 guess we understand
each other all right. We will be good
friends, but they can't make Us marry.
can they?"
why, hang it all, 1 want my fling
first, don't you know"
And I, too,' she replied. "And 1
need it more than you because I have
spent all my life in a convent" And
so they parted.
Now it happened that Myrtle was
full blooded little creature, with all
the spirit that her full, ripe lips and
clear, red cheeks indicated. And all
her life she had been shut up in a
convent with no vent for her ardent
young animal spirits excepting through
the medium of her imagination-fed
only by surreptitious reading of SNUG
gled novels. But that was SUFFICIENT
to people the young mind with knights
and lovers and champions galore.
And it came tc pass that the great
Masquerade Ball of the Sons of the
Seventh Daughters was held soon after
Myrtle came home. 1t was to be
swell affair, and Myrtle was crazy to
go. But Aunt Eleanor was horrified
Then the spirit Of the dead father
arose in the daughter and Myrtle re-
solved to go whether or no.
And she did. 1t took plenty of
scheming and-alas. some lying, but
she went that day to spend couple of
days with a girl friend, and arranged
with her so she could slip in upon her
return. Of course it was very
naughty and a very dangerous thing
Tor a girl to do-and especially
young girl just out of a convent, but
only such one would have the nerve
to attempt it.
She appeared as lady of the Eliza
bethan period, and was one of the
striking figures of the ball. No soon
er had she appeared than Knight of
the Crusades approached her and paid
violent court. He was a most persist
ent knight and was not to be satisfied
with one dance, but haunted the Eliza
bethan Lady most ardently. And he
was good to look upon and most de-
voted and princely in his manner, and
Myrtle's blood ran through her veins
as it never had before. This, forsooth.
was life. Marry Tillson Montague? :?
Never. She would find knight of her
own who would choose her for her
| Wv u ShdA hASs anu hOl DCSdoSC AA-oAAA IL 40
and aunts and dead people had willed
it-and she went whfrling OF on an
other delicious waltz with Sir Knight
All too quick it came to an end
-as all things do. even a girls first
| ball. And when the time fer unmask-
| ing came he was standing before her.
| begging for the next dance.
'.Ah. my Lady, 1 am at last to see
| your face" he exclaimed.
No, no." she replied hastily, really
| / cannot unmask- Please take me to
| the dressing room"
He offered his arm, expostulating
| all the time that it was his privilege
1 to see the face of the lady who had
| permitted him to be her knight all the
| evening, and.who had become the mis-
| tress of his heart But she was OBJ
| durate and they started toward the
| dressing room.
Alas, for the honesty of mamie
| guided her. not to the dressing room
| at all, but to a cosy corner. far from
| the throng~ drunk with the excitemen.
and surprises of the unmasking-
| Fair Lady," said he, Il am but hu-
| man. 1 am mad with the intoxication
| of your presence If do not see your
face. If you escape me now
/ 1 will spend all my life in a fruitless
search for you You are the ono wo-