The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-08
CHAPTER 1I-tcontinued)

o'ait itne 5tnOuBnl skipped pCEOSS NE
mind dixie the hop OF flea In a rose
jar) that some day he might find the
moment when he could tell her the trutf
| about herself--with half-laugh--ant
say: 1.-THE angels sent their haloes In q
sandal-wood box to be made into a wo-
nen--and 1t was you'll
IF you have anything to say for your.
self, say 1t quickly!" said Miss Betty.
"You were singing a while ago" he
answered. somewhat huskily, land
stopped on the street to listen; then
came here to be nearer Tho spell OF
your voice" He broke off abruptly to
change the word. "The spell of the song
came over met Is my dearest faVor!te-
so that stood afterwards in sort OF
trance only hearing again in the silence:
Tho stolen heart like the gathered rose,
will bloom but for a dayN did not see
you until you came to the bench. You
must believe me; I would not brighten
you for anything In the world"
"Why are you wearing that dress?"
He laughed. and pointed to where. be-
hind him on the ground, lay long gray
cloak upon which had been tossed a
white mask. I'm on my way to tho
masquerade" he answered, with an airy
gesture In the direction OF the riolinr.
I'm an Incroyable, you see, and had
the costume made from my recollection
Of a sketch of your great uncle. ! saw
1t long time ago in your library
Miss Carewe's accustomed poise was
quito recovered: indeed she was aston
ished TO discover distinct trace of dis.
appointment that the brilliant apart
ton must offer SO tame an explanation,
What he said was palpably the truth;
there was masquerade that night, she
knew. at the Madrillon's, little way UP
Carewc Street, and her father had gone,
an hour earlier, blue domino over his
ann.
The rncroyahle was person of almost
magical perceptiveness: he felt the let
down Immediately and feared a failure.
This would not do: the attitude or ten
sion between them must be renewed at
once. you'll forgive me?" he began. In
quickly impassioned tone IT was only
after you sang. dream possessed me.
ard"
II cannot stay to talk with you" Miss
Betty interrupted, and added with
straghtforwardness which made MN
afraid she would prove lamentably oil
rect: II do not know you
Perhaps she remembered that already
one young man had been presented TO
her BY no better sponsor than a white
cat, and had no desire 10 carry her IN
conventionallty farther than that In the
present instance there was not even
kitten.
she turned toward the house where
upon he gave little pathetic exclama-
ton OF pleading in voice that was
mastery, being rs sincere as II was
musical, and he took few leaning steps
toward her. both hands outstretched.
zone moment more!" he cried, as she
turned again to him. 1T may be the
one chance OF my life to speak with
you; don't deny me this. All the rest VIII
meet you when the happy evening comes,
will dance with you, talk with you. see
you when they like, listen ia you. sing.
/, alone. must hover about the gates. or
steal like thief into Your garden to
hear you from distance, Listen to me-
lust this once-for q moment?'
II cannot llsten,' she said firmly; and
stood quito still. She was now in deep
shadow.
II will not believe you merciless! You
would not condemn the meanest criminal
unheard!" Remembering that she was
so lately from the convent. he ventured
this speech In a deep. thrilling voice. only
to receive a distinct shock for his pains,
for she greeted it with an lrrePressible.
most unexpected peal OF contralto laugh
the surprise of It.
They parted much farther In tho next
instant In good truth 1t may be stated
Of the gentleman that he was left with
his mouth open-for, suddenly leaning to-
ward him out of the shadow into the
light, her face shining as a cast Of
tragedy, she cried in hoarse whisper:
Are You a murderer"
And with that and n whisk OF her
skirts. and a football on the gravel path.
she was gone. He stood dumfounded.
poor comedian. having come to play tho
chief role, but to find the scene taken
out of his hands. Then cat,h.ns the
tlutter of her wrap. as she disappeared
into the darkness Of the veranda. he cried
In loud, manly voice:
You are a dear!"
As he came out into the street through
gap in the hedge he paused, drawing
his cloak about him. and lifted his face
to the eastern moon 1t was strange
face: the modelling most like what is
called Greek" save for the nose,
which was trlhe. too short for that,
and the features showed a happy pur-
ity of outline almost oh!ld-like; tho blue
ewes, clear, feckless serenely irrespon-
slble, with more the look of refusing re-
sponsibility than being unconscious OF
1t: eyes without care without prudence,
and without evil. A stranger might have
said he was about twenty-five and had
never a thought In his life. There were
some blossoms on the hedge, and he
touched one lightly, as though he
ohucked It under the chin; he smiled
upon it then, but not rs he had smiled
upon Miss Betty. for this was his own,
tho smile that came when he was alone;
and, when 1t came, the face was no long
ey joyous as 1t had been in repose; there
was an infinite patience and worn toler-
ance-possbly for himself. This neon
gruous and melancholy smile was aston
ishing; one looked for the laughter of
boy and found. instead, gentle, worldly,
old prelate
Standing there. all alone in the moon
Light by the hedge, he lifted both hands
high and waved them toward the house,
as children wave to each other across
lawns at twilight. After that he made
a fantastic bow to his corrugated shadow
on the board sidewalk.
again you rogue!" he exclaimed
aloud, Then, as he faced about and be-
gan TO walk In the direction OF the beck
oninc violIns. II wonder IL Toms kitten