Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1904-09-22
.--THE
.DAuQnTEE5 nl5TAKE-
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES
For she was quite sure of Grant St.

Z VI Sic was quite sure OI OTdnC 81. |
Emil now. !. Il,
Mamma" called Theo, the next !
morning, and Mrs. Evelyn meekly |
obey the summons, coming from the |
back room, where she was busily en-
gagged in ripping apart the breadths
of rose-colored dress belonging to
Theo, which that young lady had
taken fancy to have altered.
Mamma, here are two tickets to the
private masquerade at Mrs. Almy's,
with Mr.. st. Emil's compliments-one
for you and one for me. How ridicu-
lous!-the idea Of you at a mas
querade!"
Mrs. Evelyn's face had lighted up.
Il should really like to go for once,
Theo,' she said, hesitatingly. Il have
never had an opportunity Of seeing you
in society, darling, and"
"Oh, botherv' interrupted Theodore,
"as if that made any difference. But
Grant thinks young lady shouldn't
attend masquerade, of all places in
the world, without her mothers
chaperonage, and suppose I must
humor him. What shall I personate,
mamma? I should like to go as Diana,
with her bow and arrows, if you can
squeeze enough money out of papa for
decent costume"
II will see what papa can spare you,
love-"
He's very stingy of late,'' observed
Theo, with a shrug.
| "YOu shouldn't speak so of your
papa, Theo," demonstrated Mrs. Eve
lyn. Business is very dull just now,
and our expenses are heavy"
"That's the very reason you shouldn't
be tugging after me to all the mas
querades in town." grumbled Theo
| But I suppose we can't very well
slip aside of it. Any old black dress
and satin domino mask will do for
you"
"Yes," assented Mrs. Evelyn, who
had learned through the long tutelage
of dire experience to think very little
of her own wants and requirements,
anything will do for me-"
Its such bore your going at all,'
m'lttered Theodore, with an ungra-
cious toss of her beautiful blond head.
iii teach st. Emil a thing OF two
when l have him safe under my wing.''
Miss Evelyn'S costume as that of
Diana, for the private masquerade
ball, was decided success Her sill
ver-green tunic, trimmed with gold
fringe, the fllet that bound her lovely
yellow hair, and the Grec9an draperies
that revealed even while they hid the
contour of her perfect arms, made her
look even more beautiful than her Or
dinary self, and Mrs. Evelyn gazed
with pride upon the Transformation
which had been for the most part
wrought by her skillful and indus
trious fingers. For poor, hArassed Mr.
Evelyn had absolutely declined te
; "shell out" as his daughter gracefully
expressed it.
Its out Of the question, Mary-ut
terly and entirely out of the question,
: he had answered when she had ap
Piled to him for "a little money" g
!, have to steer carefully to- avoid sheer
: bankruptcy, and cannot spare a
5 single cent from my business JUS
e nowv' bs
So Mrs. Evelyn, having sold pai
e of opal earrings, her husbands gift il
their courting days, to buy the costl.
e material, had herself sat up night afte
S night, and day after day, to make tn
a dress which Theodore loudly declare,
S she must have to appear as the impe1
e sonation Of Diana, the Huntress!
And she reaped mothers sweet, un
? selfish reward when she saw how sui
s. passingly lovely Theodore looked in th
exquisite Greek dress!
a Mr.. st. Emil had selected Hamle
as his character, and very handsom
he was in the plumed cap, and velve
d doublet of the young Prince of Der
,e mark, but Mrs. st. Emil preferred n
more conspicuous costume than plai
black silk domino wrapper and mask.
er II am past my acting days." sh
s. said, with a pleasant laugh, whe
e, Theo smilingly demanded why she, to
to was not in character, 'and shall d
al rive my greatest pleasure to-nigl
from watching others"