Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1904-03-31

r. II. vERkEDE IN BLACK AND WHITE.


Watts Dunstanton drove. "Tl
keep the chill of is TO keep the hand
in," he explained 10 Roger, and
"bnrn me-" he added, ''but It's Q
cold morning, and Sir Harry the
deuce of shot. He kept the mare
at a brisk clatter accordingly, SC
that the physician behind clung &c
the handrail convulsively. and you
could hearall his sinstrumentsa a-shake
in his box.
Roger was glad that his cousin
was content 70 do The driving, since
Zoe - own fnrt ise wanted 90 rel!
feet. Never had he felt less inclined
10 act second in a duel. 1t seemed
such poor end TO that glorious mas
querade of the night before, to be
bound-only a few hours later-for
the lower fields of Hampstead, there
to look on two men facing each other
with pistols in the frost oJ the morn
ing, and one his cousin. 1t was like
ly to be bloody business, too, for
the men were 10 fight until one or
the other was disabled. And though
the business of war was Lieutenant
Roger Dunstanton s own business,
yet this affair was inopportune. How
should he look forward to the crack
of pistols, when for the first time in
his life the sound of a lady's voice
was lingering like music in his
heart? To be dragged from his
dream into this deadly scuffie was
intolerable.
To the beat of the mares hoofs on
the road he went over the whole
events of the night. First boredom,
then fascination, and lastly, q rude
waking to the sc0wls and brawling
in the cardroom-those were the
events in order.
The boredom began almost at the
beginning of the ball, for Roger be-
ing fresh from campaigning in the
Low Counties and q life that was en-
ergetic, IL not very glorious, found
himself alien from the glitter and
the heat, the dancing and the inces-
SAINT violins. 1t seemed all tongue
and prancing-this masquerade
the danciag brisk enough. the chat
ter lively enough, but to glide and
exchange gossip all night long with
a mask promised to end in monoto-
ny. If the ladies had but discovered
their faces, il would have been bet
ter. Roger began to explain his
view OF masquerades somewhat in
genionsly to partner whom he was
leading through the cotilion. She
was light as air and blithe voiced.
He demanded sympathy for himself
as one cut off from enjoying mere
gaiety by disuse and long months of
harder affairs.
And these Mosques are abomina-
nable, he said.
"Oh SIR" she answered, "this is
rank sedition.
How so?"
For one reason, because il is the
dullest thing to say, and all billiards
are traitors at masquerade.
And for another 2" Roger asked,
piqued.
Because it is not to my liking. F"
She had so charming haughti-
ness that he had to give in.
Then withdraw my statement, ="
he said. II tender my apologies. +"
To me only ? or to all who wear
Mosques ?"
ITO all unconditionally," he said,
that is, on condition that you tell
me good reason for masking"
Truly, she said, this is what
comes OF soldering. This is uncon-
ditional surrender on your own
terms. Nevertheless, l will tell you.
The masque is good for the old maid 4
But you are youDg-you are just
from school. l know it, he said un-
warily.
Then, sir, you should have had
the kindness to conceal your knowl-
edge.
L only meant
"A compliment without doubt. For
the young and bashful maiden. then.
plunged suddenly into the midst OF
distractions, the masque is a pro-
lection. As DIR. Dimms, the great
scholar, hath it, and indeed | have
not forgotten it, seeing that Miss
Minkton, my late reverend mistress
j knew you were from school,
Made me repeat it, she went on
without needing the interruption
ON the very day of leaving:
when first, released from Academiccare
The Nymph attempts the ocean OF Nav,
fair,
Loi as she looks on that sea of beaux
With JOY her heart, with hope her bosom
glOws"
Charming nymphl I said Roger,
taken hs the mock heroic of her re.
citing.