The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-03

second he looked upon her face. 1t
was not for nothing, the saying which
had arisen in the country, that Freda
played with men as a child with bub-
bleS. Not a word was spoken. Prince
stepped aside, and a few minutes later
might have been seen resigning, with
warm incoherence, the post to which
he had been unfaithful.
Men recognized the furs,and marvel
ed-men who should have served upon
the door committee: but they were not
prone to speech. Not SO with the wom-
en- They had better eyes for the lines
of figure and tricks of carriage, and
they knew this form to be one with
which they were unfamiliar; likewise
the furs. Mrs. McFee, emerging from
the supper room where all was in read
mess, caught one f1agx Of the blazing,
questing eyes through the silken mask
Sits, and received a start She tried
to recollect where she had seen the
like, vivid picture was recalled Of a
certain proud and rebellious sinner
whom she had once encountered on a
fruitless errand for the Lord.
SO it was that the good woman took
the trail in hot and righteous wrath, a
trail which brought her ultimately into
the company of Mrs. Eppingwell and
Floyd Vanderbilt Mrs. Eppingwell had
just found the opportunity to talk with
the man. She had determined, now
that F'lOssie was so near at hand, to
proceed directly to the point, and an
incisive little ethical discourse was
titillating on the end Of her tongue,
when the couple became three She
noted, and pleasUrabIy, the family for
eign accent of the beg pardon with
which the furred woman prefaced her
immediate apprOpria ton Of Floyd Van
derlip; and she cOurteously bowed her
permission for them to draw a little
apart.
Then suddenly was the black mask
torn from a startled woman. A won
derful face and brilliant eyes were
exposed to the quiet curiosity of those
who looked that way, and they were
everybody Floyd Vanderlip was rath-
er confused. The situation demanded
instant action on the part of a man
who was not beyond his depth, while
he hardly knew where he was. He
stared helplessly about him. Mrs. Ep-
plngWell was perpleXed. She could not
comprehend. An explanation was
forthcoming somewhere. and Mrs. Nc
Fee. the minister's wife, was equal
to it.
Mrs. Eppingwell," and her Celtic
voice rose shrilly, 1T is with great
pleasure I make you acquainted with
Freda Moloof, Miss Freda Moloof. as I
understand
Freda involuntarily turned With
her own face barred, she felt as in a
dream, naked. Upon her turned the
clothed features and cleaning eyes of
the masked circle. 1t seemed almost
as though hungry wolf pack girdled
her, ready to drag her down. It might
chance that some felt pity for her, she
thought, and at the thought hardened.
She would by far prefer their scorn.
Strong of heart was she, this woman,
and though she had hunted the prey
into the midst of the pack, Mrs Ep-
pingwell or no Mrs. Eppingwell, she
could not fOrego the kill.
But. here Mrs. Eppingwell did a
strange thing. SO this, at last, was
Freda, she unused, the dancer and de-
stroyer of men; the woman from
whose door she had been turned. When
Mrs. McFee'S thin voice, vibrant with
malice, had raised and Freda turned
invOluntarily, Mrs. Eppingwell also
turned, removed her mask, and in
clined her head in acknowledgment
1t was another flashing. eternal sec
ond, during which those two women re-
warded each other. Freda drew her
self in check, returned the inclination
of head, and turned to the man.
Come with me, Floyd" she said
simply. Il want you now"
What the -," he began explosive
ly, and quit as suddenly, discreet
| enough to not round 1T off. Where the
| deuce had his wits gone, anyway? Was
ever q man more foolishly placed?
II beg pardon. just moment but
may / speak first with Mr. Vanderbilt
| Mrs. EppingwelPs voice, though flute
| like and low, predicated will in it's ev-
cry cadence.
The man looked his gratitude. He
| at least, was willing enough.
II am very sorry" from Freda
There isn't time. He must come al
| once"
But, Miss Moloof, who are you that
] you may possess yourself of Mr.. Van
| derlip and command his actions?"
IL" Freda hesitated, and then
| her feminine mind putting on it's har-
ness-"and who are you to ask this
| question:"
! II? 1 am Mrs. Eppingwell, and"