The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-03
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Also, he had to shave and to eat. Thus
it was that he, alone of all interested was
unaware of Flossie's proximity.
Have them down to the water-hole off
the hospital, at midnight sharp. Don
fail me-" he said to Sitka Charley, who
dropped in with the advice that only one
dog was lacking to fill the bill, and that
that one would be Forthcoming IN al
hour or so. Here's the sack. There
the scales. Weigh out your own dust and
cont bother me. I've got to get ready
for the ball.
Sitka Charley weighed out his pay and
departed, carrying with him letter TO
Lorraine Lisznayi, the contents OF when
he had correctly imagined to refer to a
meeting at the water hole off the hospital,
at midnight, sharp.
Twice Freda sent messengers UP to the
Barracks, where the dance was in 1ull
swing, and as often they came back WITH
out answers. Then she did what only
Freda could do-put on her furs, masked
her face and went up herself to the Gov
errors ball Now, there happened to be
a cUstom-not an original one by any
means-to which the official clique had
long since become addicted 1t was a
very wise custom, for it furnished protec-
ton to the wonanknd of the officials and
gave greater selectness to their revels.
Whenever any masquerade was given, a
committee was chosen, the sole function
of which was to stand by the door and
peer beneath each and every mask. NJ st
men did not clamor to be placed upon
this committee.
On this particular night Prince was at
the door. Pressure had been brought to
bear and he had not yet recovered from
amaZ ement at his having consented to
undertake a task which bid fair to lose
him half his friends. merely for the sake
If pleasing the other half. Three or four
of the men he Rad refused were men
whom he had known on creek and trail
good comrades, but not exactly for so Sc
lect on affair. He was canvassing the eX-
pediency of resigning the post there and
hen when woman tripped in under the
light Freda! He could swear it by the
furs-7-did he not know that poise OF head
so we'll The last one to expect in all
The world He had given her better judg'
ment that to thus venture the lgnominy
of refusal, or, if she passed, the scorn OF
women. He shook his head, without scru-
tiny; he knew her too well to be mistak-
en- But she pressed closer. She lifted
the black silk ribbon and as quickly low
cred it again. For one flashing, eternal
second he looked upon her face. It was
not for nothing, the saying which had
arisen in the country, that Freda played
with men as a child with bubbles. Not q
word We spoken Prince stepped aside,
ard few minutes later might have been
seen resigning with warm indifference,
the post to which he had been unfaithtui.
Men recognized the furs, and marveled
men who should have served upon the
door committee; but they were not prone
10 speech. Not so with the women. 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. Nc
Fee, emerging from the supper room
where all was in readiness, caught one
flash of the blazing, questing eyes through
the silken mask Sits, and received
start She tried to recollect where she
had seen the like, and a vivid picture
was recalled of a certain proud and re-
bellious sinner whom she had once en-
countered a fruitless errand for the
Lord. i
So if 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
Flossie was 50 near at hand, to proceed
directly to the point, and an incisive lit
tle ethical discourse was titilating on the
end Of her tongue, when the couple be-
came three. She noted, and pleasurably,
he family foreign accent of the beg par
dom with which the furred woman pre-
faced her immediate appropriation of
floyd Vanderlip; and she courteously
bowed her permission for them to draw a
little apart
Then suddenly was the black mask torn
from startled woman. wonderful face
and brilliant eyes were exposed TO the
quiet curiosity of those who looked that
way, and they were everybody. Floyd
VANDERBILT was rather 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. Eppingwell was perplexed She
could not comprehend. An explanation
, was forthcoming somewhere, and Mrs.
McFec, the ministers wife, was equal
to it,
Mrs. Eppingwcll," and her Celtic voice
rcse shrilly, ''it is with great pleasure
make you acquainted with Freda Moloof,
! Miss Freda Moloof, as understand"
F'reda involuntarily turned. With her
own face barred, she felt as in dream,
, naked. Upon her turned the clothed fea-
lures and cleaning eyes of the masked
/, circle. 1t seemed almost as though a
t hungry wolf pack girdled her, ready to
: drag her down. 1t might chance that
some felt pity for her, she thought, and
st the thought hardened. She would by
lar prefer their scorr Strong of heart
She was, this woman, and though she had
hunted the prey into the midst of the
, pack, Mrs. Eppingwell or no Mrs Epping
well, she could not forego the kill.
, But here Mrs. Eppingwell did strange
t thing. So this, at last, was Freda she
: unused, the dancer and the destroyer OF
men: the woman from whose door she
. thin voice, vibrant with malice, had