Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-16

tie was one Of my dearest friends, and she
cnanced to be In my mind even as we met.
Miss Minor. as though she felt her mo-
mentary agitation had not passed unob-
served 4 was SO surprised when you first
presented Colonel Curran."
II confess to having felt strangely
myself" returned the other. archly. al
though 1 believe / concealed my feel
ings far better than you did, Edith.
Really, | thought you were going to
faint. 1t must be that Colonel Curran
exercises some strange occult influence over
the weaker sex. Perhaps he Is the seventh
SON of seventh son: are you. colonel
however. dear, l am safe for the present
compelled to face the danger alone, as here
comes Lieut.. Hammersmith to claim the
dance I've promised him."
Before Mrs. Brennan could interfere. the
laughing girl had placed her hand on the
lieutenants blue sleeve, and. with a mock
ing goodbye flung backward over her
shoulder, vanished in the crowd leaving us
standing there alone.
The lady waited in such apparent indiffer-
ence, gently tapping the floor with her neat
~ shod foot, her eyes wandering carelessly
over the throng in our front, that 1 felt ut
terly at sea- Evidently she had no inten-
tion OF addressing me, yet could not. con-
tinue to stand there beside her in silence
ike fool. That she possessed a pretty
temper already knew, but better a touch
or that than this silent disdain.
Would you be exceedingly angry if 1
were to ask you to dancer / questioned
stealing surreptitiously a glance at her
proudly averted face.
Angry? Most assuredly not" in appar-
ent surprise. yet trust you will not ask
me. l have been upon the floor only once
tonight. l am not at all in the mood
The words were not encouraging yet they
served to break the ice, and 1 was never
easily daunted.
If there were chairs here I should ven
ture to ask even a greater favor-that you
would consent to sit out this set with me"
She turned slightly, lifted her eyes in
quir1ngly to mine, and her face nghtened.
No doubt we might discover seats with
out difficulty in the anteroom," she an
swered, indicating the direction by a glance
There do not appear to be many 'stters-
out at this ball, and the few who do are
not crowded.
If the pendulum of hope and despair
swings one way the unalterable laws of
mental gravitation compel 1t to go Just as
far the other. and although do not remem-
Der uttering so much as a word while we
traversed the crowded floor and gained en-
trance to the smaller room beyond, yet my
heart was singing a song of the deepest
hope. The apartment contained, as she
prophesied, but few occupants. and / con-
Quoted her to the farther end of it, where
we found comfortable divan and no troub-
lesome neighbors.
AS I glanced at her now 1 marked dis
tinct change in her face. The old indiffer-
eHCe, SO well assumed while We were in the
presence of others. had utterly vanished as
by magic. and she sat looking at me in
anxious yet impetuous questioning
Capt. Wayne" she exclaimed, her eyes
|. never once leaving my face what does
this mean? this masquerade? this wearing
of the federal uniform? this taking of an
others name? this being here at all?"
+ IF L should say that 1 came hoping to
sec you again" I answered, scarce know
ing how best to proceed or how far to put
confidence in her. what would you think?'
The color famed quickly into her cheeks,
but the clear eyes never faltered They
seemed to read my very soul.
If that Is true, that you were extremely
foolish to take such a risk for so small a
reward she returned calmly. Nor under
these circumstances, would I remain here
so much as a moment to encourage Won
But 1T is not true. This is no light act your
very life must lie in the balance or you
could never assume such risk Doubtless
you hesitate, to. trust me fully, but assure
you you need not, for you have placed me
under certain personal obligations which I
have no desire. to ignore. Capt Wayne,
you are m4rouble, in sdanger-will you not
tell me all, and permit me to aid you ty
every means in my power?'
/ Il would trust you gladly with my life
or my honor, replied, soberly. eff had
less faith In you l should not be here now"
She started slightly at the words and
for an instant her eyes fell. "Your life:'