Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-21
y The Seaton's Masquerade
CoPYRtGHT BY j. 3. LIPPtNCOTT co

sion when Mr.. Chetwood whispered in her ear
1t wants just quarter to twelve now, Mrs
Seaton; you'd better get your wraps. III call
a cab and we'll start at once for Brexton's rooms
loo bad we've missed them all evening, but I've
been divinely, dangerously happy" holding her
SO close that Kitty couldn't withdraw her hand
from his arm and longed to scream for help. She
got into her wraps and followed Mephstopheles
out to the waiting cab Once inside and off, an
arm went round her waist and she was drawn
close TO his breast in spite of her efforts to free
herself-her horror Of him giving Mephstopheles
thrill Of exquisite joy, though he felt like
brute as he doggedly resolved to see the thing
through to the bitter end
Darling" he whispered, "how can you treat
me Ike this! Surely you must have known that
| loved you or you would never have consented
to go to such place with me-"
But Kitty continued to struggle desperately
feel1ng that her mind giving way, and dread
ing each moment that she would lose conscious.
ness altogether. She put both hands behind her
back that he might not kiss them, trying TO
shrink from him into the opposite corner of the
carriage
Then suddenly the cab halted, and before she
could grasp his purpose her hands were tied
firmly behind her and a black silk mufher was
InroWn r over her head, while the now hated voice
whispered in her ear
Don't think me brute, darling; I'll explain
everything in an instant; but if you have any
regard for your reputation and Toms, don't
make an outcry, I beseech you but come with
me quietly, and you shall be free Immediately"
-, More dead than alive, Kitty stepped out of
the carriage, Mephistopheles' arm about her
waist to guide and support her.
iShe stumbled up some steps and was let in at
door, which was closed behind her. then more
steps-they were entering room. With a thrill
of despair she heard the door locked and stood
stock still, pathetic monument of misery, in
the centre of the floor.
Mrs. Seaton," said Mephistophees still whis-
peTing. "as / said before 7 took for granted that
you loved me when you were willing to accom-
pany me to such place. And loving you as
did, | was only too wildly happy at the thought
Of being with you to care about the rendezvous
But now you must explain, for Mrs Weston and
her brother never turned up at all; knew this
and have carried you off to supper in my rooms
You're perfectly safe with mel wouldn't hurt
you for the world-but I naturally resent your
treatment of me in the face of everything, and
If you wish it, will let you go Immediately after
you have given me some explanation of Your
most extraordinary behavior, for Tn not in the
habit of forcing my love where it's not desired
But (brutally) 81 need perhaps not remind YOU
how Tom is likely to regard this escapade'
Then poor, little captive Kitty, her hands still
tied in spite of all her efforts, and feeling almost
suffocated by the black thing over her head,
which, while thin, shut out her vision like pail
broke down entirely, sobbing out the whole
story of Mrs. Weston's plan, which had seemed
so innocent and now appeared so deadly.
And now once MORE" she sobbed in conclu
sion, 81 beseech you to let me go; if you have
one spark of manliness in You, set me free
though if, as you say, you have ruined me for
ever in Toms eyes, it were far kinder to kill me
at once, for love him with all my heart and
soul and mind. I've never loved any other man
nor been untrue to him even in my thoughts for
one sing instant. Let me run to him and take
my chances, and then die if he drives me away"
In the twinkng of an eye Mephistopheles
threw back his headdress and mask, the black
thing was snatched from her head, and as Kitty
gazed up into Toms dear face and saw herself
in her own room, Tom caught her in his arms
she tainted away altogether.
What that good fellow lived through during
the next ten minutes is best pictured by Dore's
illustrations of the Inferno" But when he
had forced glass of wine between the white
lips and knelt, chafng the poor little, cold
hands, Kitty came back to life and Tom gathered
her to his broad breast, where she sobbed out
all her troubles, while he reved himself con-
tinually as the greatest brute alive.
Then when she growing comparatively
calm again. he told her about the European
prise, adding with a twinkle in his eyes which
seemed little too glistening to look quite nat
ura-
'And when we get back, darling, we'll let the
Burke-Westons slide!"