The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-26
THE EVENING STORY
The Christrnas Masquerade.
(By Troy Allison. }


tickets in her hand when she came to
her room that afternoon to leave a
little Christmas token before before
starting home for the holidays. She
mad met the postman on the way, and
these tickets, she declared, were the
only thing that marred the pleasure
OF her going home. There were prob
ably not half a dozen girls in the
school that would be invited to the
masquerade given by the town Cosmos
club. and Virginia threw the tickets
into Mics Johnston's wastepaper
basket with the remark that. while
they might have meant so much, they
were nothing but paper and ink.
When Miss Johnston saw them
later she took them out of the basket
and the idea, full grown, confronted
her. She had never been to mas
querade in her Ife-she caught her
breath in q gasp of self pity when she
realized that at thirty-five, she had
never been to a ball of any kind. She
had struggled to pay her way through
college, and for the last ten years had
taught literature in one of the most
conservative schools for girls. She
Of conservatism until her polished
manner and impenetrable reserve
were the envy of every impulsive
young creature in her classes.
She had, she herself knew, trained
every impulse along the lines that
convention required. She had attain
ed a polished and well groomed
womanhood, but tonight her mind
went back to her childhood. when she
had revealed in her grandmother's
country rose garden. The vigorous
shoots had grown and blossomed. they
had trailed across the garden pain,
or had scared heavenward, according
to their nature.
There chung to her memory a love
of this garden that could not be salts
fed by the rose garden of city life
where each plant was pruned and con-
fined until it had reached perfect
She had been bound by the conven-
tionalities that shackle the woman
teacher, and she wanted to know Whae
her spontaneous growth would have
She tapped the tickets against her
well manicured nails and sighed to
follow, once. the line of least resist
ance. ,a
1t as I choose" she decided, mutiny
shining in her gray eyes. Nora VIII
help me-she is the soul of devolon-
and discretion"
Nora, the chambermaid, VINO mad
been Miss Johnston's slave for the past
Ave years. was taken into confidence,
and it was she who smuggled into the
building a beautifully gotten up Iitlah
wig with which to cover the brown
hair, and her nimble ringers neipso
TdSnIOn
into the garb of a Persian princess
Morals practical mind also arranged
the details with the cabman, just
where he should wait for them-ano
lust how. wrapped in plain dominoes'
she and Miss Johnston should reach
the CITY hall. and how she herself
should stand in the corridors ana
watch the masquerade, then meet IN
the cab to return home like Cinderella
at II o'clock.
At 10 o'clock that night PERSIAN
princess, tall. 1.-THE. with cllnging ORA
pertes. leaned against one OF the gaiiy
decked pillars that supported the bal
cony where the musicians sat she
had danced with cavalier monk ana
devil. and now stole a moments rest
tie melancholy said a voice IN her
ear, and a Jester tapped her lightly
on the arm with his stick and bells.
"a fool there was" she quoted gaily,
taking his proffered arm.
Lots OF EN- here tonight" he con,
aded. anniably Aren't you tired
dancing? know of painfully man
1factured looking cosy corner that Is
not occupied=let's try it.
When they reached it he leaned his
elbow on his knee and peered intent
y into her masked face.
i've recognized you at last, ne
g She gave a Mortified gasp. you
haven't really? ?"
Indeed I have. You are-the prin-
,ess I've been hunting for years" he
shook the bells in her face joyfully, |
.I'na sure it proves we are twin souls
or / wouldn't have known you. |
princess" he said. in mock sentiment !
She laughed with relief. And since
when did fools aspire to being twin /
;ouls to princesses 2" she asked, CIV
ng her new red hair a loving pat.
sOh-it's nothing at all unusual for |
'ools to be foolish" he said nonchal- /
lntly. "but the truth is, princess, I'm
lot really a fool-I'm something much
higher and nobler. en- disguise pro tenn
the ease with which I mix French |
md Latin ought to be positive proof |
# it, He tipped his pointed satin
oes and limited that he might. with
proper persuasion, let her into the Sc
ret.
The princess actually giggled-she
orpot her wears and her dignity, and
inferred into the spirit of the game as
as one Of her own school
iris would have done
ssrrell mel can keep secrets, she
aid. eagerly.
ssThe truth of the matter is" he leaned
yer and whispered in her ear In IN
more important than a fool.Im across
our heart you'll never tell2' he ask q.
utting his confidence short IN the mid
e sfIope I may lie she said grnvely.
9Th ais - counterSi git shows YOU
eIeng Wei; I'm a-Hecov' he said, in
How perfectly charming-I never met
ne before-but I'm afraid ~ have 70
SIX for your credentials. obviously:
ar YOU have a dragon to slay. pro-
uce if-iead them forth orc at the time
and I'll soon clear the locality IS COM
letely of dragons as St Patrick ,cle%red
reland Of snakes" he replied modcstiy.
before she could answer the crowd in
he hall con@esrcd with rush on .heir
ide of the building
ssT'n afraid it's ? fire Instead Of drag
MS she said nuxiously. ana even as Fhe
nolre the smoke came in a gust through
he door leading from the main hall.
He nut his arms around her shielding
or body from the crush rs much as he
ould. I'm afraid It's serious his voice
ad lost sSs jesting tone-"thank heaven
re gre next II a window.
A plain domino came pushing throush