The Democratic advocate., 1908-05-08
CinderciIa'S S
Mask.
By ETHEL HARRINGTON.
Copyrighted. 1898, by Associate
Literary Press.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

AS the sound of sleigh bells broke
the quiet of the room Miss Mercer
clinched her teeth to keep back threat
ening tears.
81 couldn't stand on that foot for one
minute, let alone dance" she exclaimed
to her younger sisters governess, who
stood slim and silent before the fire.
81 am truly sorry" the latter replied
"Jane said you sent for me to help you
What can dor'
"Take my place in the minuet."
ooh, no-no; couldn't do that!'
you'll have to-" groaned Miss Mer
Ger, with decision. Being fond of Au
gusta Park, she treated the young de
pendent with confidence and consider
alton beyond her position, but expected
in return cheerful yielding to her OWL
whims or comfort. "rll write to Aunt
Enid explaining the accident to my
ankle and that you will take my place
so that the dance need not be aban
doned. It's fortunate you played fo'
some of the rehearsals and can veal
my gown"
"I really cannot! Genuine distress
rang in the protest. "The dancers are
all your friends. / am not in society,"
"When I wanted you to play the
other night you made no fuss. Regard
it as an act of charity If it helps you,
but CO."
"Not to Mrs. Fitzray's. won't enter
her doors"-
The invalid raised herself on her ell
bow, regarding in astonishment the
flushed cheeks of the other girl.
"That sounds as if you held some
sort of grudge against aunty, and /
doubt If you ever met her"
Augusta shook her head. Don't be
a goose then" Miss Mercer shifted her
cushions with q little moue Of pain.
"Bring that low chair and let me talk
to YOU. Now listen," she coaxed when
her directions were obeyed. ut would
be wickedly selfish not to save the sit
uation. Aunty's masked ball has been
looked forward to as one of the events
of the season. Our minuet of holly
and mistletoe' is to be the piece de re-
sistance. Aunty will never forgive me
if I am the cause of its being cut out. p"
'It would be ridiculous for one IN
my position to take part In it," OBJ
jected the governess.
"Who will know or care so long as
they get their fun?
eff it were only somewhere else, .
Augusta faltered, whereupon Miss
Mercer turned the averted face toward
her, holding it firmly by the chin to
study the expression.
"You are keeping something back" >"
she accused. "Be honest! Oh-it's not
possible She half started up from
the lounge, to drop back, breathing
quickly. $50 you're the girl" she said.
"You might have trusted me-"
"There was nothing to tell. I would
not marry into family where I was
not wanted"
Morgan said he would choose his
own wife, and my cousin is not one to
change where his affections are con-
cerned. Of course I now understand
your refusal of my request, but you
must reconsider the matter. No one
can recognize you with a mask, and
you can leave directly after the min
uet I'll mention no name, merely
write my aunt that friend has con-
sented to substitute. She'll be too
busy to be curious"
Thus it happened that when the ball
opened Augusta, q mere nobody, was
among the envied debutantes who par
ticipated in the minuet. She was
thrilled at being in the house of the
man she loved and the possibility of
learning how it had Jared with him
during the three years of silence that
had buried their happy courtship.
When Morgan's parents had discov-
cred his attachment for an unknown
college student bitter scenes had en-
sued, resulting in the young man leav-
ing Harvard to win Independent sue
cess in life.
Augusta's pride forbade her CORE
spending with him, and after gradual
ing she supported herself that her ia
ther might be free to educate her SIS
ters. That the MERGERS were related
to the Fitzrays she had not discovered
for some months, and after the first
shock of the knowledge she decided to
retain her position, there being only
formal intercourse between the fami-
lies and therefore small chance of her
identity being discovered.
The brilliantly illumined ballroom
was crowded when the eight young
couples swept into the center, the men
in picturesque square cuts" of green
and scarlet, the girls in gauzy white
with frosty spangles and garlands of
mistletoe. Augusta, relying on her
mask, entered into the dance with a
grace and spirit that caused many Of
the spectators to single her out for ia
vor Rising from a deep courtesy, hel
eye was drawn to one of the guests
who regarded her intently. Soncethins
in the broad shoulders, the firmness O.
the chin, visible beneath the black
mask, set her heart beating wildly
this to be followed by sudden chill
of the blood when she remembered
that Morgan had a brother.
Nervous with alarm, she never knew
how she followed the intricacies of th,
dance, though she must have acquitted
herself we'll, since of the flowers tha
pelted the dancers at the end gener
Gus share fell at her feet Then, 81
lent among 4 laughing throng, she real
lied that her part in the festivities wa.
at an end. Pride and duty demanded