Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-08
She Hrgus Daily Short Story
"Cinderel1a's Mask. by Ethel Darlington
copyrighted 1908. by the Associated Literary Press

sued. resulting i'll the young mai leav-
ing Harvard 10 win Independent sue
cess in life
Aagusta's pride forbade her CORE
spending with him. and after gradual
ing she Supported herself that her IA
Their lnfgit be free 10 educate her Sis
tiers. That tie MERGERS were related
10 the Fitzray.: she lad notIdiScovered
for so.ie months. ald after the first
Shoel: OF the knowledge she decided 10
retain her position, ,hcre Beizg only
formal Intercourse Tx tween the fani-
lies and therefore small chance of her
identity being discovered.
The Brilliantly illGmined ballroom
was corded when the eight Young
couples swept into. the center the men
| III picturesque square cuts" of green
and scarlet. the girls in gauZy. white.
with frosty SpanSles and Gai'lands of
mf'tleiDe. .4it2ust;is relying or he.:
mask. entered iato the dance with :,
:,r;:cc AID spirit that caused many OF
| the Spectators to single her out for ia
'or. Rising from deep courtesy. her
eye WAS drawn TO one of the guests
who regarded her intently. Something
in the broad shoulders. the firInness of
the chin, visible beneath the blacl;
| mask. set her heart heating wildly
| this to he followed by Il Sudden chill
OF the blood when she remembered
that Morgan lad Il brother.
Nervous with alarm she never knew
| how she followed the intricacies OF the
dance, though She must have acquitted
| herself wei. since of the flowers that
| pelted the dancers ut the end Il sencr-
| Gus share fell at her feet Then. si-
| lent among,a laughing throng. she real
| lied that her part in the festivities was
at an end. Pride and duty demanded
| her withdrawal.
| Il have secured your trophies" an
+, nounced some one ut her side as she
reached the hall, and with Il thrill o.
| joy she knew that Morgan had indeed
| returned. TO leave before he had rec
ognized her became of vital importance.
| Yet how tear herself away when her
whole heart was i'm tumult for his
| presence?
You will permit me- he begged,
taking her card. I'm sure the next is
| q waltz
Augusta. shaking her head, endeav-
Ored TO slip away.
| you can't vanish so." he challenged,
dropping his mask will you follow
! suit or must | wait the witching hour
of T. to solve the mystery:''
| "Mystery:" repeated Augusta in q
curiously muffied voice.
"But one girl dances like YOU" He
bent over her eagerly. Were it not
impossible should think
Thought at 4 masquerader' Angus
ia leased: but. knowing that he spoke
Of herself, she grew reckless and. de-
spite the risk OF delay. yielded to his
plea for just one waltz.
The first led naturally 40 second.
after which, because shefc 0uid not sin
Gle out FltZray for favor, she permit
ted others to fill her card Many
dances were "halvedv among iinpor-
tant partners. siuce about her hung the
fascination of real mystery, which with
most of the masks was but pretense
Augusta drifted In rhe intoxicatlon of
the hour. forgetful of everything save
her lovers presence. For supper he
secured Il tiny table to themselves.
Strangely Interested in his compan-
ion. yet knowing his suspicious to be
wildly improbable. he impafiently
awaited the striking of the clock. AS
the first siIvery chime rang through the
room the guests. amid gay raillery.
threw off their masks.
Augusta. casting one startled glance
about her. sprang to her feet. then *,
noininionsIy He'd. like Cinderella of old
leaving Fitzray TO stare at her empty
chair. Reaching the hail moment
later. the young man caught glimpse
OF vanishing drapery on the stairs.
i Imagining that the girl must return
he waited with the best grace he could