The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-06-03
CindereIId'S
Mask.
By ETHEL HARRINGTON.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.

AS the sound of sleigh bells broke
the quiet of the room Miss Mercer
ciinched her teeth to keep back threat
ening tears.
st couldn't stand on that foot for one
minute, let alone dance" she exclaimed
to her younger sisters governess, who
| stood slin and silent before the fire.
81 am truly sorry" the latter replied.
"Jane said you sent for me to help you.
| What can dot'
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 own
whims or comfort. "Ill 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 for
some of the rehearsals and can wear
my gown"
81 really cannotr Genuine distress
rang in the protest. 1.-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 1t helps you,
but 60"
mot TO Mrs. Fitzray's. won't enter
her DOORS
The invalid raised herself on her ell
bow, regarding in establishment the
flushed cheeks of the other girl.
''That sounds as if you held some
sort of grudge against aunty, and I
doubt If you ever met her."
Augusta shook her head. Don't be
a goose then" Miss Mercer shifted her
cushions with little moue Of pain.
Bring that low chair and let me talk
to you. Now listen" she coaxed when
her directions were obeyed. sit 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 am the cause of its being cut out. J"
cit 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. would
not marry into family where l was
4 not wanted"
e Morgan said he would choose his
e own wife, and my cousin is not one tt
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 mask, and
: you can leave directly after the min
t uet I'll mention no name, merely
write my aunt that friend has con
scented to substitute. She'll be too
I. busy to be curious
: Thus it happened that when the bal
S opened Augusta, mere nobody, wa:
: among the envied debutantes who par
!, ticipated in the minuet. She wa:
: thrilled at being in the house of tht
man she loved and the possibility O
= learning how it had Jared with hin
during the three years of silence tina
g had buried their happy courtship.
: When Morgan's parents had discov
d cred his attachment for an unknown
e college student bitter scenes had en-
= sued, resulting in the young man leav
ing Harvard to win independent sue
n cess in life.
Augustus pride forbade her CORE
spending with him, and after gradual
e ing she supported herself that her ia
Their might be free to educate her sis
ters. That the MERGERS were relate,
y to the Fitzrays she had not discovere
for some months, and after the frs
shock Of the knowledge she decided t
retain her position, there being onl
k fo nal intercourse between the fam
lies and therefore small chance of he
identity being discovered.
The brilliantly illumined ballroor
was crowded when the eight youn
ne couples swept into the center, the me
- in picturesque square cuts" of gree
and scarlet the girls in gauzy whit
E with frosty spangles and garlands {
mistletoe. Augusta, relying on he
- mask, entered into the dance with
re grace and spirit that caused many {
the spectators to single her out for f;
is vor. Rising from a deep courtesy, ht
eye was drawn to one of the CUES
Id who regarded her intently. Somethin
IS. in the broad shoulders, the f1rmness
Mt the chin, visible beneath the blac