The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-05


 being studIou1. you know He laughed with unbecoming mirth as he hurried away
 The monk stood silent watching the moonlight sift between the trees and trace silvery arabasques upon the eiover-covered lawn but he was not considering the beauties of nature.
 This Harun al Rashid business is not what l have been led to suppose ne muttered uncomfortsS)ly. Tt Is all very well when they heap blessings on the name of the caliph, but. eonfound them, I meant to be nice to them-if found they deserved it. But l never suspected they could harbor such ser- timents Ned was positively disre- spectful. And that strong minded girl. A pretty figure 1 should cut tryins to patronize Her. l don't care if she IS right-in measure. I hate wom- an who is right when you are-well-- the opposing counsel"
 At that moment the little shepherd ess with whom he had danced the fancers came out on the porch. She saw tne monk standing by himself in tile shad- owy corner and to his amazement she came up swiftly and threw a pair of warm arms about his neck.
 Darling. darlingi" she cried. with soft fervor.
 1nstinctively and unconsciously he tried to free himself
 Don't for goodness sake he gasped in smothered whisper.
 But the little shepherdess oniY laugh ed and tried to draw his tall head down to her.
 "No one will see us.n she cried trazenly, and somehow her warm lips found a spot between his mask and hls hood whereon they pressed a tinglirs star. Then. after another soft hug and q teasing laugh, she fled as she had come.
 My landm murmured the monk. in a 6aze. He stood perfectly still for t moment. so as not to blur the sensa- i tion. Well welli I suppose that was merely-a kiss. And l suppose some people are used to it. l never knew 1 it was like-I wonder who she is. An1 whom did she take me for? Harry van Voorhis, I suppose. Lucky Harry! Lucky lucky Harry!a
 Then he slipped further back into the shadows.
 I've got to go, and go quick That's evident. I don't care to meet Ned's wife, after those embarrassing confidences-she may be right, but it's unfeminine for a woman to insist on being right. And l wouldn't for the world embarrass that sweet little girl who k-kissed me- She thought it was Harry, confound him. She'll find out it wasn't when they un- mask, but she'll never know who the , mysterious monk was. I'll just make a | mysterious disappearance. If l can find my hatl"
 He let himself out by tho wre-sereen door, and tried to remember just how he had come around the cottage from the kitchen, when he was arrested by two eager voices at an open window.
 But I saw her with my own eyesi' l Really"
 "She threw her arms about his neck l and kissed him-oh there wasn't any mis-
 take about it."
 In the darkness and under his mask the
 monk felt himself tingllng. He had a l curious sense of elation, like boy who l has seen the circus, come now what may. 1 But the next words startled him. 1 Good heavensl And they've only been
 married a Few months. Poor MT. Cal 1 vert"
 You know his uncle was bitterly op- l posed to the marriage. Evidently with 1 reason"
 Are you sure there wasn't any mis-
 take?"
 "Oh, not the slightest Mrs Calvert ] hasn't been masked all evening, you know. and every one recognized MT. Van 1 Voorhis in the monk. Don't mention il l to a soul.''
 "Oh, of course not"
 And they hurried away eager to find
 new confidants.
 1 "That is Mrs Fletcher" said Judge
 Griffin, grimly. T know that thin voice i of hers She'll spread the story over town <, ivy tomorrow noon. So tha" was Ned g l wife, Who the mischief is the other girl | Gil, I remember there is sister-of { course. So that is Ned's wife. Soft littl , 1 tringl She wouldn't ever argue with a
 man. I don't believe she would have an 1 crinon to her name. She's too sweet.
 Ned had more sense than 1 gave him | credit for"
 Through the open window the first 1 strains of a waltz came out to him. He | saw the little shepherdess pass the win 1 dow, and his heart gave curious leap. | Inc saw two women with their heads to- l gether. and he felt sure that enc of them
 vas Mrs Fletcher At that sight his lips settled into grin lines ''rhe little thinS l shant suffer because of that kiss" he said. firmly ''Tll be hanged if I let her. If she hasn't a right to kiss ner Gncle--' He went up the steps he h@d just de- sc5nded, and reconnoitred through the open door. The futtering fairy in red was at the piano. pounding out tune with a triple beat The little shepherdess was standing alone near the wall He went up to her swiftly.
 q want you to dance a few steps with mo- he said and before she could eX- | claim in protest he had slipped his arm ehout her and wung her into the waltz.
 He danced with an old-fashioned hop ring step that threatened to shake down Ncll's hair and he whirled her around and around till she was dizzy past speech, but lis guiding arm was strong and his agil- iiy past question. Then she was aware that he was talking to her under cover of the dance.
 "I am Ned's uncle Henry Griffin,' his voice said, close to her ear "I want you to know before we unmask You mustn't be surprised. You must say quite calmly if any one speaks about it, that you knew who I was--that I had told you before hand I am Neds uncle-your uncle, too, my dear. You understand? You are sure you do? Now I am going to surprise the others but you mustn't be surprised. You just laugh at them with me. Remem- ber'
 The music stopped Edward, unmaskeG and nervously anxious, was intent upor the black domino, who stood haughtily aloof with folded arms. The court lady had given him no opportunity all even ing, and his attitude expressed the state of his ruffed feelings. Then the monk clapped his hands.
 Our hostess wishes us all to unmasl now" he said in ringing voice, and he himself was the first of all to lift his mask and throw back his hood. If the unveiling brought other surprises. they were lost as the stars are lost in tht
 moonlight.