Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-12-18

OeTl3lniy you VIII never Know any
peace II you do. Be careful"
His free hand stole toward the
strings OF her mask. She moved not.
His face was very close TO hers now.
II only she would struggled He re-
leased her wrist
"No: haven't the courage. IL take
that mask from your face 1t win be
the end. And DO not want this ever
10 end. II you VIII not let me see your
face Of your own free viii, so be it. I
shall see IT some day, mark me. Fate
does not cross two paths In this man
ner without a purpose" He stepped
back slowly. You do not understand
the lure OF that mask"
Perhaps I do. 1 am beginning TO
admire your self control. Mr.. Hillard.
But l am tired now. and must ask
you TO 60"
Once more. viii you let me see
your faceg"
No If. as you say, fate intends for
US to meet again you will see Il. But
l have my doubts. So it is my VIII to
pass out OF your life as completely rs
though I had never entered it-from
one fog into another. No. am not a
happy woman. 1 am not happy IN my
friendships. Listen 10 me-" and her
voice grew low and sweet Let me
appeal 10 your Imagination. This light
adventure shall be a souvenir for your
old age. One night romance stepped
into your life and out OF it. Think
There viii always be the same charm.
the same mystery, the same enchant-
ment. / shall always be Cinderella
or the sleeping beauty or what your
fancy wills. DO you understand me2
Nothing" she proceeded. nothing
lasts so long i'm the recollection as a
pleasant mystery-in other days. In
other times. Well. on my side l shall
recall this night pleasantly. Without
knowing &c YOU have given me n new
foothoid in life. l did not believe that
there lived a single man who could
keep 20 the letter OF his bargain
Good night, And do not lean out OF
any more windows" she added lightly
You are right" hc said reluctantly
something 10 dream over In my old
age. And certainly I shall dream OF
tia fash Of sunlight IN the window %
Then slowly he reached down to-
ward her WiueElass. She understood
his purpose aud essayed 20 stop him.
do not deny me this little thing"
he said
She let her hand fail He took the
glass. held 60 against the light 10 see
where her lips had touched IT, Care.
gully ne poured out the wine from the
opposite side ans kissed the rim.
Il shall keep this glass must have
some visible object 90 make sure that
this HASN'T been dream"
you may kiss my hand. Mr. Hnlard'
He bent quickly and kissed not the
hand, but the wrist where the marks
OF his fingers still remained family.
lie squared himself and gazed long
aud stcadfsstly into her ewes There
was huttcr in her heart that she
was unable 10 define on his part be
realized the sooner he was gone the
better. There was a limit TO his self
control He gained the street some
how. There he stopped and turned
Did the curtain move2 He wasn't
sure, but hc raised his hat. settled Il
FIRMLY on bis head and walked rapidly
away.
There was little sleep for him that
night, and in the morning the first
thing he did was 10 pick up the Wine
glass. It was all true. And then his
good resolutions melted and vanished.
He must have one more word with her.
happen what might SO at 10 O'Clock
be called a cab and drove rapidly 10
the Sanford place. Snow had fallen
during the night. and many OF the
steps were still SpouCss white. Impos-
sible! lie leaned from the cab and
rubbed his eyes Absolutely impossi-
ble! For what did he see? Wooden
shutters over all the lower windows
and the iron gates closed before the
doors! And not footprint anywhere.
This was extraordinary He jumped
from the cab. ran up the steps and
rang the beli-rang Il ten times with
minute Intervals. And no one an
swered. Then he heard a call from