Arizona republican., 1909-05-22

I the courage to follow up an adven-
ture like this"
Thanks. The compliment is rather
ambiguous"
my compliments can not possibly
be more ambiguous than your APP
pearance. Surely. there will be an
hour for unmasking."
1T has already begun, Mr.. Hillard."
$50 l am the one who is to be I'M
masked? Well, l have only the mask
nature gave me. l wish she had
been more liberal. But l shall see
what can be done with it"
rs there any. mask quite so terri
BILE, quite so deceptive, as this very
mask nature gives us? Can it not
lie adroitly, break hearts, overthrow
empires? You can judge character
by this mask sometimes, but never
by the working of the mind behind
it." She resumed her seat on the
divan.
Il wish 1 could read yours
And much good it would do you"
She smiled, rather ruefully Hillard
thought,
He took note of her teeth, and felt
sudden tinge of regret. One may
disguise the face and hair, but the
teeth are always the same. Two lower
teeth on the right side appeared to
be gone; the others were firm and
glistening white. 1t was a pity, for
woman's teeth are as much her
glory as her hair.
Il am curious to learn what you
brought for dinner"
He enumerated the delicacies.
you have evidently studied your
Lucullus," she said.
Silence The ruddy light on her
hair fascinated, him.
What is it?" she demanded.
'Your hair" with a simplicity which
silenced her. You have the most
beautiful hair l have ever seen"
Thank you. And yet, for all you
know, it may be a fine wig"
IF it is, l shall never be sure of
anything again. Am l in prosaic
New York? Have you not, by some
carpet-magic, transported me to old
Europe? If a dozen conspirators
came in in cowls to render me the
oath. | should not be at all surprised"
There is no magic; only mask"
And there is no way of seeing
Dehlnd that!
None, absolutely none. 1 am told
that you are a gentleman; so l am
confident that you will not stoop to
use force"
"Only the force of eloquence, If
ever l may lay claim to that again"
You are beginning we'll For I
tell you, Mr.. Hillard, 1 shall expect
but the most brilliant wit from you
tonight. AS for me, l shall only in
terpolate occasionally. Now, begin"
Il am not used to dancing without
the pole"
You must learn. Dancei"
Upon what-nothing? And how
shall l know that my dancing pleases
you?"
Il agree to tell you. 1 wear this
mask tonight because l am taking a
surreptitious leaf out of my book Of
cares
Cares? Have you any?"
IF l were without cares it would
not be necessary to seek diversions
of this equivocal character" She
crossed her arms. The magic Of old
Venice seemed at that moment to en-
fold her.
You are, then, seeking a diver
sion?"
Nothing more or less. Do not
ffatter yourself that there is any
thing personal or romantic on my
side. am bored"
81 am wholly in your hands, he
said; land they are very beautiful
hands"
rs there anything more beautiful
than a cats paw, when the claws
are hidden? Never judge a woman
by her hands, Nevertheless she
buried her hands in the depths of a
down pillow. She had forgotten her
rings. She slipped them off and
managed to hide them.
Il promise to remember. Your let
ters-" he began diffidently. Where
the deuce was his tongue? Was he
to be tOngue-tied all the evening
before this Columbine, who, with the
aid of her mask, was covertly laugh
ing at his awkwardness?
MY letters? A woman often writes
what she will not say, and says what
she will not write. Did you not ask
me to disillusion yOu?"