Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-29
She reached out a firm round white

What do you mean?" her arm pois-
ed in mid-air.
""To touch a cigarette you must
cross the line to this side"
She withdrew her arm slowly.
81 shall not smoke If I crossed the
line should establish dangerous
precedent A good stroke. Now the
idea. must have that idea"
He blew the smoke toward the
lamp; it sailed over the flaming wicks
and darted into the dark beyond.
''The mirror over the piano con-
fused me. / had seen it somewhere
before Then, there was that copy OF
Botticelli. The franc was familiar,
but | could not place it. This stein,
however," He laughed: the laughter
was boyish, even triumphant,
well, that stein?" She was now
leaning across the table, her fingers
tense on the cloth.
II bought that stein two seasons ago.
This is the Sandfords' place, and you
are the yelled lady who has been rid
ing Mrs. Sandfords favorite hunter in
the park"
"And so?"
81 shall find out who you are pres
entity
"How?"
"That shall be my secret. Mutual
friends, indeed! You will not have to
send me home blindfolded.''
"That is precisely what ! shall do,
in certain sense. My name? Per
haps. But you will never know my
face"
Suppose l should determine to
cross the line, despite your precepts?"
| They stood up simultaneously. In
matter of this sort he was by far the
quicker. In an instant he had caught
her by the wrist, at the same time
drawing her irresistibly round the ta-
bic toward him. His grasp was not
rough, only firm. She ceased to pull
against him.
Il must see your face. shall never
be at peace if l do not
! Certainly you will never know any
peace if 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.
If only she would struggle! Yes, he
was certain now that her eyes were
blue. But they looked at him with a
menace which chilled his ardor. He
dropped the hand from the mask and
released her wrist.
! mo, I haven't the courage. If
take that mask from your face, it will
! be the end. And l do not want this
ever to end. If you will not let me
see your face of your own free will,
so be it. l shall see it some day
mark me. Fate does not cross two
i paths in this manner without pur'
! pose" He stepped back slowly. "You
do not understand the lure of that
mask"
Perhaps do. am beginning tc
admire your self-control, Mr. Hillard
| am beginning to admire it very
much. But am tired now, and must
ask you to CO."
"once more, will you let me see YOU
! face?"
| mo. If, as you say, fate intends
for US to meet again, you will see 1t
But have my doubts. So it is m.
: will to pass out of your life as com
| pletely as though | had never entered
it; from one fog into another. No.
am not happy woman; | am no
t happy i'll my friendships. Listen tt
, me-" and her voice grew low ant
; sweet. Let me appeal to your imae
t ination. This light adventure shall b.
, a souvenir for your old age. On
3 night Romance stepped into your lif
and out of it. Think! There will a.
. ways be the same charm. the sam
mystery, the same enchantment
t Knowing nothing Of me, there will TO
i low no disillusions, no disenchant
o1u l,o lie
or the Sleeping Beauty, or what you
q fancy wills. Do you understand me?
g He nodded.
e Nothing" she proceeded, "nothin
u lasts SO long in the recollection as
= pleasant mystery. In other days, i
other times. y Well, on my side
l shall recall this night pleasantly. Will
6 out knowing it, you have given me
new foothold in life. did not believ
s that there lived single man VIII
L could keep to the letter of his ba
e gain Presently you will forget tn
chagrin Good night! And do ne
lean out of any more windows" sh
e added lightly.
"You are right he said reluctantly
Something to dream over in my Of
it age. And certainly / shall dream {
r it; fash of sunlight in the shadoy
Then slowly he reached down t
s, ward her wine-glass. She understood
his purpose and essayed to stop hir
If do not deny me this little thing
n he said.
Q She let her hand fall. He took tt
glass, held it against the light to Sc
i where her lips had touched it. Car
Is fully he poured out the wine from tt
e opposife side and, kissed the rim.
81 shall keep this glass. l ma
AZ have some visible object to make SUI
~ that this hasn't been a dream. MI
IN Sanford may send me the bill"
70 "You may kiss my hand, Mr.. H
!. lard
id He bent quickly and kissed, not tt
L. hand, but the wrist where the mar
in of his fingers still remained faint
n He squared himself and gazed lol
~ and steadfastly into her eyes. In til
he moment he seemed to her positive
Id handsome; and there was f1utter
how l,aort fhat cha Uar upa h1o tn r