Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-12-11

courage to follow up an adventure like
this
Thanks. The compliment is rather
ambiguous"
My compliments cannot possibly be
more ambiguous than your appearance.
Surely there will be GO hour for I'M
masking"
1T has already begun. MIR. Hulard."
so I am the one who Is to be IN
masked? Well. I have only the mask
nature gave to me. wish she had
been more liberal. But l shall see
what can he done with It"
he took note OF her teeth and felt a
sudden tinEe of regret One may dis
guiSe 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 irn and glistening
white. IL was a pity. for a woman's
teeth are as much her glory as her
bair.
silence. The rudy light on her hair
fascinated him.
~ hat Is III" she deman dPd.
Your hair" with a simplicity which
silTnced her. You have the most
beautiful hair I have ever seen"
Thank YOU. And yet. for all you
know. II may be tine wig"
III II Is shall never be sure OF
anything again. Am In prosaic New
York Have you rot by some carpet
magic transported me to old Europe
af a dozen conspirators came In In
cows 10 render me the oath / should
DOT D. at all surprised"
There is no magic. only n mask"
And there Is no way OF seeing be-
hind thstT
None absolutely none. I am told
that you are a gentleman. so I am
confident that you will not stoop to
use force"
only the force OF eloquence. n ever
I may lay claim TO that again"
You are beginning well, for I tell
you. Mr.. billiard. I shall expect but
the most brilliant wit from you TO-
night As for me. shall only inter
polate occasionally. Now. begin"
Il am not used 10 dancing without
the pole"
You must harm Dance"
Upon what-nothing: And how
shall / know that my dancing pleases
vouY"
Il agree to tell you { wear this
mask tonight because am taGing "a
surreputious ieat out OF my book Of
cares.
y on are. then. seeking diverSiony
Nothing uiutr Or cess 10 not dat
ser yourself mat there Is anything per
sunai OF rouIautic on my side. 1 am
lored
Il am wholly 40 your hands. he said.
and they ARE very beautiful hands.
lis there anything more peautifui
Ghan a cats paw when the claws are
hiddent Never judge a woman by her
hands. Nevertheless she buried her
hands IN the depths or down pillow.
She had forgotten uer rings. She slip
ped them OF and managed 10 hide
them.
Il PROMISE TO remember Your let
Jers"- he began ditidenuy. Where the
deuce WAS uIs tongue: Was he 10 be
tougued tied all the evening before this
COlumbine. who. with the Hld Of her
mask. was cOvergly laughing ct his
awkwarduesSf
My letters; a woman often writes
what sue WILL not say ana says what
she will not write. ibid you not ask
me 10 disillusion your"
Yes. but softly. softly. / begin TO
believe one thing-you brought me here
TO teach me lesson. Gentlemen should
never ;:se SssS personal column"
Nor should ladies read t. am not
saving any mercy Cor myselfg' with
laughter.
shall I begin with my pastT'
Something less horrifylng. II you
pleaseT'
II object 20 the word nice" be said.
Il should have preferred mllksop.
Hadn't you better try some new kind
OF tortureY'
This time her laughter was relaxed
and joyful. And somehow Hillard felt
more at ease. lie was growing accus-
toned to the mask. he stretched his
legs and fingered his neither lip.
Have you not somewhere an In
visible cloak %
Il had one that night. which nature
lent me-" she answered readily. II
was so invisible TO you that beard
the policeman call out yoGT name
thank you for insisting that was not
a chorus lady"
Here was a revelation which &C
counted FOR many things. Il haven't
been very fortunate so far in this ad-
venture"
THAT Is rank ingratituGe. ! am OF
the opinion that fortune has highly
favored you"
But the mask-the maskl II you
heard the policeman call my name you
must have heard him speak OF one
Leddy Lightfnger."
81 did. indeed. And is K not pos
sible that ] am that very personT'
Hillard dropped his hand toward his
watch. Why do you hate ItalyT
She sat straight and what little be
could see OF her mouth had hardened
There will be no retros cS1iion this
evening. II you please" her voice
rather metallic.
The mystery lifted its head again
One does not hate q country without
a strong and vital reason. Was Clio
vannl partly right after all1 Was
this a kind OF trap-a play to gain his
INTEREST," Was her singing under his
window purely accidentalg