The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1909-12-30
Copyright. 1908. by the Bobbs-
Merrill Co.

'hbh oHN
white. 1t was a pity, for a wOman's
teeth are as much her glory as her
hair.
Silence. The rudy 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 have ever seem"
THANK you. And yet. for all you
know. 1t may be a fine wig"
"If it is | shall never be sure of
anything again. Am l in prosaic New
York? Have you not by some carpet
magic transported me to ole Europe?
If a dozen cOnspirators came in in
cowls to render me the oath l should
not be at all surprised"
There is no magic, only a mask
"And there is no way of seeing be-
hind that?"
"None-absolutely none. am told
that you are a gentleman, SO | 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 well, for l tell
you, Mr.. Hillard, / shall expect but
the most brilliant wit from you to-
night. AS for me. l shall only inter-
polate occasionally. Now, begin"
~ am not used to dancing without
the pole"
You must learn. Dance!'
upon Matchmaking: And how
shall / know that my dancing pleases
you?"
II agree to tell you. | wear this
mask tonight because / am taking a
surreptitious leaf out Of my book Of
cares"
"You are, then, seeking a diversiouf"
Nothing more or less. Do not fiat
ter yourself hat there is anything per-
sonal or romantic on my side. | am
bored"
81 am wholly in your hands," he said,
"and they are very beautiful hands,"
us 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 slip.
ped them of and managed to hide
them.
II promise to remember. Your let
ters'- he began d%iffidently. Where the
deuce was his tongue? Was he to be
tongued tied all the evening before this
Columbine, who, with the aid Of her
mask, was %covertly laughing 1t 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?'
Yes, but softly, softly. l begin to
believe II thing-you brought me here
to teach me a lesson. Gentlemen should
never use the personal column"
Nor should ladies read it. | am not
saving any mercy for myself!' with
laughter.
"Shall l begin with my past?'
Something less horrifying, If you
pleased"
81 object to the word nice,' he said.
II should have preferred milksop.
Hadn't you better try some new kind
Of torture?"
This time her laughter was relaxed
and joyful. And somehow Hillard felt
more at ease. He 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. Il
was SO invisible to you ina / heard
the policeman call out your name. /
thank you for insisting hat / was not
a chorus lady"
Here was a revelation which &C
counted for many things. II haven't
been very fortunate so far in this adj
venture"
"That Is rank ingratitude. l am o.
the opinion that fortune has highly
favored you"
"But the mask-the mask! If you
heard the policeman call my name you
must have heard him speak Of n
Teddy Lightfinger."
81 did. indeed. And IS 1t not pos
sible that I am that ve-y person?'
Hillard dropped his hand toward his
watch. "Why do you hate Italy?'
She sat straight, and what little he
could see of her mouth had hardened.
There will be no retrospection this
evening, If you please" her voice
rather metallic.
The mystery lifted its head again.
One does not hate a country without
a strong and vital reason. Was Clio
vanni partly right, after all? Was
this a kind Of trap-a play to gain his
interest? Was her singing under his
window purely accidental?
"Will you not singY" he asked. This