The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1909-09-30
By
HAROLD
MAC GRATH
Copyright. 1908. by the Bobbs.
Merrill Co.

neffuI 70.
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generous strain OF irish blood In me
otherwise | shouldn't have had th
courage 10 follow up an adventure lik
( this
Thanks. The compliment is rathe
I ambiguous"
my compliments cannot possibly b
more ambiguous than your appearance
Surely there will be an hour for III
masking"
III has already begun. Mr.. Hillard :"
80 | am the one who Is 10 be un
maskedf Well. | have only the masl
nature gave to me | wish she ha,
been more liberal, Bot ! shall se
what can be done with II"
He took note OF her teeth and felt {
sudden tinge Of regret One may dis
guise the face and hair. but the teeth
are always the same. Two lower teetl
on the right side appeared 10 be gone
the Others were firm and glisteninl
white II was pity. for woman's
teeth are as much her glory as heI
balr
Silence. The ruddy light on her BAH
fascinated him.
'What IL itT' she demanded
"Your hair" with a simplicity which
silenced her you have the most
beautiful hair have ever seen"
"Thank you And yet. for all you
know. II may be fine wig"
"lf II is | shall never be sure OF
anything again, Am In prosaic New
York; Have you not by some carpet
magic transported me TO old Europe
II dozen conspirators came In In
cowls to render me the oath | should
not be ut oil 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 gentleman. so am
confident that you will not stoop to
use force"
"Only the force Of eloquence. II ever
l may lay claim to that again"
you are beginning well, for ] tell
you. MIR. Hillard. ! shall expect but
the most brilliant wit from you to.
night As for me, shall only inter
polate occasionally Now. begin
II am not used to dancing without
the pole"
'sYou must learn. Dancer!
Upon what-nothingg And how
shall know that my dancing pleases
your
Il agree TO tell you. wear this
mask tonight because ! am taking a
surreptitious leaf out of my book OF
cares
you are, then, seeking DIVERSION
Nothing more or less. DO not tiat
ter yourself that there il anything per
sonal or romantic on my side. am
bored"
II am wholly In your hands" he said
"and they are very beautiful hands
"ls there anything more beautiful
than cats paw when the claw are
hiddenl Never judge woman by hel
hands" Nevertheless she buried heI
hands In the depths Of a down pillow
She had forgotten her rings She slip
ped them or and managed to hide
them.
Il promise TO remember. Your let
ters''- he began difiidently. Where the
deuce was his tonguei Was he to be
tongued tied all the evening before this
Columbine, who, with the aid Of hei
mask, was covertIy laughing at his
awkwardness?
MY lettersi A woman often writes
what she will not say and says what
she will not write. Did you not ask
me to disillusion your"
Yes, but softly, softly. | begin to
believe one thlng-you brought me here
10 teach me lesson. Gentlemen should
never use the personal column
Nor should ladies read IT, am not
saving any mercy for myself!" with
laughter.
"Shall begin with my pastf"
Something less horrifying. If you
pleased
Il object to the word nice" be said.
Il should have preferred milksop,
Hadn't you better try some new kind
II torturey'
This time her laughter was relaxed
ind Joyful. And somehow Hillard felt
more at ease. He was growing accus-
omed to the mask He stretched his |
egs and fingered bis neither lip.
Have you not somewhere an In /
Tisible cloakT
II had one that night. which nature |
ent me-" she answered readily Il
vas so invisible 10 you that ! heard /
he policeman call out your name |
hank you for insisting that was not |
chorus lady"
Here was revelation which ac-
ounted for many things II haven't 1
,een very fortunate so far In this nd
Ienture."
THAT Is rank ingratitude am Of 4
be opinion that fortune has highly
avored you"
But the mask--the mask. II you
card the policeman caF my name you
aust have heard him speak OF one
eddy Liehtnnrer'
II did. indeed And Ia II not pos
ible that am that very personY'
Hiilard dropped bis band toward his
Fstch why do you bate ItaIyY
She sat straight. and what little be
ould see OF her mouth had hardened
There VIII be no refrospectIon this
vening. II you please" her voice
afher metallic.
The mystery lifted its head again
ne does not hate a country without
strong aud vital reason Was Clio
ami parity right after siif Was
bis kind Of irap-a play 10 gain bis
4tercsff Was her singing under bis
findow purely secidentalf
VIII you not slngy be ssked This