The broad ax., 1910-11-19

you are. or else a fairy. No sbeDba LAT
ess could dance as you do. NOT ~
one out Of Vatican, and. besides III ,'su
are your sheep! You haven't even ono
little innocent snow white lamb, Oue
"Ive escaped for a momenr r.
them" ''Om
"Faithless shepherdess! Aren't von
afraid OF wOlves?" '0u
'Awfully! One came into the sb,,-
fold today, vety savage one"
The poor lambs! My heart bIesJsr
ut needn't. They only eat sbaD
herdesSes."
The brutes. Do you have to fob,
them single handedY
Cicely nodded. It's hard sono
times"
Don't you need an assistant sbep-
herd to help? l like to kill wolves
and l adore sheep and-shepherdess,
es"
You wouldn't If you could see them
as they really are. The lambs are NOT
a bit adorable. only stupid and tIra-
some, and the shepherdess-she'd ba
wearing a shabby gown and big shoes
and her hair Untitled. No; you'd best
remain with the court"
Hang the court I'd heaps rather
be a shepherd Won't you take me on
! trialT'
There was just a note Of earnestness
in the cavaliers voice, and CiceIy tried
to turn it away lightly. Il don't think
you would do at all. You are much
too fine a gallant"
Il may not be as fine as I seem" he
/ returned. Il may be something quite
different"
That's it. You might be a wolf.
you know. and then what would hap
pen to my flock? No; can't take the
risk"
Then when is the shepherdess CON-
ing to court agaIn?"
Never, I'm afraid. You see, she's
only allowed one evening on in years,
and, besides, she has no court COS
tune. on, thIs-a fairy godmother
touched the shabby gown and the big
shoes, and when the night Is over they
change back as they were"
"And the grip"
'+Oh, she WIN be whisked away too"
mot before unmasking time comes
anyway. There Is the signal now" he
said as a chime Of bells rang in the
distant hall, followed by the sound Of
laughter. ''Ah, you are caught, fairy
shepherdessl Now disappear II you
can" He dragged OF his mask and
waited expectant, looking at the girl.
Cieely felt the blood rush to her face
IL must. CO." she said hurriedly and
rose. II didn't know it was so late"
Go: Why. you know you promised
me supper. and
81 didn't think. I forgot for a mo
ment. No, must"
without unInaskingT'
81 can't. Don't ask me why. There
are reasons. Oh, / can't explain. Please
let me get away she cried. for the
man had stepped before the door. Cice-
" cast a hurried glance about She
spied door leading into the garden.
and before the cavalier could guess her
intention she had fed through it blind.
ly into the night. he after her
She did not know where she ran nor
care. Her only thought was to escape
discovery, to get away home before eX-
posture came. On she fed. across the
lawn, into the shadow OF the Shrubbery,
tripping over roots, held back by cling
ing vines. her mask brushed from her
face, her breath giving out and discov-
cry and shame at her heels. Then she
tried to find some hiding place and.
failing, sank down on a bench. with &
bitter, despairing cry. and buried her
face in her hands.
'Why did you run? You might have
known you couldn't escape me-" said
her pursuer as he came up. Then as
he heard the girls sobs. "Are you
hurtT'
'Yes, yes" she sobbed. but not as
you think, Oh. why did l ever come?
How am to tell you? What will
you think Of me? l ought not to be
here tonight. l am not a guest. l
had no right to come"
1t was a confession punctuated by
sobs and little gasps Of pain that the
cavalier listened to.
81 saw the lights" Cicely added,
''and then the waltz music came to
me, and couldn't resist it. l thought
there'd be no harm-just for an hour
and then I could go back and no one
would know, and 1 could have one
pleasant memory among dreary. drudg-
ing days. Tm-Pm not so very old,
and l haven't had any pleasure or hap
piness in so long, and this was a
chance, and I took It."
She rose and dried her eyes. "You
see, / told you the truth. I'm only
shepherdess and had no place in court,
and now / must go back to the sheep
and the wolves again. It's been-l
can't tell you what this evening has
been-except this last"
do you care so much, then. that
know who you areg' The cavalier