Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-10-23

time. Oh. this-a fairy godmother
touched the shabby gown and the big
shoes, and when the night is over they
change backsas they were"
And the grip
"Oh, she will be whisked away too"
"Not 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 or
laughter "Ah, you are caught. fairy
ehepherdessl Now disappear II you
gam He dragged on his mask and
waited expeetant. looking at the girl.
.cicely felt the blood rush TO her face
If must CO." she said hurriedly and
rose. II didn't know 1t was SO late"
GO! Why. you knew you promised
me supper. and
81 didn't think. forgot for mo
ment. No, l must"
without unmaskingY
at can't. Don't ask me why. There
are reasons. On. I can't explain. Please
let me get away" she cried. for the
man had stepped before the door. Cice-
ly cast hurried glance about She
spied door leading into the garden.
and before the cavalier could guess her
intention she had fed through IL blind
" into the night. he after her
She did not know where she ran nor
care. Her only thought was 10 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.
falling, sank down ON bench with
bitter, despairing cry. and bui.ed her
face I'm hes 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
hurt?'
"Yes. yes" she sobbed, ''but not as
you think! Oh. why did ever come?
How am I TO tell you? What will
you think of me? ought not to be
here tonight. ! am not guest. /
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 / could have one
pleasant memory among dreary, drudg-
ing days. rm-Tm not so very old,
and haven't Fad any pleasure OE hap-
piness In so long, and this was
chance, and 1 took It"
She rose and dried her eyes. you
see, 1 told you the truth. I'm only a
shepherdess and had no place in court.
and now / must go back to the sheep
and the wolves again. It's been-I
can't tell you what this evening has
been-except this last"
do you care so much. then. that 1
know who you are" The cavalier
was standing beside the shepherdess,
looking down at the bent head show
Ing so softly in the dusky shadows.
81 would have sought You out In any
case-if had to search the world over.
Do you care now that know:"
mo" returned Cicely softly.
"And 1 may come tomorrow and see
the lambs-and the shepherdess."
81 don't think 1t would be best for
the lambs. butt usually come home
from the sheepfold by way of the red
bridge and
"If you saw wolf waiting by the
bridge. would you mindF'
Not IL 1t was nice wolf"
"And IL the wolf were to carry you
OF and the lambs have to have an
other shepberdess would you be very
much scared:" asked the cavalier.
al don't think So" whispered the
little Dresden shepherdess. 81 think
I'd rather Ike IT."