The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1910-03-31

opened TIC GUtr ana stuppeu III
On divan near Il lamp sat womA
In black Only pate h of white throa
could be seen. for Lcr shoulders were
not bare and her arms only to the {,
bows. Her l:.:..; was turned square,.
But what head! He caught hi
breath. 1t slowcd like copper beech
in the sunshine.
Madam he faltered. He spoke
English and not very firmly.
The woman turned. Hillard took a
step backward and blundered against
a pedestal.
She was masked!
Masked! Only her mouth and chi'
were visible. and several little piece
Of court plaster effectually disguise
these. There was mystery. He to
come bli.dfolded and she to wear a
mask-extraordinary
'And this" she said ironically. az
the gentleman who le1ned out of the
window"
Ee BROUGHT all his faculties together
for he knew he would need them III
this encounter. "Supposing hat'
fallen out Of it-well it could NO
have mattered. l should not hay
been mere at your feet than l a
now" This was very good, consid
ering how Cry his tongue was.
Hillard reached chair successful
" enough. but he never could re-
ollc<t how. lie sat Gown as a bashfu
man sits down IN a~crowded balls:ri.T
with his knees drawn IN tightly and
his feet at sympathetic angles.
Presently she laughed with malice.
You are not comfortable in tina,
chair"
THAT is true, and yet it is soft an,
roOmy. l am uneasy. Perhaps yo,
recall to my subconSciousness Il perioL
in my former existence on earth, Or, i.
you will, one OF my ancestors"
Il fail to understand"
"Well, Hillard 2C0 years ago hat
his head cut off by an Ak. His c..ccu
toner wore Il mask"
"a mistake. Your ancestor shout
, have been hanged"
"And l along with him, you woul,
tmply?'
"Are you not Irish? l have know
Irishmen of the name Of Iillarl.''
! '"They were in disguise. But l hav,
q generous strain of Irish blood in NE
otherwise l shouldn't have Lad TIN
courage to follow up an adventure iiil
this
"Thanks. The compliment is rattle
ambiguous"
my compliments cannot possibly b
more ambiguous than your appearance
Surely there will be an hour for vi
/ masking"
ut has already begun, Mr.. HilllrI."
$50 l am the one who is to be un
masked? We'll, l have only the mas
nature gave to me. l wish she hut
been more liberal. But l shall Sc
what can be done with it"
He took note Of her teeth and felt ;
sudden tinge Of regret. One may dis
guise the face and hair, but the tectl
are always the same. Two lower teetl
on the right side appeared to be gene
the others were firm and glistenin:
white. 1t was a pity, for woman
teeth are as much her glory as he
hair.
Silence. The rudy light on her hal
fascinated him.
"What is it:' she demanded.
"Your hair" with simplicity whi"l
silenced her. You have the mos
beautiful hair | have ever SEEM
'"Thank you And yet, for all 70,
know it may be a fine wig"
'If it is | shall never be sure o
anything again. Am l in prosaic Ney
York! Have you not by some carpe
magic transported me to old Europe
If dozen cOnspirators came in Il
cowls to render me the oath l shoul
not be at all surprised"
"There is no magic, only mask"
"And there is no way Of seeing bt
hind that?"
"None-absolutely none. 4 am tOl
that you are gentleman. so l al
confident that you will not stoOp
use force
"Only the force Of eloquence, If eve
l may lay claim to that again."
"You are beginning we'll, for te
you. Mr.. Hillard, shall expect bu
the most brilliant wit from you t
night AS for me, shall only int
polate Occas ionally. Now, begin"
II am not used to dancing withO,
the pole"
"YOu must learn. Dance!
Upon what-nothing? And ho
shall l know that my dancing please
: your
IL agree to tell you. l wear til
mask tonight because l am taking
surrcptitious leaf out Of my book
cares
"You are then, seeking a diversion
Nothing more or less. DO not Il.
ter yourself that there is anything pe
sOnal CT romantic On my side. | Il
bored"
Il an wholly in your hands," he sal
| 80 MI hn, FIN