The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1910-04-07
She withdrew her arm slowly.

me. | have seen it somewhere before
Then there is that old copy of Botti-
celli. The frame Is familiar. but /
could not place it. This stein. how
ever" He laughed. The laughter was
boyish, even triumphant.
"Well that stein?' She was now
leaning across the table, her fingers
tense OH the cloth.
81 bought that stein two seasons
ago. This is the Sandfords' place. and
you are the yelled lady who has been
riding Mrs. Sandford's favorite hunter
in the park"
They stood up simultaneously. In a
matter Of this sort he was by far the
quicker. In an instant he had caught
| her by the wrist. at the same time
drawing her irresistibly round the ia
| BILE toward him.
II must see your face. l shall never
be at peace if do not"
| Certainly you will never know any
peace If you do. Be careful"
His free hand stole toward the
strings of her mask. She moved not.
His face was very close to hers now.
If only she would struggle! He re-
leased her wrist.
| mo; haven't the courage. If take
that mask from your face it will be
the end. And do not want this ever
to end. If you will not let me see your
face of your own free will. so be it.
shall see it some day, mark me. Fate
does not cross two paths in this man
ner without IL purpose" He stepped
back slowly. You do not understand
the lure of that mask"
perhaps l do l am beginning to
admire your self control. Mr.. Hillard
But l am tired now, and l must ask
you to CO."
"Once more. will you let me see
your face?"
"No. IT, as you say, fate intends for
us TO meet again you will see it. But
l have my doubts. So it is my will to
pass out of your life as completely as
though 1 had never entered it-from
one fog into another. No, l am not
happy woman. l am not happy in my
friendships. Listen to me-" and her
voice grew low and sweet. LET me
appeal to your Imagination. This light
adventure shall be souvenir for your
old age. One night romance stepped
into your life and out Of it. Think!
There will always be the same charm.
the same mystery, the same enchant-
ment. I shall always be Cinderella
or the sleeping beauty or what your
fancy wills. Do you understand me?
Nothing" she proceeded. nothing
lasts so long in the recollection as a
pleasant mystery-in other days, in
other times. Well, on my side l shall
recall this night pleasantly. Without
knowing it you have given me new
foothold in life. did not believe that
there lived single man who could
keep to the letter Of his bargain.
Good night! And do not lean out of
any more windows" she added lightly.
'You are right" he said reluctantly
something to dream over in my old
age. And certainly 1 shall dream OF
: TIA flash of sunlight in the window
Then slowly he reached down to-
ward her wineglass. She understood
his purpose and essayed to stop him.
do not deny me this little thing
he said.
She let her hand fall. He took the
glass, held it against the light to see
where her lips had touched it. Care
, fully he poured out the wine from the
opposite side and kissed the rim.
81 shall keep this glass. l must have
some visible object to make sure that
this hasn't been a dream"
"You may kiss my hand. Mr.. Hillard.'
He bent quickly and kissed not the
hand, but the wrist where the marks
of his fingers still remained family
He squared himself and gazed long
and steadfastly into her eyes. There
was a futter in her heart that she
was unable to define. On his part he
realized the sooner he was gone the
better. There was limit to his sell
control. He gained the street some
how. There he stopped and turned
Did the curtain move? He WASH
sure, but he raised his hat, settled i
firmly on his head and walked rapidly
r away.
: There was little sleep for him tha
night, and in the morning the frs
| thing he did was to pick up the wine
$ glass. 1t was all true. And then hi:
good resolutions melted and vanished
t He must have one more word with heI
4 happen what might. So at 10 ocloci
t he called cab and drove rapidly t.
the Sanford place. Snow had falleI
g during the night. and many Of thu
! steps We're sill spotless white. ImpOs
b sible! He leaned from the. cab ant
n rubbed his eyes. Absolutely impossi
4 BILE! For what did he see? Woodel
shutters over all the lower window:
and the iron gates closed before til;
n doors And not footprint anywhere
This was extraordinary. He jumped
:. from the cab. ran up the steps ant
!. rang the bell-rang it ten times wit
minute intervals. And no one an
, swered. Then he heard a call from