Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-05-21
THE MASKED
WOMAN
By ALICE 7. SHERWIN
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.


and other goods, called by the Britons
haberdashery.
One day the Marquis of Lorenton.
who since the defeat OF the Cavaliers
had kept himself away from London.
passed that way. The estates of his
father, the Duke of EthclStone, had
been forfeited on account OF the fam
ily's adherence to King Charles l., and
the marquis was In sad straits for a
living. He stopped at the stall Of the
masked woman" as she was univcr
sally known, and entered into convcr-
sation with her, pricing such articles
as he saw on her counter. Then. with
a sigh, he turned away, saying:
II would fain buy OF your goods,
mistress, but I am without means"
"Select what you wish. sir. and pay
when Charlie comes home"
Now, the term when Charlie comes
home" meant In those days when
Charles, eldest son OF the beheaded
king and legitimate heir to the throne,
is recalled to assume his rights as SOY
ereign of England"
II see" said the marquis, that you
are a royalist. Mayhap you are. like
myself, an impoverished noble"
II am royalist. but l am simply
the masked woman making an honest
living. These gloves would. l think,
fit you. Will you let me try them on
your hand?
The marquis permitted her to try
the gloves on him. but not with the ex
pectation Of buying them. He liked
to feel her fingers on his own.
There" she said when she had fin.
ishcd; It's perfect fit. Take them
and pay, as said. when Charlie
comes home"
But the marquis stubbornly refused
to accept credit. especially from a
commoncr, for the woman had said,
and he went away.
But there was something in the fig
ure, the voice, the carriage OF the
masked woman that appealed to him
In way he could not account for.
Wherever he went the masked woman
sleeping, he saw her moving about In
her little booth and heard the sweet
sounds OF her voice.
SO 1t was not long before he again
found himself at her counter pretend
Ing that he came to look over her
goods, though in reality he came to
get another glimpse Of her.
"What can sell you this morningT
she said.
Indeed, Mistress Masked Woman
Il know not your name-I am lOung
ing today, and like to come here to
see you sell your wares. | would that
| could give you my custom; but.
alas, have none to give. The Round
heads have taken my all"
"Mayhap they have spent 1t for
psalm books"
What they have spent 1t for know
not, but this know-it Is hard for me,
who have always had a sutiiciency, to
get on with nothing"
MAY ! sell you the gloves today%
"Alas, have no more the where
withal to pay for them than when
was here before"
The masked woman took up the
gloves the marquis had tried on the
day before and, making them into a
packet, handed them to him.
"Would you give poor woman
pleasure?" she asked softly.
II would not rob poor woman" he
replied, drawing back
II ask you to permit me to do you
this favor"
There was that in her tone which
appealed TO him. lie took the packet
and kissed the hand that gave 1t.
The marquis was seen no more at
the masked woman's stall after that
for some time. Then one day he
drove up in his carriage and pur-
chased the whole stock OF the masked
woman. When she congratulated him
on coming to his own he told her that
a cousin had died and left him leg
acy.
When the marquis drove away he
did not take the stock with him. though
he left the money for It, That was
Ills last NlSlt W tHC uliShcu NolldH
stall, for soon after Charlie came
home" There was great rejoicing
among the Cavaliers that after the
rule Of the Puritans the rightful king
had returned from France, Then the
masked woman disappeared from the
exchange.
But the marquis thought Of her by
day and dreamed Of her by night. His
estates were restored to him, but he
was not satisfied, because he lOnged
for her and knew not where to find
her
One evening he drove to fete given
ny the king. The young dowager
Duchess Of Abergild, whose husband
had fallen IN the late war, was pres
ent and approached the marquis.
Have you still the gloves?" she ask
ed archly.
The marquis recognized her voice as
soon as she spoke. 81 have" he re-
piled. but have never worn them. 1
hold them too precious to be used"
The duchess. having been cut of
from her income during the protecto-
rate, had the choice Of emigrating to
France and there being supported by
the French king or earning her own
living. She had chosen the latter al
tentative.
Before the marquis came into the
dukedom he married the masked wo-