Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-04-18

. NuS NY SlpIlouS EuSu. WuCn lClt 4
tug NJ my sleeve.
Come with me- whispered voice.
Ii was Kitty. We passed TO the op-
poSite side OF the dancing floor and
halted at the front OF Il wide marquee.
whose flaps were spread to cover a
long row ot seats
Count them" said Kitty. There
are twelve
And ST. indeed there were twelve
beautiful young girls. as one might
pronounce, even though all were mask.
eli with half face domiuos. Half OF
them were dressed In white and half
in black, and thus they alternated
down the row, Twelve hands handled
divers fans Twelve pairs of eyes look
ed out eyes merry, or challenging, or
mysterious, one could not tell About
these young bellies gathered the dens.
est throug OF all the crowd
Al each fair charmer as | bowed
looked with what directneSs dared to
see II might penetrate the mask aud
so foil Kitty In her amiablc intentions
As we passed ont ut the foot of the
row recalled that had not heard
the name OF Ellen
Now. then, which one is sheG"
Quered OF my hostess.
SILLY, do you want me to put your
hand in hers? You are now on your
own resources. Play the game" And
the next moment she again was gone
| had opportunity without rudeuess.
the crowd SO pressing In behind me-, to
glance once more up the line saw.
or thought | saw, Just chance glance
toward where | stood, near the foot OF
the Row Of Mystery, as they called IT
| looked II second time and then all
doubt whatever vanished.
III this girl In the black laces. with
the gold comb In her hair and the gold
shot little shoes Just showing ut the
edge or her gown and the red rose ut
j her hair, held down by the comb, half
hidden by the pile vt locks caught M
by the ribbon Of the mask. II this girl
were not the mysterious Ellen, then
indeed must Ellen took well to her
laurels, for here, indeed, was a rival
for her!
| began to edge through the ranks of
young men who gathered there. laugh
Ing, hesceching, imploring, claiming
The sparkle of the scene was In nv
veins, ! did not walk the music car
ried me before her And SO | bowed
and murmured. ~ have waited hours
for my hostess to present me to Miss
Ellen" q mumbled the rest OF some
imaginary name since had heard
none1
The girl pressed the tip OF her fan
against her teeth and looked at me
meditatively.
And ours, OF course, Is this dance"
went on.
IF could only remember all the
names she began hesitatingly
Il was introduced as Jack c. OF Vir
ginia."
Yes? And In what arm?"
Cavalry" replied promptly. 40
you not see the Yellow" | gestured
toward the facings you who belong
to the army ought to know"
why do you think | belong to the
army?' she asked
You belong to the army and to Vir
ginia,' said, because you asked me
what Is my arm OF the service. and
because your voice could come from
nowhere but Virginia Now since |
have come so far to see you and have
found you out so soon. why do you not
confess that you are Miss Ellen?"
I'VE have no names tonight" she
answered, but there IL no Jack C.
In the Gazette who comes from Viz
ginia and who wears captains straps,
! do not know who you are
AT least the game then is fair
said |. disappointed. But promise
you that some time | shall see you face
to face and without masks. Tomor.
row."
Tut, tutr' she reproved. "rhere IL
no tomorrow"
] looked down on her IA I stood. and
a certain madness of youth seized hold
upon me. knew that when she rose
she would be Just tall enough. that
she would be round, full. perfect won
an In every line Of her figure: that her
hair would be some sort OF dark brown
in the daylight; that her eyes would
also be OF some sort OF darkness. |
knew not what, for could not see
them fully through the domino. |
could see the hair piled back from the
nape OF as lovely a neck Ms ever caught
kiss. could see at the edge OF the
mask that her ear was small and close
TO the head could see that her nose
must be straight and that II sprung
from the brow strongly. with no weak
indentation. The sweep OF strong
clean chin was not 10 be disguised
and ut the edge OF the mask caught
now and then the CLEAN OF white.
even teeth and the hooking smile OF
red. strongly curved lips hid by her fan
at the very moment when | was about
10 fix them In my memory 80 thnt |
might see them again and know. !
suspect she hid smile but her eyes
looked up nj me grandly and darkly
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