Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-23


" never be recognized,
This ball was an exceptional affair,
given some time before Shrovetide, in
honor of, the anniversary of the birth
of a famous craftsman: ard it was
expected to be much gayer, noisier,
more Bohemian than the ordinary
masked ball. Numbers OF artists had
arranged to go. accompanied by a
whole cohort of models and pupils.
who, by midnight, began to create a
tremendous din. Raoul climbed the
grand staircase at five minutes to
twelve, did not linger to look at the
motley dresses displayed all the way
up the marble steps. one of the rich
est settings in the world, allowed no
facetious mask to draw him into a
war of wits, replied to no jcsts and
shook off the bold familiarity of a
number of couples who had already
become trifle too gay. Crossing the
big .erush-room and escaping from a
mad whirl of dancers in which he was
caught for moment, he. at last en-
tered the room mentioned in Chris
tines letter He found 1t crammed:
for this small space was the point
where all those who were going to
supper in the Rotunda crossed thoce
who were returning from taking a
glass of Champagne. The fun, here,
waxed fast and furious.
Raoul leaned against a door-post
and waited He did not wait long. A
black domino passed and gave a quick
squeeze to the tips OF his fingers. He
understood that it was she and fol-
lowed her:
rs that you, Christine?" he asked,
between his teeth.
The black domino turned round
promptly and raised her finger to her
lips, no doubt to warn him net to
.aention her name again. Raoul CON
tinued to follow her in silence.
He was afraid-o losing her, after
meeting her again in such strange
circumstances. His grudge against
her was gone. He no longer doubted
that she had nothing to reproact
herself with" however peculiar anc
inexplicabie her conduct might seem
He was ready TO make any display
Of clemency, forgiveness or cowardice
He was in love. And, no doubt, ht
would soon receive a very natural ex
PLANTATION OF her curious absence.
The black domino turned back from
time to time to sec If the white dom
inc was still following.
AS Raoul once more passed through
| the great crush-room, this time in the
wake of his guide, he could not hell
! noticing a group crowding round {
person whose disguise, eccentric al
and gruesome appearance were caus
! ing a sensation. 1t was a man dresse,
all in scarlet, with a huge hat ant
! feathers on the top of a wonderful
deaths head. From his shoulders hum
an immense red-velvet cloak, whicl
trailed along the floor like a king
train; and on this cloak was EN-
broidered, in gold letters, which ever
one read and repeated aloud, Don
touch me! l am Red Death stalkin
| abroad"
Then one, greatly daring, did try
hand shot out of a crimson sIeev
and violently seized the rash one
wrist; and he, feeling the clutch G
the knucklebones, the furious gras
OF Death, uttered a cry of pain an
terror. When Red Death released hiI
at last, he ran away like a very mac
man, pursued by the jeers of the b.
ISLANDERS.
1t was at this moment that Raou
passed in front of the funereal ma
querader, who had just happened
turn in his direction. And he nearl
exclaimed:
THE deaths head of Perro
GuirecI"
He had recognized him! II
wanted to dart forward, forgettin
Christine; but the black domino, VIII
also seemed a prey to some strane
excitement, caught him by the arr
and dragged him from the crush-roor
far from the mad crowd through whic
Red Death was stalking.
The black domino kept on turnin
back and, apparently, on two occ
sions saw something that startlC
, her, for she hurried her pace ar
RaouPs as though they were beir
pursued.
, They went up two floors. Here, II
, stairs and corridors were almost d
serted. The black domino opened II
door of a private box and beckont
to the white domino to follow he
, Then Christine. whom he recognize
; by the sound of her voice, closed ii
, door behind them and warned him,
: a whisper, to remain at the back
the box and on no account to sho
himself Raoul took off his mas
Christine kept hers on. And, wht
Raoul was about to ask her 10 remo'
it, he was surprised to see her put b
ear to the partition and listen eager
for sound outside. Then she open,
the door ajar, looked out into the &C
ridor and, IN low voice, said:
, He must have gone up higher
! Suddenly she exclaimed: HE is col
ing down again."
She tried to close the door, b
Raoul prevented her; for he had see
on the top step of the staircase tn
!. led to the floor above, red foot, Fl
lowed by another and sic
: ly, majestically, the whole scarf
dress of Red Death met his eyes. Al
: he once more saw the deaths head