Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-04-25

said |, disappointed "But promise
you that some time i shall see you facp
to face and without masks. Tomor
row.
tut. tutr' she reproved. There Is
no tomorrow
looked down on her as | stood. and
certain madness of youth seized hold
upon me. | knew that when she rose
she would be just tall enough. thai
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 neck as 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 it sprang
from the brow strongly. with no weak
indentation. The sweep of strong
clean chin was not to be disguised
and at the edge of the mask caught
now and then the CLEAN of white.
even teeth and the mocking smile OF
red. strongly curved lips hid by her fan
at the very moment when | was about
to dx them in my memory SO that
might see them again and know.
suspect she hid smile. but her eyes
looked up at me grandly and darkly.
Nineteen. perhaps twenty. / considered
her age to be; gentle and yet strong
with character and yet with tender
ness. made estimate that she must
be. There was something that as
sured me that here was woman not
lightly to accept nor lightly to be for
gotten.
MY hostess said it would be lot
terry tonight in this Row of Mystery"
went on. ''but do not find it So
"All life is lottery" she said In an
swer.
"And lotteries are lawful when one
wins the capital prize. One stretches
out his hand in the dark. But some
one must win. win now. The game
of masks is fine one. am vas
pleased with it. Some day shall
you without any mask. Come. He
must dance. could talk better If we
were more alone
We stepped out upon the CROWDED
floor was swept away by it ALL by
the waltz. by the stars above. by The
moon. by the breath of women and the
scent Of their hair, by the perfume of
roses, by the passion Of living. by
youth, youth!
She danced as she stood. with the
grace of perfect young creature and
the ease Of perfect culture as we'll
Ii this was not Ellen then there was
no Ellen there for me.
| went on with such foolish words
as men employ.
'Ah. nonsense.' she flashed back.
IF men but knew how utterly trans
parent they are. say that tonight we
girls are but spirits. to be forgotten to-
morrow. Do not teach US to forget be-
fore tomorrow comes
Il shall not forget insisted
sThen so much the worse"
II cannot"
"But you must"
II will not. | shall not allow
'How obstinate brute a man can
ber' she demonstrated.
II dreamed | saw red heart" said
/. "But that cannot have been, for l
see you have no heart"
NO" she laughed. 1T was only a
dream"
Il had forgotten it tonight and in
deed forgotten that Quakers do not
dance. said ought not to come here
tonight. but now see fate said must.
l would not have lived all nay life 9TH
erwise. Tonight I hardly know who
/ am"
"Oficer and gentleman" she smiled.
II was not an officer. was masking,
mumming-l. John Cowles. who had no
right Once more. whittier was my
folly carrying me?
Il shall call you the sorrowful
knight" chided my fair companion.
Then:
Il must go. There are very many
to whom am promised"
At the edge of the better lighted cir
Gle she paused for moment. standing
straight and drawing a full, deep
breath. If that were coquetry it was
perfect. / swear that now / caught
the full outline OF red. red heart
upon her corsage.
''Mademoiselle. said as left her.
''you are Ellen, and you have heart.
Some day shall take away your
mask and your heart"
! saw her once more. dancing with
a tall. slender man in uniform. At
least he offered no disguise to me. In
my heart l resented seeing him wear
the blue Of our government. And GER
tainly 1t gave me some pang to which
was not entitled. which did not
stop to analyze. some feeling of
wretchedness. to see this girl dancing