The Lakeland evening telegram., 1913-08-11


kissed her.
How she got out Of tho room Elixa-
beth did not know, but she was In
her room at last, and sobbing as
though her heart would break She
cried wildly for hours, until Beatrice
came in and found her there.
Beatrice was too much excited to no
tice Elizabeth's red eyes. She began
chattering about Lester.
Mamma thinks that he ia in love
with me-" she said. "She says he
wouldn't come here SO much II he
wasn't. And it will be such fine
match for me, for his father is worth
cool ten millions, and shall have
carriages and autos and go to Paris
each year and"
do you love him, BeatriceT in
Quired Elizabeth.
Il don't know. guess could"
said Beatrice, whirling about. MAN.
ma says you needn't come down to-
night because we are having guests. :"
She came back presently. DO you
know old Roger Lester is giving q
fancy dress ball next month";" she
asked. Eyes, the invitations have
just come. And, oh, I forgot to say
that there is one for you. Mamma has
written accepting for me and declin'
Ing for you"
When she was gone the girl gave
way to an access Of unrestrained grief.
For the first time rebellious thoughts
came into her mind. Lester loved her,
Else why had he kissed her? No man
ever kissed her before. To kiss meant,
In her simple view, to plight ones
troth for ever. Or had he been play
ing with her? 1t was obvious that he
meant to marry Beatrice; but then he
must have had q passing affection for
her. Suddenly an amazing plan took
root within her. She would 60 to the
ball. She had never been to a ball,
but why should she not 60 once? It
was to be fancy dress and nobody
would recognize her, masked and dis
guised. There was Beatrice's dress,
but that had been altered and Beatrice
had had so many dresses that she
would never remember that one. And
there were Beatrice's slippers.
She trod on air during the next four
weeks. She went so happily about her
duties that more than once she caught
sight of Mrs. Lanham surveying her
with amazed disapproval. At last the
night of the ball arrived.
"You need not sit up for u.s." said
Mrs. Lanham condescendingly. I'VE
shall probably not be back until late,
and you must be up early in the morn.
ing to accompany the parlor maid to
the station to put her on the train.
Poor Mary could never find her way
about the streets alone"
Mary, the parlor maid, was going
home to pay visit to her sick mother
But Elizabeth did not care, for her
heart was beating wildly from sheer
ecstacy. When the auto rolled away
she hurried upstairs and slipped into
the ball dress and slippers. Then
with her head and shoulders shrouded
In her wrap she went into the street
and entered a street car.
Nobody stopped her at tho door.
Masked, among a hundred other
masked women, her presence excited
no comment. She recognized Beatrice,
in her creation of flmy white, and her
aunt. seated among the chaperons and
watching her daughter with an express
sion of admiration in her eyes. But
nobody dreamed that Cinderella was
there. 1t was ten o'clock. Two hours
and then she must 90 homo as
silently as she had left.
The music intoxicated her. Eliza.
beth could dance divinely. The little
drudge was in heaven as one partner
after another took her upon his arm
and swung her out among the dancing
couples. But when she saw Lester ap-
proach and gravely ask her, her head
swan and her eyes filled with sudden
tears.
Shall we 90 into the conserve
tory?" he asked, when the music
stopped. He offered her his arm. At
the door Of the ballroom they passed
Beatrice and her mother. Their eyes
rested on her, and with q sudden ter
ror Elizabeth perceived that she was
recognized.
Mrs. Lanham rose to her feet with
N exclamation Of anger, and, over
coming herself with an effort, scowled
at her. Elizabeth trembled with fear.
She had not calculated upon the after
math.
What 10 tho matter" Lester asked,
~ they Sat down. "You are not feel.
ing well! May I get you . glass of
water?"
She shook her head. Lester placed
his hand upon hers.
DO you think ! DO not know who
you are, Cindsrella!' he asked, for
all that mask? 6ee II can guess.
You are Miss Benton and you ran
away to the dance because Gorgon
would not let you Co."
And can never 20 home," said
Elizabeth in panic. she recognised
me. I had never been to . ball be-