The Washington herald., 1914-05-23
Read This Story Today Then See It in the Movies
---AS FATE WILLED. -

nothing except that her name was Marion
that she was girl Of wild. nondescrip
beauty. and that once he had been OF
the point Of telling her that he loves
her.
He had not even kissed her. he re
membered regretfuily. The lingering
touch Of lips Ike hers would have beer
pleasant memory in after year,. sh,
had slipped out of his life just As h,
had learned the Alpha Of loves alphabet
And now his memory Of her was vague
and blurred, an elusive CLINT of romance
and laughing eyes. and he hoped II would
remain with him thus throughout hi,
presaic career a. the husband Of Ine7
Carringford.
He started from the chair and looked
uneasily at his watch. Eleven o'clock
and this was the night when he was tc
have attended the ball given by Mrs
Carringford In celebration Of her daugh-
ter's engagement. He stared stupidity
at the single light that glowed dimly
on the library table. and wondered what
Mrs. Carringford would say. what Mr..
Carringford would think. and whether
Inez would ever forEive. Not that II
mattered greatly. but matrimony with the
wrong girl Ii bad enough without open
belligerence.
He reached for the tray to flick the
ashes from his cigar, but his hand halted
midway in the maneuver. Everyone In
the house had gone to the Car-ingford
ball. yet he had a queer sensation OF
the presence of another II might have
been the mere echo Of > sigh or the
ghost Of a whisper. Perhaps a burglar
he srcculated. who had taken advantage
Of the Carringford ball to inventory the
valuables in the house. Whatever IL
might be. a little excitement would be
preferable to rueful medita:ions-
He took q revolver from q desk draw
er. switched Off the light and stationed
himself behind the portiere. His sensa-
ton Of an intruder's presence grew more
vivid; he fancied he heard footsteps that
were cautious and stealthy and a breath
ing that was heavy and excited. The
curtains moved beside him and q figure
stepped warily into the room, hesitat.tI
for an instant. then proceeded with cat
like steps. feeling its way with prac.
ticed hands. between chairs and tables
in the darkness Richard could scarcely
distinguish the blurred outline Of the in.
truder, but from the feline motions and
agile elusiveness OF the body he con-
ceived an impression Of a 1.-the. slender
and swift-footed little adventures who
seemed ludicrousiy out OF place In a
burglars role.
His finger was on the electric lirh,
knob. but curiosity prompted him to
walt She WIS STOPPING over his library
table. and he fancied a heavy silver pa
per cutter and q gold fountain pen were
disappearing In the folds OF he dress.
At length he pushed the button, and as
the electrics revealed ner she spranu
aside with little gasp.
She swept him with frightened glance
and with smothered cry. brought her
hands to the mask that covered her ewes
and averted her head from him. A mass
OF Maynard locks tumbled down rebel
liously from tight-fitting cap. long
raincoat covered a trim slender figure.
Even with the mask and the shielding
hands. Richard knew she was exactly
the kind Of girl he had pictured TO him
In the darkness
He toyed awkwardly with the revolver.
Did you find what-what YOU were
for?" he bantered.
I'VE might get better acquainted IL
you remove that mask" he suggested.
No. no, no. she protested. shaking
with sobs.
Richards voice suddenly became stern.
Remove that mask. or I shall call the
police" he commanded
Under the spell Of his insistence she
turned to him with the limp obedience
or hypnotized thing. Slowly she raised
4 trembling hand and tugged at the
mask. As she drew 1t of. Richard fixed
her with q rigid, incredulous glance.
She stood before him with downcast eyes,
her hands thrust into the ample pockets
Of the raincoat
Marion" breathed Richard. And again
he wondered why he had never kissed
her. He took q step forward and reached
tut his hand.
Don't touch me-" she said In a voice
of lifeless despair. He noticed her eyes
we're an innocently blue. her face as