The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-06


plumber on weekdays. Observe Anne
of Austria! What arms. I'll lay odds
that her great,grandmother took in
washing. There's Romeo, now, with
pair of legs like an old apple tree.
The freedom of criticism Is mine to-
night! Did you ever see such ridicu-
lous ideas of costume? For my part,
the robe and the domino for me- All
lines are destroyed; nothing is recog-
nizable. My, my! There's Harlequin,
too, walking on parentheses."
The Blue Domino laughed again.
You talk as If you had no friends
here.
But which is my friend and which
is the man to whom l owe money!"
What! Is your tailor here, then?"
Heaven forbid Strange, isn't it.
when fellow starts in to pay I'D his
bills, that the tailor and the under
taker have to wait till the last"
The subject is outside my under
standing"
But you have dressmakers.
oOiuoh poy
"Ah! Then you belong to the most
exclusive set"
"or perhaps I make my own
dresses"
"sh!" Not SO loud, Suppose some
one should overhear you?"
1T was slip of the tongue. And
yet, you should be lenient to ALL"
Kind heart! All, l wonder what
all those interrogation points mean
the black domino, there?"
Possibly she represents Scanda
Scandal, then, is symbolilzed by
the interrogation point?"
Yes. Whoever heard of scandal
coming to full stop, that is to say,
a period?"
Il learn something every minute.
A hundred years ago you would have
been cousin to Mile. de Necker."
"Or Nine. de Stael."
"Oh, if you are married."
81 shall have ceased to interest
your"
"On the contrary. Only marriage
would account for the bitterness of
your tone. What does the Blue Dom
ino represent.
"The needle of the compass" She
stretched sleeve out toward me and
I observed for the first time the min.
iature compasses woven in the cloth.
Surely, one does not rent a costume
like this.
81 understand now why you at.
tracted me. Whittier will you guide
e?"-sentimentally
Through dark channels and stormy
seas, over tropic waters, into the
haven under the hill"
"Oh, if you so to quoting Tenny-
son, it's all up with me. Are you
married."
"one can easily see that at any
rate you are not"
Explain"
Your voice lacks the prorcr and
requisite anxiety. 1t is always the
married woman who enjoys the mask
with thoroughness She knows her
jealousy is good sign"
You are a philosopher Certainly
you must be married"
We'll, one does become philosoph.
ical-after marriage"
But are you married?"
Il do not say so?"
Would you like to ber
Il have my share of feminine curl.
osity But / wonder, ,"-ruminatingly,
why they do not give masquerades
oftener?"
THAT is easily explained. Most Of
us live masquerading day by day, and
there might be too much of good
thing"
THAT is a bit of philosophy that
goes we'll with your robe. Indeed,
what better mask is there than the
human countenance?"
"If we become serious, we shall put
folly out of joint" said l, rising. And
besides, we shall miss the best part of
this dance"
She did not hesitate an instant. I
led her to the floor, and we joined the
dancers. She was as light as a feath-
er, leaf, the down of the thistle;
mysterious as the Cumaean Sibyl;
and wondered who she might be.
The hand that lay on my sleeve was
as white as milk, and the f1lbert-
shaped horn of the hnger-tips was
the tint of rose leaves. Was she
connected with the ticket in my pock-
ct? | tried to look into her eyes, but
In vain ;snothing could I see but that
wisp of golden hair which occasion
ally brushed my chin as with sur
reptitious caress. If only dared re-
main till the unmasking! pressed
her hand. There was an answering
pressure, but its tenderness was de-
stroyed by the low laughter that ac-
companied it.
Don't be silly" she whispered.
How can | help it?'