The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-07-17

| ing OF his niece. and Few mo
ments later the music of the first
dance began.
The Count was dancing with
the Princess. 1t was a stately
measure to open the ball, one in
which only a few selected persons
| Joined, and l noted the grace of
the Princess, and of Varna, too.
you do not dance, monsieur"
turned quickly. Close beside
me was the woman in gray who
had been with the Princess.
mo mademoiselle, l am on
duty tonight"
A smile parted her lips. II was
a pretty mouth, shaped as a wo-
mans should be, and the teeth
were perfect.
Does duty forbid your speak
ing to me?" she asked.
mo, mademoiselle."
''Is there not some quieter
place than this where we may
TALK"
Was I still fool enough to walk
blindly into a snare? l did not
answer and she laughed at my
hesitation.
Truly, monsieur, you had
more gallantry at your command
when you opened the door into
the Kings garden for a serving
maid"
l started, as we'll I might. Had
this small affair been gossiped
about all over the city? Slowly
my eyes travelled from the dark
brown hair across the gray mask
down the soft folds of her dress,
down to the trim ankle and the
little gray shoe which just peeped
out from under her gown.
You. 1t was your"
us there no quieter place
where we may talk " she asked.
Indeed, mademoiselle!" |
Hammered.
Come. then, before this dance
ends, and the Princess calls me.
You must take me. You know the
palace. of Dravstadt better than
l."
There was a small room rarely
used. A passage from the CORR
dor led to 1t, and | had little fear
that interruption would come
there. l led the way and was
sure that no one saw us turn into
the passage.
There should be candles on
this table," l said.
l lit them, four of them in a
wrought iron stand. Then the
light of the candles was upon her.
and the gray mask was in her
hand.
The world is full of beautiful
women. But what shall l say of
her? She was so perfect that I
began to look for some little
flaw, and could find none. She
was the ideal which a man may
perchance find in his dreams, but
can rarely see face to face in a
real world.
who are your" | asked blunt
ly.
"Who am l? A maid of honor
to the Princess Suzanne.
But your name?"
"Does it matter, Monsieur Hes
elton?-you see | know yours al
ready. Think Of me as the lady
In gray. l have heard that the
King was angry because you let a
serving maid into his garden. Is
that true?"
Quite true, but that does not
trouble me-"
She flashed quick smile at
me and then went on:
II have said that l am a maid
of honor to Princess Suzanne.
alone came with the Princess
from Syere. The other ladies
about her tonight are of Draw.
stadt. appointed to attend her by
the King-the garnishing of the
sacrifice. We were brought from
Syere under escort" she contin.
ued, "a display, the real signifi.
canoe of which was that We were
guarded like prisoners, and
treated In much that fashions
Kings method of frightening q
woman into submission. Had we
been less we'll guarded ON the
road from Syere, the Princess
would not have arrived in Draw.
stadt."
"Tell the Princess 1t is dan.
gerous to play with His Majesty
/ said.
81 take the warning also to my.
SELF" she answered, "for l dc
scheme against him in this mat
ter. Here in the palace the
Princess is, but for me, utterly
friendless. When / came to the
barracks yard | was returning
from secret mission, hence my
disguise as a servant maid. There
were men In Dravstadt who would
help the Princess, and to them |
went on her behalf. | was re-
turning empty of hope, anger in
my heart, despair in my soul. Not
a man dared move a step to help
a woman in distress because, for
sooth, they were afraid of the
King.
you came to my rescue. mon
sieur," she went on after a pause.
land you did something else OF
which you were not aware-you
gave hope back to me. | thought
1 had found a man."
l did not answer her. The
temptation to let her do with ME
as she would was strong: but I