Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-11-08

OF the minuet her partner, a Charles
II, made an awkward misstep, and
saw the spur of the pseudomonarch
catch in her light dress and tear away
scrap of lace the size of her hand.
| She did not notice it until the monk
bent and picked it from the floor;
then, with gesture in which there
| was more ostentation than good taste,
he pressed it to his hidden lips and
hung it in his hempen girdle. saw
the girl turn red under her rouge. but
| otherwise she made no sign as she
| gave her partner her hand to lead
| her down the glittering line of dan.
| GERS.
The room was bewilderingly beau.
tiful to me. Brass bared and violins
wbned from the glded balcony;
snowy arms and bosoms flashed past
me and disappeared, and the odo1s
from the conservatory were suffocat.
ing Fascinating it was; but ] sudden.
ly realized that such public station
was no place for an unlimited
guest, and 80 made my way to the
garden, knowing that my girl would
naturally escape from the heat of the
house when the dance was over.
must see her soon, for / dared not un-
mask with the rest. Before long /
must have my message, and go to
where it would lead me-
Under the brilliant moon outside 1t
was quiet enough, and but few were
moving about the grounds that
Qfrofphod i0wn n tho low hlitffc
the Hudson. took my stand beneath
tree, and did not have long to wait.
Presently the music ceased, and
among the first to leave the ballroom
was Agnes. She was not now with
the merry monarch, but leaned on the
arm of tall troubadour, the sword he
wore looking out of place with the toy
guitar slung over his shoulder. and
the girls laugh was as free as if both
her mind and heart were clear of
aught to worry them.
At distance / followed the two.
They left the garden, passed
through the belt OF trees bordering it,
crossed the broad stretch of lawn, and
walked ON to the disused and dis
mantled water-battery on the edge of
the bluff. 1t was an earthwork thrown
up by Putnam just before the disast-
rous battle of Brookland, and was now
overgrown with grass. 1t made an
ideal trysting-place, being far from
the house, and under the moonlight 1t
looked large and mysterious.
AS the two came TO the edge of the
slope / hurried forward, fastened by
St. Paul's clock that doomed out the
hour of twelve. 1t was high time that
l made myself known.
"Benedicite, daughter." / said in a
voice befitting my character. But
thou hast not seen fit to make thy
confession as becomes thee! When |
may hear it?"
My sole answer to this was an eX-
preston of unalloyed CONSERVATION.
The girl dropped the arm of her |
escort and stared at me as if seeing |
a ghost.
you are annoying the lady and in |
truding, sir" exclaimed the trouba- |
dour, who had unmasked and showed |
the irritated but handsome face of a |
man about thirty.
THAT is for the lady to tell me-" l |
returned in my natural voice.
"By st. George! You of the cowl,"
was the prompt reply, 'it is for me to |
teach you respect for"
Gentlemen, Gentlemen!" inter-
posed Agnes. 81 will permit no quar-
reling! Sir Troubadour, know this
this monk. have promised an audi
ence of five minutes. Will you pardon
me-and return in that time?"
"Is it your wish, MADAME"
at is my wish | am not being
coerced." She laughed, but it was
with an effort that was apparent to
me. The man swept the ground with
the plume of his cap and turned to
me.
Are you afraid to disclose your
identity, Sir Monk?" he asked soon
fully.
mot in the least, Sir Tinker" i
replied, pulling off my mask.
81 will now know you again, w" he
said with palpable sneer.
Nov, God be praised for your
good memory l am complimented,"
! replied and turned my back on him.
He made no remark to this, only
biting his lip as he bowed and left
us.
why have you not gomez" asked
the girl feverishly, when we were
alone.
Because have but recently come"
| said, with sudden and instructive
knowledge of what had happened.
But you know how important 1t is!
You have read my note and"
Madam, have not been your Wis
avis in Il minuet." returned. But
my counterpart has. There are two
monks"
She looked at me as though stun.
ned, then threw up her fair, round
arms.
"Oh, God preserve u.s." she ex.