The evening leader., 1919-01-04
MASKED VICTORY.
0OO0OOOOOOOO00 . Q . Q . Q Q . o
Copyright, 1873 by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)
BY MONA poRR.


Copyright, 1918. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)
Fred Osborne laughed as he lit q
cigar. "But my dear Stewart, don't
want to marry simple little Della. She
is nice girl, but hardly my choice. -"
"Give that girl the advantages of
those city dolls, and she would out
shine them ALL" answered Stewart.
'Tf were younger I'd not be encour-
aging you"
A young girl passing through the
corridor stifled the cry which rose to
her lips as she heard the remarks
of the two men.
She hurriedly entered her room, and,
throwing herself Or the bed, broke
into sObs..
Miss Boynton cher hostess) had ip-
vited her, and other guests, to spend
the week end at her beautiful country
residence.
AS she lay there, a plan suddenly
formed in her mind; and hastily ris-
ing and bathing her eyes, she crossed
the hall and knocked at the door.
"COme in," called melodious voice.
''Do sit down, want to chat with
you" Then as she noticed the girls
red lips. !"Why, Della, what's the
trouble?"
AS Della confided her plan, the girl
smiled and nodded from time to time.
"Just you waitw cried Beatrice
Lang. "We1l made them take notice.
and she gave Della a big hug. Then
they settled down to discuss the great
secret.
The girls were very busy the next
few days, planning for the masquerade
ball, which the hostess was giving to
close her entertainment.
At seven o'clock that evening Della
entered Beatrice's room, and seated
herself in chair (placed for her) in
front of the dressing table.
Beatrice first pulled the lace cap
from her friends head, revealing a
mass of beautiful golden curls. This
she piled up on the girls head; then
catching up lovely pink gown, she
passed it to her and told her to hurry
into it.
Della took from a box a pair of
pink satin slippers, and silk stockings
and putting them on, stood up for her
friends inspection.
my denr" exclaimed Beatrice. 'No
one would ever know you" and she
turned the girl to the mirror.
"Fll do" she laughed, as a rosy
flush spread over her face.
dor Beatrice snapped. eff every.
one doesn't pronounce you the belle
of the ball I'll miss my guess"
She then picked up a mask and plac.
ing it over the girl's face, gave her
push saying: "Now, run along"
Meanwhile Della had reached the
ballroom and was Immediately claimed
for the first dance, which was then
about to commence.
AS she whirled about, her eyes fell
on familiar figure.
"WhO is that stunning-looking girl
with Jack Morrill?" asked Fred Os-
borne of youth standing near.
"Don't know" was the answer. "She
is beauty. But one can't recognize
any of the girls in these confounded
things they're wearing"
"Aren't you masking" Beatrice was
asked as she appeared.
mo" she answered. 'T must be
away in a short while"
Della was in her second dance, when
a young man entered the room. He
was rather effeminate, perhaps, but de-
cidedly good-loOking. Wandering about
he at length came up to Fred
Osborne.
: "By Jove! What beautiful girl ~
he calculated. "Can you tell me who
she is?"
81 couldn't" said Fred.
In some way the stranger so maneu-
vered that Fred obtained only the last
two dances.
By this time his anger had reached
the boiling point; but to all questions
regarding the young man, Della an
4 swered by light laugh.
W II o'clock came the call to un-
X; as Della drew hers from her
Fred looked at her in astonish-
It's little Della" he cried.
le Della" she returned. "But
hp Is claiming your atten-
VI and confronted the
= had so puzzled him.
rested on the face for
1y laugh broke from
=" he cried, ''that
bn me-"
Re to Beatrice, and
It to the beautiful
Iely moonlight, he
kfe.
pwed his question
forget a certain
b a short while