Gilpin observer., 1920-08-19
Purple Domino.
BY CARL REMINGTON

receiver and inclined his handsome
head to listen. A woman's voice came
over the humming wire from great
distance-a thin, reedy voice spun out
to a mere thread in its effort to reach
him.
'Inez!" !" he cried in amazement, and
the thin voice came laughingly Oppor-
tuning. AT last he shouted assent and
hung up the receiver, her voice still
humming in his ears from her home
thousand miles away. AS he turned
about old loves who would not remain
buried in the past.
That night he met Paula Dare, his
fiancee, at a dinner. She mentioned
the bal masque at Watersedge. "Ann
Caswell calls it moon fete'-no one
Is to unmask-even at supper. am
so thrilled-never to know ones part
ner!"
"What are you wearing?" he asked.
"You could never guess" she chal-
lenged merrily. .
"Flower girl?"
Her eyes dropped. "Would you like
that, Noel?" she asked meekly.
Fine" he agreed, but there was a
CLEAN of relief in his eyes that
alarmed her. Did he want to know so
that he might avoid her? Ann Cas-
well had warned her that Noel was
fickle-had whispered to her of an
old love affair with Inez Murtha, but
Paula had stun Oily refused to listen.
Still, that look in Noel's eyes made
her restless.
"And you?" She raised luminous
eyes to his. what shall you wear?'
"Oh, suppose / shall do the usual
thing-become bold pirate or dash
ing cavalier. What better?"
"a monk-who knows what confes-
sions you might hear?" she laughed.
He smiled. 81 believe l will. You
may look for gray friar, my dear"
Before she went to bed Paula re-
read a note she had received that
morning from Ann Caswell. "My dear
Il was in the costumer's yesterday
and overheard them taking an order
for a purple domino for Noel. Am l
not clever to tell you, cherie? Also
Inez Murtha is coming on for the ball
and little bird told me that she was
to wear a purple satin domino"
Paula tossed the note into the fire
and sitting on hassock she wrapped
her slim arms around her knees and
watched the licking flames with
thoughtful eyes. She was tiny
thing with hair like pale cornsilk and
great gray eyes oddly fringed with
black lashes; but she passionately
loved Noel and she had his love and
devotion. She was bound to hold him
to her always-there was fighting
blood in her veins.
There was dancing in the moonlight
on the closely shaven grass and in
the softly lighted pavilion, where
myriads of richly attired dancers made
kaleidoscope of colors. There were
quiet walks leading to the waters edge
and rose-covered arbors where lovers
walked. A stringed orchestra played
intoXicatingly and among the dancers
there were always the pair of purple
dominos. small Columbine, dane
ing blithely enough with an Arab
sheik, followed with intent eyes.
"Two!" she told herself with fast
beating heart, as they danced past. so
alike; the same height and build, slen-
der, erect, in long garments of rich
purple satin with pointed hoods CON
cealing the hair. Behind those, white
l,,, ..I sI,nt
And the purple dominos danced on.
"Inez," whispered one, you have got
me into rather bad scrape-my
fiancee-"
''Idiot-bother your tiancee," retort-
ed Miss Murtha arrogantly. You
must spare me this one evening, Noel
you can be with her the rest of your
days-while L"
you do not care--you never cared"
he said sullenly. "You are only here
now because you are not on speaking
terms with Mrs. Caswell and you think
II great lark to come to her house
incognito"
"Wocf! Hear the old bear growl,"
Knocked lnez. Guess Ann Caswell's
ily own cousin and ! can come to her
house-we fight like cats, but we al
ways make up-I shall tell her before
bedtime
Noel was not listening. His eyes
were anxiously searching the place
for flower girl, but not one of the
species did he sec.
81 am tired" said Inez petulantly. II
shall sit in the rose arbor yonder and
you must dance with some one else.
What is Miss Dare wearlng?"
Noel growled under his breath and
moved AWAY. Then she was all alone
and she did not like to be alone,
after all.
Tlmid feet crunched the graveled
path and she looked up. In the door
way was poised II small Columbine
81 IL.