Year: 1877

porter had deposited her trunks, shawl


and belongings, she changed her travel


ing dress for light dressing-gown
and again threw herself upon the sofa


'Send word to Mr.. George" she sal,
to the chambermaid, ''rhat my head
so much worse that 1 will not go dow
to dinner, nor can see him again thi
evening"" htt.


The girl went and soon returned will
a message from Mr.. George, that he
too, was little ailing-that he had sen
for cup of tea and piece of toast, an,
that ne would retire early.
Miss W Woodville-thatwa was her name
let her thoughts run, and they starte,
|off thus: 'a,-s-sN - - 20


Poor, grave, serious George! ex
pect he is rather glad than otherwis,
to be excused from entertaining a friv
olous little creature like me. Now h,
can retire early to his hearts content
after slipping his tea and nibbling hi
toast, like Miss Nancy, as he is! Wha
a humdrum man he is. l supposed h
should be liked because he is so very
good. But how Maria can think o.
marrying him is more than 1 can tell
When my time comes, 1 don't want 8
middle-aged church-warden like Mr.
George. Give me young man, who
is not a saint on earth, and I'll answer
for him.'


Her reverie on the young man who
would not set himself up as "gruel.
aud -grits" Christian went on and on
until she fell asleep, which was the
very best thing she could do for her
headache.


She is petite, pretty and interesting.
But | am not going to describe droop-
ing eye-lashes and retrousse nose. l will
not argue the question whether her
hair is reddish-gold or goldfish red, for
her looks have very little to do with my
story.


Miss Woodville is travelling with Mr..
George because he is engaged to marry
her best friend, Maria Mears, and she
is TO be bridesmaid-they are on their
way to Mr.. Mears' house, where they
are tospend three weeks previous TO the
wedding.


They have reached New Orleans,
where they are to stay over night, and
then in the morning take the cars for
Mearsdale, which is about seventy-five
miles from the city.


When Miss Woodville awoke, she
would have found herself in complete
darkness had it not been for the faint
streak of gaslight which came in over
the top of the door.


"What so late that the gas Is lighted!
she exclaimed.


She INDUCED in two or three yawns
and stretch to wake erselfthoroughly
and then she struck a match and looked
at her watch.


''Can it be possible that it lacks only
a few minutes to eleven? ?" she cried ;
''yet stay! What is that hear Music
at this late hour?"


She went TO the door and listened.


"Music and dancing, / do declare
This mr be very gay place!" and
away went little Miss Woodville waltz
ing around her room TO the sound of the
violins down stairs.


She peeped out into the hall. No one
was to be seen. .Gt


Everybody is down stairs, and / feel
so lonesome!'' She leant over the bal
ustrade of the staircase. Along with
the enhancing music and even tread of
feet came the subdued murmur OF of the
dancers merry voices.


First one little slippered foot and then
her other became uneasy, and Miss
Woodville actually ran to her room for
fear they would get the better of her,
and make her go whirling around the
hall.


But in five minutes she was out again.
She traversed the intricate windings of
the hotel corridors, and at last sue
ceeded in finding "bell-boy" snoozing
in corner. The magic touch of money
aroused him from his dreams of broken



From him she learned that sore be-
nevolent society was giving ball for a
charitable purpose in the rooms of the
hotel.


But what impressed her most was the
information that it was a masked affair.


"Boy, run quick, and send cham
bermaid to number forty-six," Miss
T" oodville commanded; and then said,
under her breath: .'Why not have half


hours fun?"


All trace of headache had disappeared
indeed she was under the influence of
a reaction that made her brilliant.


There was whispering and money
changing hsnds-running here and
whispering and perhaps
more money, and at length the maid
might have been heard to say:


"Miss, I'm afraid you'll think it
rather somber- looking, but it is the only
one the costumer had left. The domino
is mauve silk trimmed with swans
down, and the mask is black lace"


just half an hour from the time she
awoke, hidden under the disguise just
Miss Woodville entered the



The revelry was at its height. The
music was fascinating, the dancing the
most animated, and the throng full of
rCt.sGa


The little mauve domino seemed shy,
and, if the truth had been known, was
half inclined to fly from the scene she
had entered so rashly.


To what end her wavering doubts
might have led her cannot be told, for
she had not stood in the doorway two
seconds, before gentleman, unmasked
like most of the men in the room,
snatched her under his arm, and led her
off to place at the head of quadrille.


A slight scream escaped her as she
looked up into his face, and her partner
was obliged to lead her through the first