Year: 1878

S00 -fUu nave uSdTu OF my TOOL
. ish attachment for one whose fac
L have never seen. But, Maria


although | was fascinated by tn


air of mystery which surroundet
her, 1 have never yet felt towart


any female the same tender attach.


ment / have for you.


What need to further PRIV int


the secrets of the y ung couple


Suffice ii that when they separated


Eustace had Maria's promise thai


the happy day should not be fal


distant; but as be rode home he


was very deeply puzzled to know


how she had discovered his former
peccadiIlos.


A few days after Maria took q
fancy to spending a few weeks in
Seville. AS her will was virtually
law, it was not long ere the De
Icons and Del Monies were en-.
sconced in their town residences.
| A few days after their arrival
there was a brilliant masquerade
to be given. Maria expressed a
wish to attend, and Eustace offered
to accompany her but her reply
was that her father would accom-
pany her, and that she would DEFY
him to recognize her. He declared
1T to be impossible, and in re'urn
determined to disguise himself so
as to prevent detection.


'Well, the eyentful night came,
and Enstace was there early. Earn
cstly he searched the room with his
eyes, but although there were pref.
ty girls in every disguise, he conld
nowhere behold the graceful form
OF his beloved. 1t was. late; the
guests had all arrived, and Eustace
feared that something had deferred
Maria from attending. He was
was about to leave the saloon when
a French Sheperdess, new arrival,
brushed by him, attracting his at
tention- Her mask was peculiar
one, different from the black and
white usually worn. 1t was a gilt
one, beautifully chased, and in the
corner of the forehead contained
small silver star. 1t was the mask
of the unknown, who had once saved
his life His strange affection for
her suddenly returned, and forget
ting his anxiety about Maria, he
hastened to her side end soon led
her to the dance. She conversed
freely with him, though evidently
in an assumed tone. Still he
thought at times that her voice was
familiar.


After the dance the Mask ex-
cused herself for moment and re-
tired to an ante-room. Eustace
waited tor some time patiently for
her to appear, but at length a
thought struck him, and he hastily
entered. The only occupant was
Greek Fisher Girl, whose features
were hidden by a white silk mask.


MY good girl, said he, 'can you
tell me which way a little French
took 2


'Senor De Leon seems to take a
strange interest in that mysterious
mask OF his, was the somewhat bit.
ter reply.


Maria p exclaimed, Eustace, as
tcnished, you here 2


Aye; you might have found me
sooner had not your eyes been daz-
zled by the gilt mask


Il assure yon, Maria, that search
ed earnestly for YOU


'lt is of little consequence she
replied, coldly. Il must go pow.-l
shall be happy to hear your ex-
;uses at some future period !; at
present adois = and she was gone
ere he could not reply.


Eustace sat down, feeling very
His conduct was a sort
Of mystery, even to himself. While
he felt that he loved Maria as well
as man ever loved woman, yet once
in the presence of the Mask and he
had eyes or cars for none else. He
came to the conclusion that he was
the most false and tickle of his sex
and while in this enviablc state of
mind he sought his hat and cloak
and left the saloon.


AS he was about leaving the room
a hand was laid upon his arm, and
turning, he beheld the gilt mask
this time covering the features of
the same boy who once before
saved his life. The mask thrust a
note in his hand and then disappear.
ed in the crowd. The note read as
follows


IF the Senior is really anxious to
solve the mystery of one he pretends
to care for he shall be gratified. Let
him call to morrow at the old Palais
de Roi, and he will then discover who
is The MASK


Eustace re=read the note, and as
he was driven home he determined
he would fathom the mystery which
encirclcd the Mask. Accordingly
the next morning found him at the