Show YI Y- I DIAMOND 0 VT t- t r So So Ot k goIng ig to to the tho m mas 9 o bi t r No Lh Ian bt not ot going to tolio the to masque masque- masque made tall ball al That hat is the te mc I have answered that nt question I be believe Sho She wai wn n so BO absorbed In her tier own ow scheming t so anxious to vr prevent pre pr- vent his rending them tn In her eyes eye that she did not not see se the look ol ot exultation that lit l up ur his dark face She Sho only his voice in a I tone tono of welt well wel-as- wel i egret that deceived even her What is the moaning meaning of that strang strange caprice When I have haTe anticipated this ball bal for w weeks weeks weeks-we we all nI have Do you know that its Is chief attractiveness will willbo wi bo ho gone gono without I you you you-to to one oae person at least 1 I To one person Mario muttered under un nfl- U- U Uder der her bel breath breath clinching her hands sav car Ay tAy y to one on pirson it i will wi bethe bethe be bo bothe the bitterest night in her life le if I can but bitt work my plans well gayety Then aloud she added adde with simulated Of course I expect you to be perfectly perfect perfeCt- ly miserable Carlo Cailo that mb-that that goes without without with with- wih- wih out saying garing But one cannot always be favored of fortune You must learn to todo todo todo do without me once in a while A lesson that you ou will wi have to learn after nier night to-night night and and not once In awhile but forever muttered Carlo in his hl turn tur Then once more snore aloud Can nothing noting make you ou alter ater your decision de de- dc- dc cislon Marie Mario Mare I 1 I Nothing my dear clear Carlo There Thero will willbe willbe wl be other masquerade balls bals plenty of oft t them but I find it impossible to atI attend attend at at- I tend this one for reasons that I cannot even tell tel you you at present present but but you shall know alt all in good time Au revoir and waving a 1 kiss from the tips Ups of her herI I fingers she turned away feeling that voice she could not trust her face and I further I i j Ah A poor credulous fool fool she muttered muttered mut mitt as soon son as she was a 1 safe distance distance dis dis- dis I tance away m How easily I can wind triad you around my finger until the last I I moment And how you will wl storm ston and andI rage rago when you you find how Marie Mare has deceived deceived de- de I and outwitted you how I have I kept secret the love lore that has been conI consuming consuming con con- I suming my heart all n all this time time ever ever since I I loo looted d upon Arthur Mastens Masten's I face so secret that tat you secure as you thought have hav ventured to flirt with wih his betrothed Emma Elma Elma Deanc Deane Dele until she silly siy little fool fancied that tat you were in love I wih with her and persecuting her with wIt your attentions You YU have had bad the te name of it i now y you u shall hal have havo the ie game of it i and lose the one that y you u deem so sec securely securely se se- se- se I c rely yours How fortunate that I happened to overhear that conversation Arthur urging her to slip sUp away tonight tonight to to- to tonIght night from the ball hal long enough to be married married and marred and and heard also Elmas Elma's aser- aser tion that Carlo Carlo ha ha ha had hia-had had been persecuting persecuting per per- ton her with his attentions W Well l thanks thans to that bit of eavesdropping I I I have the game in my own ow hands I even know the costume she is to wear wear- and if you you urge tinge rge your request at the ball bal I to-night to my handsome Arthur you will wl find no more hesitation from your lady lady- love iove And morrow to-morrow tomorrow there will wl be two I love bra people to console each other oter If they ar are so disposed one disposed one to regret his Ws over confidence over the other to bewail I j her lack rack of prudence She was at the house by this time I the pl place cc where she arid and ald her fiance fance CarI Carb Carlo Car Car- I l b lo Matteo Mateo had been spending some someI weeks and where also a month mont before I Elma Emma Dane come with a I maiden i aunt aunt for fo 1 ad sor to be followed In a a I we weeks week's ks k's time by Arthur Atur Masten t I I who had t taken ken rooms at another hotel near near by But to all al intents and purpose purposes purposes pur pur- poses pose he had lived under uder the te same roof i i t with wih his betrothed and nd the te four had easily become acquainted acquainted with what result the opening sentences of our 1 I story stor have described in brief I Locking t the door of her room Marie Mare took from her c closet set a I long plain domIno domino dom dom- ino mo in I which she made a few c changes anges I then when it was completed completed tried tred it on I before the te mirror with a low exultant laugh I Now she exclaimed as ns she stepped I I 1 back I defy even een your sharp shar eyes C Carlo mb mio to pIerce that tat disguise We Weare Weare are are about the same height t too o and figure and the change can be effectually effectual effectual- ly Iy made made especially with wit the te aid of a afew afew I few drops of this She took up a I bottie bottle bot bot- tie tle le from the ps table ble filled with wih a dark- dark I colored liquid and shook it exultantly i And Ad if it with jail this to aid me I am amnot 1 not skillful enough ough to effect my purpose purpose purpose pur pur- pose I will marry marr Carlo Caro as a 1 punishment punishment punish punish- ment meat for my failure I The ho masquerade a ball bal was at its is height when a tall t SI anh cavalier ca anI anti and 1 a Swiss p as n gIrl ho who lad been d duic Ing Lag together nearly neary all oh al the evening turned away from the te throng trong of dane dane- dane 15 and anti making their way to an nit ha- ha 11 d tower lower just of the theare pro vis te e are ballroom sat silt down The Tho ho homan man did Wd not however release his hand but kept it i in I hi hut his own own w gently sticking it I. I We could pot have a better beter opportunity opportunity than now my dailing he a aa aJ if i in conti continuation maton of some previous remark Ho H is not lure hire I havo no a ready r ready It it it is i io but hut a short drive to the te nearest nearest ministers Let us go and return man and wife thea then let him dare care to annoy yo you yos- further if It i ho will wl I know kow it is a hasty and informal way to todo todo todo do but hut we have loved each other oter too long Jong to stand at trifles now Your You aunt aut will wl readily pardon us and us-and us-nd us and I would l like to see that fellows fellow's face wh ri I Ilke take my seat at nt the breakfast table table- with wIt you and introduce you as my wife wie Do it darling and give mo sue the te right to afford you that protection that tat will willbe l be effectual I cnn can hardly sleep at at night since y you u have told me of ot his Ws attempted addresses I have havo been haunt haunted d with vit a nervous horror that tat some somo morning when I go to visit you I will wl be bo met with wih the terrible news news ll Ilat lat at in SOIl some somo way a ay that villain has managed man Juan aged to spirit you away somewhere Dome Come darling darlng grant me this Let me mo have a few w fe moments to tot t think n fale J lna ift it 13 is 1 not that tha I do not l love lovo e f cad rust you YIU with wih nil all nI my heart this is so differ differ- lr- lr mt tnt from rom I have looked forward forward forward for for- ward to to-I to toI I canot ot immediately Leave me inc fo fon foa a fe few feu moments to think It out Jut alone Then come omo Lack back an and I Iwi will Mill wi an answer you v vI t I will w give a quarter of an m hour love lest I se seem m to h importunate said raid Arthur Artur kissing the little hand and then releasing it i. i 4 As A his footsteps died die away Emma Elma Ema felt felta a ft 1 sudden sd en pull pu at nt her sleeve and ami look look- tog tag rg with wit a start ed perceived a n figure fig fig- fg- fg ure nrc clad in a long dar dark clark domino crouching crouch big ing Ig beside beide her hl cautioned the ta Intruder as she Rhe have hae cried out in fright Come with wilh me instantly if i you yon would escape deadly 1 peril rI It I is I J- J Marie I-Marie Marie tale A moment a ago o I heard Carlo Culo who into i t 4 her plotting with win n a upla of ot ness men mento Ye to sei seize you and CatT carry carryon on Ou oft off or Cl Como with wih ree we Je to the tho to dix they know 3 sou OC and lire here ard will il be bo upon you In a minute ds else and then I will ill wi search for A Arthur and bring him hint to you Comel Comei on en instants instant's delay and aDd you ar arc i lost lost fOU 1 j J i J S Sal 1 to her 1 out outside out side vt vI y-w. y to the th I house I room houe rooD which herc y t Ela Elma s sOh Sf nir Ir Oh v r 11 slit she panted How fortuna fortunat Jt d cr hero here hero after all Yes Yes exclaimed n. n Marie arIe between hei hel teeth I 1 told him I would not come so that tnt I might tho to better beter spy upon poJ him hm He lIe has been false to mo but butO yoi yot O shall not be his victim Bless mess you bless you sobbed sobbe Elma Ema Now go and bring brig Arthur to me that tnt he ho may take me right home I do not feel safo here any my longer I Let mo me give you a 1 glass of water first said Mario You look faint fait Sho Sito Shied filled her gissa and arid approached her I victim but the water trickled harmlessly harmless harmless- ly Is upon t the carpet while a n s sponge saturated t Ith lh Ith U. U pungent liquid W was vas pt pleased against her face There was wag wasa waga I a brief and then ten she lay un conscious on Maries Marie's bo bosom m Lifting her ha In I her arms Marie bore bora her to a mall t-mall curtained d recess striped I with wah hands r off ot her ber bel costume e eager cr 1 placed It by ly her own domino and ond five minutes lat later r hurried out of ot the room The bower was still sti empty when she sho reached it but she had hardly hardy taken her bet scat when hen the tho Spanish cavalier came cama hui dl to to o ward her Impulsively she sprung to meet hImI himI him I will trill wl go Arthur I will wl do as you wish she panted in an n agitated whis wilts per Let us hasten before something happens to prevent us I An exultant exclamation broke from the tho Spaniards Spaniard's lips as he seized her I hand and ad crushed It against his lips then drawing It i through his arm aim hurried hur hur- I hur-I ned ried her away A At the end of a short road a carriage was rs wailing thay thy sprung in and were driven to the residence 1191 resi resi- I dence of a n minister At their request st to be married without unmasking masking he lie demurred marre at first but a generous fee silenced nil all al opposition and standing before him they took the vows that made them tem man ma and wife Tho same carriage that had taken them Ulem brought them back and dismissing dismiss dismiss- ing lug it i at the te point where it i had bad lad waited the bridegroom turned exultantly toward to- to to toward ward waid his hs companion Now he exclaimed in ringing tones take off oi your yom mask and let mo me look upon the treasure that my successful little ruse rue has won Ills Ils hand was upon her mask as ng he I spoke but with wih a great start she sprung from him Then an execration of baffled baffled bat bat- fled fed rage broke from the lips of each as Marie and Carlo looked into each others other's others other's oth otis ers er's face What Wat does this mean you fiend you fiend you fend you she devil she evl broke from his lips with a frightful imprecation But she womanlike womanlike wo wo- man like man burst bust into a high derisive laugh even over ever her own downfall I So sho she exclaimed I have havo kept tho vow I swore to in case I was balked of my scheme Mean my dear Carlo It I means mean a case of diamond cut diamond diamond dia din mond that is all al We have both bot attempted attempted attempted at at- tempted t to play the same game and we have played it i diabolically well vel I didt didn't know I told yonder little silly siy fool the truth when I said you were planning to carry carr her off of But she is safe enough now unless uness the te chloroform chloro coro form may have been too strong How does docs It i happen there thero are two Spanish cavaliers I saw but one all aU the te even even- lug ing and I knew well wel who he lie was wasl wasi even I I copied his costume and wore it under Uder my domino hissed Carlo I Iwas Iwas I Iwas was behind them in the tho ballroom baloom when he was urging her to go with wt him hint I i followed them tem to the te bower sa saw him leave her and then hurried away Iway to tolay tolay tolay lay aside my domino And hi in I that mo moment ment meat that fraction of time you got in your devils devil's work I could strangle you o I dare say retorted Marie possessEd possessed pos pos- by a mood moo of utter uter recklessness I 1 shall shan take good god care caro that you dont don't however r. Take Tae me home We are not safe safo here after my part In I this nights night's work We Ve mst mast not be seen until Ut we know how it turns cut nor cut nor afterward if i it i turns turn out ill i. i Without another word they hurried away Getting back to the he hc betel tel they found everything in contusion servants hurrying hurrIng hither and thither doctors In Ia attendance and from a passing servant ervant they learned that Miss Mis Deane had bad been peen the floor of the dressing dressing- found foud lying on foor te room at lyng the ball bal and brought home for dead and even yet the te doctors doctor would woud not say that tat the she would woud certainly re re- re re cover A word to the te wise Carlo mb mio whispered the mocking voice of his bride in his hs ear Our luggage can Cn be besent besent besent sent after us or abandoned entirely if it need be Self preservation Sel is i our motto motto motto mot mot- to now To seek their rooms and effect a hasty haty hast change of ot costume and steal out again was as comparatively easy under the tho cir cr- cr cir cir- And d just as the sound soud of the carriage that bore them died out Emma Elma Ema opened her e eyes ejes es and looked into the anguished faces bending over her It I was not much that tat she he cou could tell teI when she was WIS at length able to talk tl but from that little litHe leng the tle two most Intimately intimately int Inti inti- matel Interested c could d make out as much as they tey cared to know of tho the plot that tat had been so singularly frus frus- fr The conspirators conspirator had made good their escape leaving no clew behind behind be be- be hind them and Arthur Artur made no effort efort to trace them tem Two months later Emma Elma Ema stood tood at his side in I the te midst of ot their united friends frends and plighted her marriage vows and In Inthe Inthe inthe the long and happy years year that followed that tat brief but thrilling episode in their lives was gradually forgotten |