Show WK copyright 1904 by dally story pub co when Chump sky left borne and mrs Chump sky that evening it was with the avowed intention of attending a lodge meeting don t sit up for me agnes he had said it may be rather late when I 1 return we are to elect our officers tor the coming year you know As a matter of fact mrs Chump sky did not know but like a good wife she promised obedience to her lord and master so with a feeling of security pulsing in his brea st agnes was usually a sound sleeper sky made his way not to the lodge but to the rooms of a certain mr black well from whence a full hour later the two of them issued clad in green dominoes and masks A carriage bore them rapidly to the hall where the great masquerade ball was soon to break forth in all its gaiety and asplen dor nothing else helps a man like tak ing a night off occasionally chump sky explained addressing his own conscience as well as mr blackwell of course with women it is different they are satisfied to stay at home they never feel any of that restless ness that desire for a little innocent excitement without which man can not exist to this mr blackwell murmured a ready assent and Chump sky s con science chimed in the ball was indeed a gorgeous at fair conscious of the security of their disguises and carried away by the gay spirit of the occasion formality was thrown to the winds men and women danced with whom they pleased for a while Chump sky stood back and watched the revelers swing and sway across the polished floor in their gay abandon there was some thing fascinating for a whole year ever since his marriage home and mrs Chump sky had taken up his every thought but as far as the pen bulum swings to the right far will it return to the left Chump sky felt himself swinging back an ancon troll able desire to dance to be one of the mad throng seized on him just as he turned to cast his eyes about tor a partner a couple swayed by he could not help but notice them so gracefully they glided over the floor every turn wrapped the long domino around the woman s form fascinating Chump sky s eyes three times while he stood there gazing spellbound she circled by the fourth time they stopped almost in front of him scarcely two feet away he heard her murmur something about an ice and the man bowed and glided off that was Chump sky s opportune opp tty he took advantage of it what he said he never knew but divine sensation there he was gliding across the floor one of his arms about her waist one of his hands clasping hers warm and soft it was true that Chump sky was born susceptible to feminine charms but even it his blood had been colder than the coldest it would have thaw ed into warm living wine when he felt the glow from her shoulder pressing against his breast steal slowly yet irresistibly over his whole being may be it was the wine he had drunk before leaving blackwell s room may be it was the spirit of the occasion may be it was the rich heavy odor of roses that wafted up to hia nostrils every time the long black domino swing and clasped itself around the superb creature he held in in a state of semi heavenly rapture his arms be that as it may chump eky was intoxicated with a divine in toxic atlon and from the fullness ot heart hia lips spoke heavenly sen bation he felt her shoulder press closer to bis and her fingers tighten their clasp even when the music stopped and they promenaded the long hall or sat in the shelter ol 01 tern and palm Chump sky dwelt in a state of semi heavenly rapture with each breath he drank in the rich heavy perfume of roses and his ees feasted on every graceful movement and posture he that he would have gian his right hand just for one glimpse at the face well concealed by a mask which not only hid her features but even her hair and prevented her voice from reaching him except in the low est sweetest murmur Chump sky had ever beard the evening passed couple by cou pie the dancers deserted the floor it was with a feeling of barbaric rage that Chump sky saw the tall cheval ler her first partner coming toward them when shall I 1 see you again Chump sky panted in his eagerness to finish before the man arrived 1 1 rather overtaxed myself at the lodge lodge election to morrow so well did the mash hide even the voice he could just catch the word how shall I 1 know you she caught up a told ot her skirt and swayed it gently again the rich heavy perfume of roses billowed up to his nostrils but where whenn at what place Chump sky gasped before she could answer the man was at her side with a low bow bo offered his arm and when chump sky dazed stumbled to his feet it was to feel blackwell s hand upon his shoulder and to hear that gentleman saying in his accents been looking tor you everywhere old boy then as he caught chump sky s eye on the couple disappearing from the hall quite swell old tel low saw you with her all evening Chump sky murmured something that sounded like an invitation for blackwell to descend to the regions 0 darkness then be followed sulkily into the cloak room all the way to blackwell a room Chump sky s mind ran on the woman in the black domino and the night cap he took there only made it whirl and dance the taster when he reached his own house all was dark except for a light burning in the hall this Chump sky turned out and lighting a match climbed softly up the stairs he opened the bedroom door and stepped in to his credit let it be said that Chump sky staggered back only two paces the air in the room was heavy with the rich perfume of roses la that you dear came mrs Chump sky s voice sweetly from the pillow Chump sky weakly acknowledged that it was then he sat down in a chair as it exhausted this perfume agnes he stammer ed it smells like roses where where did it come from its op press lve and I 1 I 1 rather overtaxed myself at the lodge lodge election perfume dear why yes isn t it delicious cousin george brought it all the way from france to me it you haan hadn t been impatient to get off to that old lodge you would have met him you had scarcely left the house when he came and oh be has grown into such a handsome man so tall he wanted me to go round with him to look on at the big mas ball said it would be a gor ageous sight but of course I 1 go unless you went you know Chump shy thought that he heard a titter somewhere in the room but like a wise man he kept his thoughts to himself and went to bed without asking any more impertinent ques alons and it was the love of a bon net that mr Chump sky generously paid tor the next day |