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t!''Zl!gtyft1Mi
CIfY COURIER, SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1889,
yti la iiirnli nlflilrMtM l jMjirl nil ( MHMrIH
to
CAPITAL
ffWppHIIfllill W-IHh
s
(lata he met Iter, and he was Tory union
a frail that ho would betray himself.
Beefcn thing ns that, ho know, would bo
fatal 80 ho waited na patiently us ho
ooull.
"Constant dropping wears nwny a
stono," ho Bald to himself. "1 shall hang
on and keep tip my spirits an licst I mny.
In tho mcuutlmo I shall work for money
and position as no man oror worked 1k
foro, and my tlmo will como." Archlo
Tlllliighost, who could not hut notico
Hush's dovotton to Holon, snld to lilin
ono day, "Rush, old man, I liata tosco
you playing tatnacat to a prima donna."
Rush replied with a llorconoHs that
must havo proved to hi friend that if
thoro was anything of tho cat in Ills dis
position it certainly was not of tho tamo
species. "If another man had said that
to mo, I would havo mado him measure
his length on tho sldowalk. But I will
tako a good deal from you, Archlo. No
mora of this, howuvor."
"As you llko, dear lioy," jfoturned
Arahloi "hut I think you nro cut Cut for
something better than to stand around
with a hundred othor man and hum In
conso beforo a publlo Blnger."
"Your words nro no doubt well meant,
Archlo, hut thoy nro uncalled for. I am
content to bo ono of a hundred now;
thoro Is no reason I should not boi but I
may outstand tho nlnety-nnd-nlno, and
bo swinging my censor all alouo somo
day," ho said, laughingly) and, putting
his arm through Archio's, thoy continued
their walk in poaco and quietness.
Archlo mado up his mind to say no
mora upon tho subject, no mattor what
ho might think, "As woll try to awoop
tho cobwebs out of tho sky with n whisk
broom as to open a man's oyes when ho
is In this condition," ho said to himself.
Rush was not always oontont with
hlmBolf or with his position. Thoro wore
times when ho resented being treated as
a boy. Ono night in particular ho was
in n lamentable stato of mind. IIo had
gono to tho academy with Holon and hor
aunt, and, naturally, expected to tako
thorn homo: but West Hastings camo bo
hind tho scones with Undo Llghtfoot
Myers, Mrs. Dlok Oris wold and a lot of
other people to congratulate tho prima
donna on a brilliant ovonlng's work, and
invited tho wholo party to supper at Del.
monlco's.
Helen, who thought that Rush had
brought hor to tho theatre to accommo
date her rathor than for any pleasure to
himself, bellavod that ho would bo glad
of tho release, and said, in hor politest
tones! "I won't troublo you to tako mo
homo, Mr. Hurlstono. Mr. Hastings
and theso good friends havo kindly vol
unteered their services. It was very
good of you to bring me. Good night,"
ho added, putting out hor hand. Ho
bowed over it. but said nothing ns ha
turned to go. "Stay ono moment," said
Helen, taking up ono of tho dozen bou
quets that had boon thrown to hor. It
was of rod roses; they were not bo com
mon then as thoy are today. West
Hastings had sent it. Ho alwuys sent
tho samo, for ho llkod to hoar people
say, as it fell upon tho stago, "That is
from West Hastings; ho always sends
those big rod roses."
"Mr. Hurlstono, don't you want u'
rose?" And, choosing tho finest ono
from tho bunch, sho fastened it In ids
buttonhole.
"Thank you," ho said, rather stiffly, as
he bowod himself out. Ho would havo
felt better in his mind If ho had seen tho
expression of annoyanco that passed
over West Hastings' face and known tho
cause. Dut ho didn't, and ho went out
across tho dimly lighted stago in a most
unenviable framo of mind.
"Am I tamo cat, after oil?" ho asked
lumsclf, bitterly. "Shall I allow her to
kiok mo out of hor way, and then como
purring back and bo happy again to rub
up against hor garments? What an Idiot
I ami This sort of tiling will drive all
the manhood out of mo. I had bettor
take to the wilds and chop wood to the
fid of my days. That at least would bo
a m&aly vocation. I'll novor soo hor
gain. I'll forgot all that has been bo
pleasant and buckle down to work, I'll
wis fame and fortune, and thou alio will
M what she has lost."
Aad he pictured scenes of future groat
mm, where ho stood conspicuously ta
the foreground receiving the homago of
the crowd (for what, be had not quite
taade up his mind), whllo In the back
ground Helen Knowlton looked on and
dried, and said to herself: "Ah, me!
what might have been!" He found him
mtU gating (with his mind's eye) more
latently at the background, where he
featured Helen, than at the foreground,
where be pictured himself. Poor boy!
he really suffered tortures. Just at that
mosaeut life did not seem worth living.
Be had been walking aimlessly along as
these thought had been flying through
his brain, and ho did not notico where
he was until the awning across tho side
walk (it was a cloudy .sight) reminded
hlsa that he was In front of Delmonlco's.
He almost recoiled. "If sho saw mo
she would think I was following hor,"
he muttered. The thought hardly passed
through his mind when ho hoard his
aasae called, and, turning, ho saw Bessie
Archer, her father and Archlo Tilling
hast alighting from a carriage drawn up
at the curb.
"We are just going Into Dol's to havo
a bird; won't you como with us? I'm
euro Undo Archer and Cousin Dossie
will bo delighted," said Archlo, pulling
him gently by the arm. Mr. and Miss
Archor added that nothing would give
them greater pleasure, and thoy said it
with so much sincerity that Rush ac
cepted tho invitation. Their cordiality
was not his only reason for accepting.
Ha hoped, poor boy, that Helen would
see him there, and with another womanl
It was quite late and there wore not more
thaa half a dosea people in the restau
rant The birds, however, bad barely
beea served when a feminine rustling
was heard In the doorway, and a voice
that brought the blood to Rush's cheeks
aad set his heart to boating llko a trip
haamier said, "I feel too tired to climb a
flight of stairs; let us havo supper in
here; it U late, and every one has gone."
She didn't see the little party. It was
-t just out'of her range from the door. So
thef oasae aad were waved to their seats
by the uurnineu Francois, wnota kusb
had mistaken for Delmonlco tho tin
tlmo ho visited tho placo.
"Why, there Is Bessio Archor," said
Holon, Ixnvliig mid smiling, and bowing
and smiling again as sho recognized
Rush nud tho others. Rush hail hit upon
a plan of action. IIo was going to mako
Helen seo tint ho could bo happy with
another woman (sho had novor for a mo
ment doubted lt),nnd ho laid himself out
to 1)0 agreeable to Bessie. For her part,
Besslo Was very much predisposed in ills
favor, and wan not at all avcrso to his
attentions. When her health was pro
irased by Archie, RiirIi drank to hor with
ills eyes as well as with his lips, and ho
took a Hly glance to seo if Helen was
looking, She wasn't, as it happened;
sho was listening very attentively to
something that West Hastings was say
ing. At last Rush felt her oyes turned
in his direction, and ho played his aco of
trumps; ho took tho roso sho had given
him from his bottou hole and presontcd
it to Bessie in his most Imprcsslvo man
ner, and IJcasIo tucked it in tho folds of
her hair. Holon saw all this, and sho
Bald to herself, "Why, tho dear boy is
In lovo with Desslo Archer. IIo couldn't
do bettor; for sho Is a great catch and a
very lovely girl." Ihttdown in hor heart
sho I'olt a little pang at losing bo devoted
nnd ploaMit a friend ns Rush had been;
for if ho bcoitino engaged to Desslo their
llttlo overlings would como to nn end.
Uowovcr, sho would not bo selfish, and
ho might count on hor aa n friend to
further his suit.
CHAPTER IX.
TJSH was
.working
rvery hard
nt tho offlco
of Tho Dawn
During his
Ml rat ac
quaintance with
Helen Knowlton
ho had written
special articles.
for which ho was paid so much a column,
but now ho was taken regularly upon tho
staff of tho paper, on a salary of $30 a
week. Ho was in no special department,
but acted in tho capacity of "general
utility man," which gava him junt tho
oxporiouco that ho most needed. Ho
worked in tho city department, edited
telegraph "copy," nnd wroto occasional
editorials, so that his nights wero pretty
woll occupied, and ho could not havo ro
nowed his ovenings at Holon'a had ho
been so inclined. IIo was trying to drlvo
her out of his mind; but ho found that
simply impossible.
To rofrnin from calling nthcrhouso
was much easier; yot ho did not nccom-
Jllsh oven that sacriflco very success
ully. When he left tho ofllco of The
Dawn at half past 1 or 2 o'clock in the
morning, ho walked up to Twentioth
street and passed with lingering foot
stops under her window; but ho had not
callod upon her since tho night his prido
had boon so wounded by what ho took to
bo her dcslro to rid herself of his com
pany. Ho had called at tho Archers',
however. It camo naturally in his way
to do so. Sometimes ho dropped in of
an afternoon with Archlo, and somo
times by special invitation of Desslo, who
llkod to talk over with him tho things
sho was just then interested in. Budd
hism was at this tlmo attracting her at
tention, and, us Rush was much more
liberal minded than Archlo, sho enjoyed
discussing this Oriental religion with
him.
Rush really cared llttlo more for it
than did Archlo, but it was something
to divert his mind. Had ho dreamt for
a moment what a hold it was getting
upon Besslo, ho would havo politely but
firmly declined to discuss tho subject,
no supposed that sho took it up aa ho
did, as an intellectual amusement; but
with hor it was a more serious matter.
To tho intenso disgust of Archlo sho re
nowed hor acquaintance with Mmo.
Parapoff, and continued to attend to her
seances. Sho did not ask Arcldo to ac
company hor any more, for sho know
that lio would try to argue her out of go
ing, and as she had mado up her mind
to go the argument could only have
ended unpleasantly. She got hold of a
young married wocum with a taste for
tho unnatural, and tho two visited tho
veryremoto and dingy apartments of the
High Priestess of Buddha and listened
to her twaddle with credulous cars.
Aa Archie was really in lovo with Bee
ale, I should explain that she was not his
cousin nor any bloed relation to him;
had she been I should have taken no in
terest in his sentiment for her. Sho was
Mrs. Archer's daughter, but she had
been adopted, when sho wasO years old,
by Mr, Archer, when he married her
widowed mother. Archlo had been
brought up to regard her as his own
cousin, but his feeling towards her had1
been of a warmer than cousinly nature
for a good many years. She llkod him
more in tho cousinly way, and always
turned tho conversation with a skillful
stroke when sho thought ho was going
to express other than the eentimontaof
a cousin towards hor. Since hor dovo
Uon to Buddha thoro had boon a littlooool
nosa between thorn. Ho could not tolor
ato any such nonsense, and tho thought
of tho class of peoplo to whom Bosala
was turning for esoteric information al
most maddened him. Buddhism was
only another uumo for spiritualism, he
argued. Tho latter was a burned out
volcuno from which its dovotccs were
trying to throw out imitation lava todo
cclve the credulous. That Besslo Archer
should bo ono of tho. deceived ho consid
ered a degrading thing. "Lot tho vicious
and tho vulgar run after such absurdi
ties, if they will, but heaven forbid that
a reflnod young lady should find any at
tractions in this torn foolery!" was his re
flection. "My dear Bessie," ho said to her, "if
this Parapoff was what you say, she
would bo sitting ia a golden temple, deal
ing out her words of wisdom at a thou
sand dollars a word. There is nothing
that men would better like to knew than
what the future has In store for them. If
they believed that thoy could bo Inform
ed with truth, they would pay any
amount of money; for it would save
Uiem countless sums. People are credu
lous enough, in all coascknee, and if
Cttnmiiiiiiirw aK
vMlVVlliiW TifaJ
m&
thoy hail the slightest encouragement to
bellovo In these soothsayers thoy would
patronize them to nn extent that would
mako theirs tho most profitable profes
sion hi the world rather than tho most
ill paid. Thoy would bu living In palaces
Instead of In dirty rooms on back streets,
and their patrons would bo tho rich and
great rather than poor deluded sorvnnt
girls."
"But thoy nro not all 'poor deluded
servant girls' who consult Mine, Para
polf. Somo very intelligent men nnd
women visit hor rooms, among them
your cousin Bessie Archer, who does not
put hcrsolf in tho clans you mention."
"With the deluded, dear child, but
not with tho servant girls. You can't
show moan Intelligent man or woman
who seriously consults Mine. I'nrapolT.
Tho very fact that ono consults her dis
proves ills Intelligence"
"You nro so prejudiced, Archlo Till
Inghast, that if Mmo. l'araK)lf predicted
something to you and It camo true, you
would say it was all chance, exclaimed
Boss'lo, Indignantly.
"I am qulto sure I should, Besslo, and
I am equally sure that it would bo," re
plied Archlo.
"Yoil aro a very unsympathetic and
narrow minded young man," Bald Besslo,
rising to leave tho room, "nnd I shall
novor again speak to you on this subject.
i una Air. Hurlstono much more liberal.
"I am sorry to hear that; I had thought
hotter of Hurlstono." And Archlo opened
tho door for his cousin to pass out of tho
room. IIo was genuinely distressed; and
well ho might bo for when a crotchot
of this sort takes possession of nn ldlo
person's brain it is hard to uproot it. Ho
felt sure that Besslo would lccomo thor
oughly disgusted in time, but when? Ho
wondered if it could bo possible that
Rush was encouraging her in this non
sense. No, ho could not bellovo that;
but it begun to dawn upon his mind that
Rush might havo taken his ndvico about
tho prima donna (ho hndn't scon him
with hor of lato) and been devoting him
self to Besslo. IIo turnod pale at tho
thought, for it was plain that Besslo liked
him. Why hadn't ho lot his friend go on
dancing nttendanco upon tho singer?
Why should ho havo interfered? 'It was
just llko him always standing in his
own light.
Tho drawing room door opened, and
ho heard Rush's voico saying to tho but
lor, "Tell Miss Archer that I am hero,
James; buo is expecting mo." Tlion,
upon seeing Archlo, "Ah, you hero,
Archie? glad to seo you. I'vo callod to
tako Miss Archor to seo somo pictures nt
Goupll's; won't you go along?"
"No, thanks," replied Archlo, some
what coolly; "I'vo an engagement down
town, and must say good-by;" which ho
did without loss of tlmo. Aa Rush stood
looking out of tho window, ho noticed
that Archie turned up, instead of down
town, but ho thought nothing of it, ex
cept that his f riond had probably changed
his mind. Tliat ho should havo regarded
him as a rival in tho affections of Bessio
Archer nover occurred to him. In tho
first placo, ho did not suspect tho stato
of Archio's feelings towards Bessio; and
in tho second, ho supposed that Archlo
was thoroughly aware of his dovotion to
Helen Knowlton.
Rush was not altogether happy this
afternoon. It was a wholo fortnight
since ho had spoken a word to Helen.
IIo had Been hor in tho mcnntlino in nn
old curiosity shop in Broadway, accom
panied by her aunt nnd West Hastings
and sho seemed to bo buying furniture.
What did this mean? Were thoy actu
ally engaged and making preparations
for housekeeping? No, thoy were not; it
was nothing no serious ai that. West
Hastings was refurnishing tho dining
room in his bachelor quarters. Tho crazo
for old furniture was just then ut its bo
ginning, nnd ho had asked Helen and
hor aunt to accompany him to this shop
to look ut au old French sideboard ho
thought of buying. Helon had excel
lent taste, and sho scaled tho fato of tho
sideboard by pronouncing it a beauty.
This episode, aa Rush interpreted it,
was depressing enough of itself; but
added to this ho had received a long and
desponding letter from his mother, tell
ing him of tho Mutual Dividend Mining
company, of Col. Mortimer's connection
with it, and of tho offer ho had mado to
Jolui. "Do seo John as often as you
can, Rush dear, and keep him under
your eye. You know how I dread the
influenco of Col Mortimer. Ho is a bad,
unprincipled man, and dear John is so
easy going that ho doesn't believo there
is any harm in him."
John must havo been in town for a
week at least and bo had not yot mado
himsolf known to Rush. By chance,
however, tho brothers met Rush was
sent to report a masked boll at the
Academy of Musica thing ho felt ut
terly unfit to jlo, "I was novor at a
masked ball In my life." ho told the city
editor
"So much tho better," replied tho edi
tor "You will give us fresh views of a
hacknoytnl subject I qulto envy you
your new sensations. Get your copy in
as early as possible, and good luck to
you."
Rush was about tho first person to ar
rivo at the ball, and tho Academy looked
gloomy enough. Ho had been told that
tho festivities did not begin until lato, so
ho arrived at 0 o'clock, thinking that
that would be about tho fashionable
hour. There was not a woman in tho
placo. and tho only men on hand wero
tho floor managers. Ho had plenty of
tlmo for reflection Iwforo tho ball opened,
and for the sako of tho associations ho
wandorod about liehind tho scenes. Tho
stage and parquet wore boarded over,
but the prima donna's room was undis
turbed. He looked hi and sighed. A
perfume of violets Ilngored on tho air,
and he sighed again as ho recognized it
and then wandered to the front, where a
room had boon reserved for tho press,
A largo table stood In tho center, fur
nished with per, pens and Ink. There
were a grout many bottles on tho tablo,
but thoy did not all contain ink, or any
thing that looked liko it
He sat down und took a pen, and
thought to Improve tho time by writing
to his mother; but, as ho could say noth
ing about John, ho concluded not to.
Instead, ho wroto "Helen Knowlton"
over threo or four sheets of foolscap, In
every variety of leumnnshlp, nnd then
tore tho paper Into lino bits. But, still
fearful (hat tho nnmo might bo discov
ered, ho made a llttlo pile of tho scraps
and burned them, wntching their de
struction with an expression of counte
nance not nt all In keeping with tho
spirit of a masked ball. IIo shook his
head sadly. "A munB hopes may lw as
easily destroyed as that paper," he said
to himself, as ho blow tho ashes from tho
tablo. Then ho sauntered out into tho
lobby.
There he found n very different hcono
from thoonohehiid loft Men nnd women
wero crowding Into tho placo ns fnst as
tho muii nt the wicket could tako their
tickets. Most of tho men wero In oven
Ing dress, but all tho women wore dom
inoes nnd masks. There wore n f o w who
opiearcd In fancy dross, but thoy were
tho Gorman motubcra of tho society.
Rush was too young and too enthusi
astic not to find oxcitomotit in tho scene,
and when the dancing began ho thought
ho had novor witnessed anything so
brilliant and intoxicating as tho move
ment of theso many colored dominoes to
tho muslo of tho bund. As tlmo wore
on, tho placo liecamo more crowded, and
Rush recognized among tho men mnny
faces that had bocouio familiar to him ut
tho opera and elsowhorc. There was
Undo Llghtfoot Myers renewing Ids
youth, with a pink domino on his arm;
and thoro was West Hastings lounging
against ono of tho pillars of tho balcony
and dialling a Columbine. Rush won
dered what Helen Knowlton would think
if sho saw her friond thus engaged. Ills
thoughts wore broken in upon by a voico
at Ids olbowi
"My liandsomo young friond," said a
bluo domino, taking his arm, "why do
you X)80 in this melancholy nttltudo on
so festlvo an occasion? This is Romeo's,
not Hamlet's, night Lot us walk about
among tho giddy revolors. I want to bco
a more cheerful oxpresslon on your
young face."
As thoy walked out Into tho lobby,
Rush racked his brain to rccognizo tho
voico or figure of tho mask. His ex
pression nhowed that ho was puzzled.
"Ah, you do not rccognizo mo," alio
snld. "How sod that makes mo feel! A
llttlo dlsguiso and ono's identity is gone.
I should havo known you through twen
ty disguises." And sho turned hor mask
upatlilmin tho most bewitching man
ner. "Certainly I havo nover had tho pleas
ure of hearing that voico beforo no man
could forget so sweet a thing," said Rush,
entering readily into tho spirit of tho
ball. And so thoy thrust and parried.
until his musk spied a spry old man with
gray sido whiskers and a bald head,
when sho dropped Rush s arm as sud
denly as sho had taken it, and took tho
othor by tho hand.
"Dear general, I am bo clad to seo you!
I havo been looking for you all tho even
ing, and feared you wore not coming."
Tho general looked pleased, though
nuzzled; but this was not his first masked
ball, and in a few moments Rush saw
him moving off In tho direction of tho
supper room, tho bluo domino hanging
affectionately upen ids arm.
Beforo tho night was over, Rush
learned much of tho ways of masked
balls, and camo to tho conclusion that
tho bluo domino was an entirely now
acquaintance of Ills and of tho general's.
s ho started for tho press room, ho met
his city editor with a Swiss peasant girl
on his arm. "Hello, Hurlstono," said
ho. And, stopping a moment, ho whis
pered, "Get your copy down early, and
then have your fun. You can wrlto it
out hero und send it down." And ho,
too, passed on in tho direction of tho
supper room.
Rush hardly recognized tho press
room when ho returned to it In tho
lint place, ho could hardly seo across It
thosmoko; and In tho second, it was
to noisy that ho did not seo how it would
bo possible to wrlto there. "Hollo.hcro's
Hurlstono! shouted a reporter of a
morning paper whom Rush had seen at
different places, but had nover had occa
sion to speak to, "Como, fill up your
glass and tako a cigar," added tho re
porter, suiting tho action to tho word;
only ho took a handful of cigars; ono ho
lighted, tho others ho put in his pocket
There were a dozen men sitting around
tho tablo, somo writing, and all smok
ing. Rush declined both tho proffered
cigars and the champagne though ho
lighted a cigar of his own in self do
fonso and sat down in a corner to wrlto.
Ho u.Hod his note book for copy paper
and his knee for a desk, and in tho
course of an hour ho had a crick in his
back and n very good story written out
for Tho Dawn. This ho dispatched.
Then ho went out into tho ball room
to look around for a few minutes, after
which ho intended to go homo to his
lodgings. He had not passed half way
through tho lobby when ho saw Archie
Tlllinghast standing at tho foot of tho
staircase, with his mask In his hand,
gazing earnestly at tho hundreds of dom
inoes who lounged past him or hurried
by on mischief bent
"Why, Archlo, what aro you doing
bore? You look as though you wore ex
pecting somo ono. Who is sho? Como,
old follow I" said Rush, shaking his hand
and smiling knowingly.
"I'm looking for my cousin Bessie,"
replied Archlo.
"What!" oxclalmed Rush, starting
back, "Miss Archer hero?" -
"Yes; why not? Thoy all como; though
thoy will deny It to-morrow. Sho is with
hor father, howover, and Holon Knowl
ton nnd her aunt They didn't como as
'regular participants In tho ball, you
know; they novor do, only to seo what
sort of a placo it Is. To do thorn Justico,
thoy are not enjoying themselves very
much. There is a sort of excitement
about it, however; but whon I saw them
a whllo ago thoy wore just recovering
from a fright A half tipsy fellow had
addressed somo coarso compliments to
Miss Knowlton, and sho was very much
alarmed more, 1 fancy, at tho idea of
being discovered than anything olso, for
ho said, '1 know you, my beauty.' Of
course ho didn't know her. That's what
thoy all say. 8ho wanted to go homo at
once, but Bessio didn't Tho girl evident
ly has somo mischief in hor mind. I
trlod tn find tho man, to slap his foco,
but thoy couldn't point him out"
"How did you know tfcem, Archie?"
asked Rush. Ho was dying to meet
Helen In her disguise, for ho thought ho
would got n musk and say somo things
to her from Its concealment that ho
wouldn't llko to say In open court.
"How did I know thorn? In tho first
placo, I brought them here, and in tho
second, thoy nro dressed allko black
satin dominoes, with n bunch of violets
pinned on tho loft shoulder."
Rush could hardly talk with Archlo,
ho was so impatient to break nwny and
look for Helen In tho crowd. At last,
after n fow commonplaces, ho started in
quest. IIo had not searched long loforo
ho was rewarded. There, sitting on ono
of tho Beats in tho dress circlo, ho saw
tho object of his search. There was no
mistaking tho poiso of that head, oven
had ho not recognized tho black satin
domino nud tho bunch of violets on tho
shouldor. Sho was sitting nlono; that
was strango. Where wore tho rest of
tho party, nnd why should its most pre
cious treasure bo left unguarded? Hastily
adjusting tho mask ho had borrowed
from Archlo, Rush sat down in a vacant
scat noxt to tho domino.
"Tho beautiful Cinderella Bitting nlono
at tho ball," ho whispered in her car.
Sho turned with n start; tho eyes of tho
mask glared up at him. (Why do all
oyes look bo wicked behind a mask?) In
a disguised voico, with just tho least
tremor of a laugh behind it, sho replied,
"Cinderella is waiting for her princo nnd
ho has como."
Tho boyish heart in tho breast of tho
young man beat high. Did sho rccoc-
nlzo 1dm? Sho called hlni "her princo."
How ho wished tho pumpkin coach wero
waiting at tho door that ho might drlvo
off with her in triumph! They had a
pleasant chat, only ho felt that ho was
being chaffed pretty hard at times, and
ho thought that somo of tho expressions
used by tho lady wero hardly such as ho
would expect to hear from Holon's lips.
"Howover," ho argued, "ono fools freer
behind a mask. If sho only suspected
mo, how differently bIio would speak!"
In tho midst of their lively sallies (sho
would not allow him to bo sentimental),
ho board an unmistaknblo voico behind
him say, "Don't you think wo havo had
enough of this, aunty?" And, looking
around, ho saw tho fac-simllo of the
mask by Ills sido, and near her Mr. Ar
cher and another black domino, which
ho know was Besslo.
Ho felt a sinking feeling; ho wanted
tho floor to open and lot him through;
but it didn't. Tho rcsemblanco botwecn
Aunt Rebecca and Helon was very
strong, and, oxcopt that tho former was
a trlflo heavier, thoir figures were much
alike. Rush had often remarked tho
likeness, but he nover oxpected to bo
caught in this way. Well, thoro was
nothing for it Sho evidently did not
rccognizo him; at least do ho thought
When Helen spoko about going, ho roso
to his feet.
"Nay, beautiful mask, why tear your
self away from this festlvo scene? Take
my arm and lot us walk about among
tho gay revelers and amuso ourselves."
Ho offered Ids' arm, but Helen drew
back affrighted. Aunt Rebecca gave her
an assuring nod over Rush's1 shoulder.
Sho took tho proffered arm and they
strolled into tho lobby. But all Ids glib
ncss of speech had deserted him. He
was going to say so much, and could Bay
nothing.
Holon broko tho sllcnco by saying, in
disguised tones, "You aro not a wry
entertaining cavalier. Why don't you
mako yourself mora agreoablo, Mr.
Who shall I say?"
"I am speechless with happiness, fair
mask," ho replied. "To havo bo much
loveliness bo near mo dazzles my eyes
and paralyzes my tonguo. If you only
know 'ono half my heart would say,' to
quoto from an old song, you might think
bettor of mo."
"I have no doubt you could bo very
oloquent on any themo you chose; but I
am afraid you aro a young man of words.
You could bo just as eloquent to tho next
mask that camo along."
"On the contrary," answered Rush,
somowhtit loftily, "I would havo nothing
at all to say to another; my heart is not
largo enough for two masks."
"I have heard men protest in this way
before, but thoy havo forgotten what
thby said era tho last word loft their lips.
There was ono young man in whom I bo
llovcd, but oven ho turned out llko all tho
rest no professed tho greatest friend
ship frr me, visited mo at my house, and
wo passed many pleasant ovenings to
gether; but suddenly his visits ceased.
Without a word of warning ho stopped
coming to sec me. Our pleasant oven
ings camo to an end. Do you know why?
ITu hn.l formed a plcasanter friendship
with another young lady, and I was for
gotten." "You aro cruol; I formed no plcasant
er friendship; I havo never entertained
but tho ono feeling for you sinco tho first
tlmo I saw you," said RubIi beforo ho
know what ho was doing.
"What do you mean?" asked Helen in
tho most innocent manner, knowing per
fectly well all tho whllo. "You formed
no plcasanter acqualntaucol you havo
entertained feelings for mot This is very
mysterious. Ono expects mysteries at
masked balls, but I am moro than sur
prised at being spoken to la this way by
nn unknown mask."
"Then you don't recognlzo mo." Bald
Rush, taking somo comfort to himself in
tho thought that ho had not betrayed his
Identity after all. By this tlmo thoy
had reached tho end of tho south lobby,
and wore Jut about to retraco tholr
steps, whon Rush folt Helen's hand
tighten its grasp on his arm.
"There is that awful man," sho gasped,
as a man, walking very unsteadily, camo
out of tho directors' room, and, seeing
Helon, started forward aa if ho would
ralso hor mask. "Ah, hero's my owoot
violet," lie said, in a-thick, uncortain
voico; but, boforo tho words had fairly
loft his tonguo, Rush gavo him a quick,
sharp blow betwocn tho eyes und sent
1dm crashing up against tho door of tho
room ho hod just quitted.
"Oh, Mr. Hurlstono, what have you
done?" exclaimed Holon. in trembling
tones; "quick, tnCo mo to my aunt"
Rush thought her advico good, and at
onco acted ujion it Ho was only sorry
that ho had not taken her to her aunt in
tho first placo, and then como back alouo
and knocked tho Insolent fellow into a
cooked hat Fortunately there happonod
to bo no ono nt that end of tho lobby just
at that moment, but ho heard peoplo
coming, and was dreadfully worried for
fcar'of tho annoyanco to Helen if sho
wero discovered under bucIi circum
stances. "Como this wny," Bald sho, leading
him through tho llttlo passago way at
tho back of tho lowor tier of boxos;
"thoro is a door hero that opens on the
stago, and wo can go around nnd get to
my aunt and Mr. Archer without being
noticed. Oh, why did I como to this
dreadful place? Aunt Rebecca didn't
want mo to. Oh! if I had only listened
to horl"
Rush felt extremely mortified. "I beg
your pardon, Miss Knowlton," said he.
Ho had taken off his mask, and thoy no
longer played at mystery. "I should not
havo struck that fellow with you on my
arm, but 1 am not used to masked balls.
I don't know their etiquette, I only
know that you wero insulted, and my in
dignation got tho bettor of my judg
ment." "I forglvo you, Mr. Hurlstono," she
replied; "but I don't forgivo myself for
coming to such a place. It is a lesson I
shall never forgot Hero nro my friends,"
sho added. And Rush saw tho two la
dles and Mr. Archer and Archlo Tllling
hast "Aren't you ready to go homo yot?"
Bald Bessio. "I think it pretty dull
hero."
Thoy nil agreed to go, and Rush bade
them good night at tho door. Helon said
nothing about tho llttlo opisodoof the
lobby, and ho waa grateful to her.
After ho had seen their carriago drivo
off, Rush returned to tho lobby to seo
what had becomo of tho man ho had
knocked down. On tho way ho saw
many curious scenes among thorn tho
bluo domino wiio had first spoken to him
kissing tho bald pato of tfto general. He
was glad enough that Helon had gone.
When ho got around by tho directors'
room ho heard a loud voico proclaiming,
"I'd know tho damned rascal if I saw
him; ho took mo right betwocn tho eyes,
before I had tlmo to dof end myself, damn
himi"
Rush pressed through tho crowd. Ho
saw tho man ho had knocked down
standing witli Ids back against tho wall,
his hair rumpled and his shirt front
pretty well demoralized. A younger
man had him by tho arm, and Was evi
dently urging him to go homo. Tho
young man's back was turned to Rush,
and his figure swayed slightly as ho
tugged at tho arm of his companion.
Rush stepped up to him. "Is your
friend much hurt?" ho inquired.
"Tho colonel's not as hurt as ho Is
mad," answered tho young man, turning
around slowly, "though ho got a pretty
hard blow. Served him right; ho was
too fresh, making up to another man's
mask." And tho young man steadied
himself by tho wall as ho turnod. Rush
thought ho detected something familiar
in tho voice, though it was thick with
drink; but when tho fellow turned around
to tho light ho saw who it was.
"John!"
"Buear
And thus the brothers mot for tho
first time in New York.
CHAPTER X.
USHS
fl r s t
mooting
with his
broth or
in New
York
was not
his last
John gavo him
his address. Ho
had a gorgeous
suito of rooms
uptown, whoro
ho lodged and
took his breakfast Ho and tho colonel
dined at "Tho Club;" but it was not tho
sort of club men boast of belonging to.
Thoy callod it tho "Club" bocauso they
did not want to call it by its right name.
Tho cooking was excellent, for its pa
trons wero all judges of good eating, and
tho proprietor know that to keep thorn ho
must cater to thou- palates as woll as to
their lovo of high play.
John Hurlstono was a born epicure,
and the kitchen of "Tho Club" was qulto
as much of a temptation to him as its
gaming tables, though ho was pretty
lucky at cards, for ho had a cool head
and a quick eye. Col. Mortlmor won
much more money, however. That ho
was a card sharper John did not nuspect
at this tlmo, but ho know very woll that
he was a professional gambler, and that
tho Mutual Dividend Mining company
was ono of tho biggest games ho over
played. Tho offices of this company wore
In Pino street, near Broadway, and thoy
wore fitted up as luxuriously aa "Tho
Club." In tho latter establishment CoL
Mortimer was a silont partner. Tho min
ing company's offices were furnished in
tho heaviest black walnut (that wood waa
tho fashion then), and tho furniture and
partitions wero mado of tho eamo ma
terial and pattern. Tho company's mono
gram was carved In tho chairs and over
tho mantol pleco, it was ground in tho
glass and worked In tho door mat
There was a wholo sulto of offices
ono outside- for tho.clorks, a private ono
for CoL Mortlmor, with "President's
Room" engraved on tho nickel door
plate, another for tho "Secretary," John
Hurlstono and a largo, room, with a long
tablo down tho middlo flanked by inas
sivo chairs, for tho "Directors," A por
trait of Col. Mortimer hung over the
fireplaco, and a map of Colorado, show
ing tho situation of tho mlno, took up a
third of tho opposito wall. In a hand
somo velvet lined cabluot screwed to tho
wall between tho front windows reposod
specimens of tho ore sent oust by tho
company's engineer. What rich speci
mens thoy wero, toot Tho silver fairly
bulged out of thorn. Ono shelf of this
cablnot was dovotod to bricks of solid
silver, Whon CoL Mortimer got hold of
a doubtful Investor ho took him in fou
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