X
THE
Masquerade
uar unnsnnas baggestions
Vu
y
By KATHERINE CECIL THURSTON,
Author of "The Circle," Etc.
Copyright, 1003. 1004, by Harper Brothers
"What lmvo you been doing?" she
asked after n moment. "I thought I
wis quite forgotten." Slio moved
nwoss to thi' couch, picked up the kit
ten mid kissed It. "iKii't this swcotV"
she added.
She looked very graceful as bhe turn
ed, holding the little auluial up. She
was a woman of twenty-seven, but she
tanked a girl. The outline of her face
wis pure, the pale gold of her hair
nlmosl ethereal, and her tall, slight
figure still suggested the suppleness,
he possibility of future development.
Hint belong to youth. She wore a lace
colored gown that harmonized with
the room and with the delicacy of her
Hfcin.
"Now sit down and rest or walk
about the room. I shan't inliiil which."
Hlie nestled Into the couch and picked
H the crystal ball.
"What Is the toy for?" Chllcote
looked at her from the mantelpiece,
against which he was resting. He had
never defined the precise attraction
that Lillian Astrupp held for him.
Her shallowness soothed hlni; her in
consequent egotism helped hlni to for
got himself. She never asked him
how he was, she never expected Im
possibilities. She let him come and go
Mid act as he pleased, never demand
tag reasons. Like the kitten, she was
harming and graceful and easily
amused. It was possible that, also like
the kitten, she could scratch and be
iplteful on occasion, but that did not
weigh with him. He sometimes ex
pressed u vague envy of the late Lord
Astrupp, but even had circumstances
permitted It is doubtful whether he
would have chosen to be his successor.
Lillian as a friend was delightful, but
LUUnu as u wife would have been a
different consideration.
"What Is the toy for?" ho asked
ngaln.
She looked up slowly. "How cruel
of you, .Tnck! It Is my very latest
hobby." ,
It was part of her attraction that she i
iras never without a craze. Each new '
one was as fleeting as the last, but to
v.ich she brought the same delightfully
Insincere enthuslnsm, the same pictur
esque devotion. Each was a pose, but
die posed so sweetly that nobody lost .
patience. j
"You mustn't laugh!" she protested,
kiting the kitten slip to the grouuil
"I've had lessons at C guineas eacl,
from the most fascinating person
professional and I'm becoming quit
n adept. Of course I haven't been
much beyond the milky nppearauco
jot, but tho milky appearance Is every
tiling, you know. The rest will come.
I am trying to persuade Blanche to let
mo have a pavilion nt her party In
March and gaze for all you dull polltl-'
cl people." And she smiled. I
Chllcote smiled as well. "How Is It
loue?" ho asked, momentarily amused.
"Oh, tho doing Is quite delicious. You
rtt at n table with the ball In front of
you. Then you take tho subject's
hauds, spread them out on the tablo
.and stroke them very softly while you
gaze Into the crystal. That gets up
he sympathy, you know." She looked
Innocently. "Shall I show you?"
Chllcote moved a small tnble nearer
to the couch and spread his hands upon
t, palms downward. "Like this, eh?"
ho said. Then a ridiculousness seized
kirn, and ho moved away. "Some other
lay," ho said quickly. "You can show
roe some other day. I'm not very fit
this afternoon."
If Lillian felt any disappointment she
flowed none. "Poor old thing!" she
raid softly. "Try to sit hero by me
and wo won'v bother about anything."
She made a place for hlni beside her,
and as he dropped Into it she took his
Wind nnd patted It sympntlietlcally.
The touch was soothing, nud lib bore
t patiently enough. After a moment
ho lifted the hand with a little es
timation of reproof.
"You degenerate person! You havo
sensed to manicure. What has becomo
of my excellent training?"
Chllcoto Inughed. "Hun to seed," ho
wild lightly. Then his expression and
one changed. "When a man gets to
my age," ho added, "little social luxu
ries don't seem worth while. The so
cial necessities arc Irksome enough,
rcrsonnlly I envy tho beggar In the
BtToot exempt from shaving, exempt
from washing"
Lillian raised her dellcato eyebrows.
Tho sentiment was beyond her percep
tion. "But manicuring," sho said reproach
fully, "when you havo such nice hands.
It was your hands and your eyes, you
know, that first appealed to me." She
ulghed gently, with a touch of seutl
mental remembrance. "And I thought
It so strong of you not to wear rings.
It must be such a temptation." She
looked down at her own fingers, gilt
terlng with Jewels.
But tho momentary pleasure of her
touch was gone. Chllcote drew away
his hand and picked up the book that
lay between them.
"Other Men's Shoes,'" he read. "A
novel, of course V"
Sho smiled. "Of course. Such a fan
tastlc story two men changing idem I
ties!"
Chllcote rose and walked back to the
mantelpiece.
"Changing identities," he said, with
a touch of Interest.
"Yes. One man Is an artist, the oth
er a millionaire. One wants to know
what fame Is like, the other wants to
know how It feels to be really sinfully
rich. So they exchange experiences
for a month." She laughed.
Chllcote laughed as well, "nut how?"
he asked.
"Oh. 1 told you the Idea was absurd.
Fancy twp people so much alike that
neither their friends nor their servants
see niiy difference! Such a tiling
couldn't be. could It?"
Chllcote looked down at the fire
"No." he said doubtfully. "No. I sup
pose not."
"Of course not. There are likenesses,
but not freak likenesses like that."
Chllcote's head was bent as he spoke,
but at the last words ho lifted It.
"By Jove! I don't know about that!"
he said. "Not so very long ago I saw
two men so 'much alike that I I"
Ho stopped.
Lillian smiled.
He colored quickly. "You doubt me?"
he asked.
"My dear Jack!" Her voice was del
icately reproachful,
"Then you think that my my Im
agination has been playing me tricks?"
"My dear boy! Nothing of the kind.
Come bnck to your placo and tell me
the whole tale?" Sho smiled ngaln, and
patted the couch Invitingly.
But Chllcote's balance had been up
set. For the first time he saw Lillian
as one of tho watchful, suspecting
crowd before which he was constantly
on gunrd. Acting on the sensation, he
moved suddenly toward the door.
"I I have an appointment at tho
house," he said quickly. "I'll look In
another day when when I'm better
rompuny. I know I'm a bear today.
My rcrvos, you know." Ho came back
o the couch nnd took her hand. Then
" 'Other Men's Shoes,' " he rend.
ho touched her cheek for an Instant
with his fingers,
"Ooodby," ho said. "Take care of
yourself and tho kitten," ho added
with forced gayety, as ho crossed the
room.
That afternoon Chllcote's nervous
condition reached Its height. All day
he had avoided tho climax, but no
evasion can be eternal, and this he
realized as- ho sat in his place on the
opposition benches during the half
hour of wintry twilight that precedes
the turning on of the lights. Ho real
ized It In that half hour, but the appli
cation of the knowledge followed later,
when tho tlmo came for him to ques
tion tho government on some point re
lating to the proposed additional dry
dock nt Talkloy, the naval base. Then
for tho first tlmo ho knew thnt tho suf
ferings of tho past months could hnvo
n visible ns well as a hidden side could
disorganize his dally routine as they
had already demoralized his will aud
chnrncter.
Dress Goods
mxzmiDL&swnBBia
KfismvxMssszam
( PHa'tfi
I ml
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ca m
iwvmmm h
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.'Winch UnirUool Dress Goods nt,
.'111 inen All Wool Dr ss (J.ods at.
.'Id-inch All Wool Serges, at
Ilil-ilieli All Wool Venetian Dress Goods, at .
C1 inch All Wool Dress Goods, u bargain nt,
fil-ineli A'l Wool Dress floods, heavy
1 1-inch Cieani White Cashmeie, nt
20c
35c
GOc
GOc
GOc
60c
SOc
m&tof.
nwiyr&.mz7JZ'.xj v $ .& 'i
And a host of others
we will he pleased to
show yon if you call.
This month's Buttcrick Patterns
10c and 15c none higher.
Hajridhoigs
'hlldron's lludli-it." i , assorted colors til 2." cents.
Indies' Muck llnulliuir. 2 outside and I tnsido pocket, nt 2 c.
Bet' er guide tlim 'In .ibovo, with coin purse, oOo and 7iV.
(ioiiiilne Le ttlier II .inlbiiL' with curl case, com piuso and
in in or, at. 1 .2 , SiiO.
Alligator LeaUi. i Handlings at $1 :.0, !!.()() and 2 f0.
Lizard Skin Handbags nt it! 00.
ars
Turnover Collar-, oinbroi.lorcd in all
wliitu, at 10.'.
Turnover Collars, embroidered in
Colored Silks, at 2.ic.
Lnco Collars, white or black, 'jr, to f0o.
Beautiful Lace and Ribbon Collars
at. HOC.
Combs
In Side and Back Combs wo have u
nice assortment.
Side Combs at Ifi and 120c.
Side aud Back Combs to match ut. ISOe,
10 nud f0e, plain colors and gray
finish.
Sterling Silver Mounted Sido and
Back Combs at W.00.
Back Combs in Sterling Silver and
Gold Filled Mountings, $1 to $2.f.O.
36-in. black Taffeta Silk, $1
Heavy all-silk Velvet, $1.15
Handkerchiefs j For Your Wife
('liildt oil's Pict.iuo llaudkorchier.s at
le and lie.
Ladies' I leinst itched Linen Handker
chiefs, fin to 2fi.
Ladles' Hemstitched Handkerchiefs,
with lace border, at l()c.
Ladles Hemstitched Handkerchiefs,
embroidered center, nL2.rK5.
Ladies' Initial Hemstitched, at 10c.
(JenU1 Initial Hemstitched at lfio.
Gloves
Golf Gloves for both Ladies and
Gents, assorted uolors, 2To and fiOe.
Ladies Jersey Wool Gloves, liooco
lined, at 50e.
or Lady Friend
Nothing is more appropriate
1 ban Fancy Silk Stockings.
They like them. We carry
all kinds.
Tliroo handsome DOLLS will bo
given away on December 24. Coupon
with every fi()c purchase.
I. NEWHOUSE, U (
mmmmmm mmmmmmmmm mmm
H iH -Imt m
Cloud, Mr. j
The thing came upon him with ex
traordinary lack of preparation. lie sat
through the twilight with tolerable
calm, his nervousness showing only in
the occasional lifting of his hand to
his collar and the frequent changing
of his position, but when the lights
were turned on nnd ho leaned back In
his sent with closed eyes he became
conscious of a curious Impression a
disturbing Idea that through his closed
lids he could sco tho faces on the op
posite sldo of tho house, see the rows
of eyes, sleepy, interested or vigilant.
Never before hnd tho sensation pre
sented Itself, but once set up It ran
through all his susceptibilities. By an
absurd freak of fancy thoso varying
eyes seemed to plerco through ills lids,
almost through his eyeballs. The cold
perspiration that was his daily horror
broke out on his forehead, and at the
same moment Fralde, his leader, turn
ed, leaned over tho back of his seat
and touched his knee.
Chllcote started and opened his eyes.
"I I believe I was dozing," he said
confusedly.
Fralde smiled his dry, kindly smile.
"A fatal admission for a member of
tho opposition," ho said. "But I was
looking for you earlier in the day,
Chllcote. There Is something behind
this r'ersinn affair. I believe It to be
a mere first move on Russia's part.
You big trading peoplo will flud It
worth watching."
Chllcote shrugged his shoulders. "Oh,
I don't know," ho said. "I scarcely
believe In It. Lnkely put a match to
the powder In the St. George's, but
'twill only bo a noise and a puff of
smoke."
But Fralde did not smile. "What Is
tho feeling down nt "Wark?" he asked.
"Has it awakened nny Interest?"
"At Wark? Oh, I-I don't qulto
know. I havo been a little out of
touch with Wark In tho hist few
weeks. A man has so many prlvato
affairs to look to" He was uneasy
under his chief's scrutiny.
Frnlde's lips parted as If to make re
ply, but with a certain dignified rotl-
1 cenco ho closed them ngaln nnd turned
away.
Chllcoto leaned back In his place nnd
furtively pnsscd his hand over his fore
head. Ills mind was possessed by 0110
consideration tho consideration of
(Continued ou Pab Six.)
A Splendid Premium
100 Eight-Day Clocks
. .To Be Given Away. .
Wo want to add 1,000 now subscribers to The Ciiikf's list boforo tho
first of February, 1007, nnd to that end wo make tho offer below. Thoro
will bo no disappointed contestants. Tiiis is a plain business proposition
and every school district, ovory church society, ovory lodgo and ovory
individual can socuro one of thoso splendid Regulators by sending in
ton now yearly subscriptions. Tho retail prico of tiiis Clock is $7.00.
Description of the
Clock
Height 157 inches.
Width 15?.f inches.
Dial, diatuoter 12 inches.
Ciiso Golden Oak.
Retail prico $7.00.
Tin: Ciui;k has made arrangements
for procuring 100 of tho abovo hand
some eight-day Regulators, and thoy
will bo given away absolutely free,
upon the following plan:
Enoh porson sending in 10 now year
ly subscriptions to The Chief will be
entitled to 0110 of tho clocks.
Ench porson sonditig in 15 ronowaln
to January 1, 1003, will bo ontltlod to
ono of tho clocks.
Nobody barrodl School districts,
'churches, secrot societies and individ
uals are entitled to ontor tho raco.
Address all communications to
THE CHIEF PUBLISHING CO.,
Red Cloud, Nebraska.
'H
