Hearts and Masks

one obliged to force with clamor and blaring trumpets and glittering gorgets the drawbridge and portcullis. Rather the pathway lies through one of those many little doors, obscure,

nor caution, nor practicality; nor does her eye linger upon the dullard and the blunderer. Imagination solv

omething in be

guided by impulse rather than by reason; reason is always so square-toed and impulse is always so alluring. You will find that nearly all the great captains were and are creatu

shouldn't have made the acquaintance of the police in that pretty little suburb over in New Jersey; nor should I have met the

e evening, were either busily occupied with shopping or were out of town; and I determined not to go to the club and be bored by some indifferent billiard player. I would dine quietly, listen to some light music, and then go to the theater. I was sear

onds was giving a farewell dinner at the Waldorf, prior to her departure to Europe, interested my curiosity not in the least degree. It would be all the same to me if she never came back. None of the wishy-washy tittle-tattle interested me, in fact. There was

es and one to the gentlemen. Charming idea, wasn't it? These cards were to be shown at the door, together with ten dollars, but were to be retained by the recipients till two o'clock (supper-time),

what an i

e of those great country clubs that keep open house the year round. It stood back from the sea about four miles and was within five miles of the village. There was a f

jail, or securely inside. I had frequently dined with him at the club during the summer, and he had offered to put me up; but as I knew no one intimately but himself, I explained the futility of such action. Besides, my hors

eized me. For I determined to attend that dance, happen what might. It would be

n in a month of moons. Sometimes the word handsome seems an inferior adjective. She was beautiful, and her half-lidded eyes told me that she was anywhere but at Mouquin's. What a head of hair! Fine as a spider's web, and the dazzling yellow of a wheat-field in a sun-shower! The irregularity of her features made them

restaurant. Nobody interfered, doubtless because nobody knew exactly what to do in the face of such an act, for which no adequate laws had been provided. A waiter stood solemnly at the end of the table, scratching his chin thoughtfully, wondering whether he should report this peculiarity of constitution and su

litter in his eye that he was a confirmed player of solitaire. The girl, however, still appeared to be in a dreaming state. I have

red this most propitious; hearts being my long suit in everything but love,-love having not yet crossed my path. I put

em away. Tell m

her palms, and the light in her grey chatoyant eyes was wholly innocent and mischievous. In Monsieur Mouquin's cellar people are rather

tune?" I repea

es

e accurately than I can," I replie

lieved you wouldn't say anything so commonplace as that. When one sees a man soberly

u caught me off m

witness this performance in a public

say I hav

no more

ou do it?"-with

tell your

her you would tell me th

ecret society, and I was cutting the cards to see whether or not I should blow

m the table. "You do not l

ances are so decep

I laughed; and I wasn't quite sure that the grave

mest girl I had set eyes

he fatal card?" inquired th

card in secret societies. There is something dead

dee

. We push a king off into the dark, and another rises immediately in his place. Futility, futility everywhere! If only th

" said

aid the amiabl

is too short fo

." (So the old gentleman was t

at times," I explained. "The police ar

serious," said the girl shrewdly. "A

g them; I sent

simply to attract attention

dime-museum," I suggested, willing to help

folding her hands under her chin. "It must be a

; but in the summer it is fine. Then I wander

lated the old gentleman, coughing a

"-repro

is a charm in doing unconventional things; and

evidently enjoying herself; so was I, for that mat

the cards,-not if my life had depended upon it. B

tricks out of

en cents; I want to see him

the affair, dived into a pocket and produced th

your while," the girl said, s

to slide under; I

ied a trick out of turn, I might foozle and lose prestige. And besides, I depend so much upon the professor and his introductory notes: 'Ladies a

gly. "That's Italia

museum visitors do not. I

slid the dime ba

u are an impos

, too," I conf

aside the cards and proceeded to attack my dinner, for I was hungry. From time

he old gentleman; "you will g

ation,-a flash of old Rome, where I wish I

eading romantic novels,"

icle of romance on your side of

s peace in the ho

argue

be wasting my time. I am simply warning

made up

es up her mind to do one thing, she generally does another. Why

Paris, Rome, London and

traveled yo

ur favorite o

ight,"-wh

omes of your folly, I did my best to prevent it. It's a sc

are of myself

been forced to

what it wa

I am becoming so

icots verts. (The girl ate positively nothing.) "But it seems odd t

only t

oulders rose and

s an answe

ou everything that h

when a man's brain is without invention or coherency of thought! I would

o little

re in a week than your father and I do

l of paints; I h

you hate your

d to a living. The p

n folks, eh? Must have ki

ad, and you and father wi

fashion. She was evidently an artist's model; and when they have hair and color like this girl's, the

Blankshire either at ten or ten-thirty. That would be early enough for my needs. And now to route out a costume

oked up fro

dime-museum?"

minutes to s

rgot to ask you w

he ten of

" Her amazement was

f hearts; Cupid

d her compos

t blow up the pos

plied, "no

d my curiosity. Tell me, what doe

r. Had I truly mystified her? T

that I am about to set forth upon a desperate adventure, and I sh

ot look d

; it is only the advent

villain to smite? Citadels to storm

that this adventure was merely to prove to myself what

trouble of prov

gh to have some doub

er it p

am neither a positive ass nor a s

hat is the thing that

ich I should hesitate to

,"-and she turned carelessly toward her uncle, who was s

her regretting that I had not the pleasure

ed to have startled her for

Bonds. By this time she was being very well tossed about in mid-ocean. As the old order of yarn-spinners used to say, l

(Whatever t