"The Bond of Silence,"

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 13781, 10 March 1919, Page 7

"The Bond of Silence ,"

By LEWIS RAMSDEN, Author of "The Word of a Soiner leigh,' ' "Red Cavalier," "Prisoners of the Council," "My Lady of the Car/ , etc.

(COPYRIGHT.)

CHAPTER I. THE FANCY DRESS BALL.

Probably there is not a reader who has not experienced, to a greater or lesser degree, that somewhat unpleasant sensation of being alone in a crowd. Because of my dozen years of wandering in the wild and solitary places of the earth, I think my own experience of this feeling must have been in the greater degree as I watched the throng of gaily-dressed dancers in the Rockton Assembly Rooms. Rockton is the fashionable suburb of Brigdon, at which port I landed only a few days previously. There was really no good reason why I should have felt myself apart, for the fancy dress ball was a public affair, and I had been induced to pay my guinea for the ticket in the sacred name of charity; also the rule of wearing half-masks had been adopted for the purpose of promoting freer intercourse.

Something, however, made me pauso •before emerging from the comparatively dark corner in which I had ensconced myself. I have often wondered upon what lines my life would have been ordered but for that fateful pauso, which led to my being caught up in th,o whirl of amazing events it is now my intention to record to the best of my ability.

The incident which caused me thus to pause was the approach of a- man whose appearance duplicated my own in a really startling manner, and a mirror near by, which allowed me to make comparison, showed me how easily one might be mistaken for the other; in fact it would be rather ditlieult to tell us apart. This likeness was mainly caused by our being garbed in the same fancy dress, a distinctive and handsome cavalier costume of red velvet. Further, there was the half-mask each wore, concealing the facial difference which tell one from the other. But there were would have made it easy, perhaps, to points of resemblance beside the dress. Like myself, he was not much abovemedium height, and his figure, like my own, was lean and muscular. Also his skin, as much of it as was shown, like mine, was browned by warmer sunshine than that of the English climate.

But though the apparent completeness of the likeness started me a little at first, it was really no mystery, and I had been on the look-out for my double, though I had hitherto caught only a, distant glimpse or so of him when the resemblance w:is not so apparent. Tho explanation was this: Having purchased my ticket only on the very day of the ball, I went fo the Rockton tailor, who, 1 was told, was supplying most of the costumes, hoping he might have something in stock which would suit me.

''I have one costume here which will do for you admirably, sir, if you caro to wear it, , ' he said, and he brought out the handsome red cavalier dress. "It was made to the order of a gentleman who happens to be as nearly as possible your own build, .sir; but by some extraordinary mistake the robemakers sent two."

'But won't the gentleman object to someone else wearing a, copy of his dress?" I asked, though rather struck by the costume.

"I think not, sir. 1 told him of the mistake, and he remarked that 1 might find another customer for it."

Returning to the appearance of my double, however, although the resemblance, aided by dress and vizard, was startling, my attention \va sdivided between him and the young lady in a charming pierette costume of white satin who was holding his arm. She was not tall, being of a height exactly suitable to that of her companion. Though evidently young, her figure was full, rounded, and of exanisite symmetry. Such of her complexion as was visible was wonderfully clear, and its warm tint proclaimed her a daughter of the sunny south. A pair of dark and very beautiful eyes shone from the velvet mask, but what .surprised mo when I caught glimpses of them was that their expression seemed to be one of terror. Both she and her cavalier appeared to be hurrying from the motley-clad throng of revellers who were now promenading between flu- dances.

And I fancied (without, of course, being able to make sure) that I could tell the direction in which the frightened looks of the beautiful pierette were travelling. It was towards the striking and .singularly handsome figure of a Jo,dy, whose fine proportions were well set off by the costume she wore, the picturesque and elaborate national costumeof Slavoni , still worn on gala occasions in that country. So tall and graceful was she, that I thought she might well have posed as the presiding goddess of that country, like the figure of Britannia on some of our own coins.

The cavalier and pierette halted in the shadow in which I stood, for I was under the gallery in which the band was stationed. Though the pair were so close to me that I could hear the few words they uttered, they seemed oblivious of my presence, and their looks wero still in the same direction.

"Do you sec her, dear?" the pierette asked in a low voice, which sounded to me as frightened as was the look in her eyes. "They must have followed \is after all. Oh, what shall we do?"

"T am afraid we must resume our travels again," said the cavalier, making an apparent effort to speak lightly. "But don't bo alarmed, Ida, darling, sho has not seen us yet, and we can bo off before sho does."

With this they disappeared by the. door under the gallery, and a few moments later I saw them hasten across the ante-room, he in a long overcoat and she in a hooded cloak, both completely concealing their fancy dress.

I now again turned ray attention to the Slavonian lady, end saw she was engaged in earnest conversation with

■>£ tall figure and distinguished appearance, dressed in a costume complementary to her own—that of a Slavonian noble. There was something- peculiar about the- style of their conversation. Of course, from that distance-, and amid the buzz of general talk, I could hear no sound from them; but the labial movements were very decided, and were sup2>lemented by signs. I wondered if one of the two was dumb.

As 1 stood watching the pair with, the interest of idle curiosity, I felt a light touch on my arm, and, turning, was startled to sec at my elbow a dainty figure, apparently that of the very pieretto who had so recently hurried away in the company of my double.

"Are you Harry " she asked breathlessly, and in a voice which I thought was singularly musical.

I snppos" it was unpardonable of me to take advantage of her mistake even for a moment, but a spirit of mischief prompted mo to do so.

"Yes, I am,"l replied with a emile. "I am Iris," she continued in the same agitated manner as before.

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"I thought you were Ida," I remarked, remembering the name I had heard the cavalier utter. "We are a good deal alike, as I suppose you know," said the young lady impatiently. "And in this dress . But I have come to warn you." "Indeed." •'Yes. Helga Sisman is here. Weren't you looking at her when I touched your arm:?" "If you mean the lady in the Slavonian costume " "Of course!" Iris interrupted, more impatiently than before. "And you know what her coming means to you and Ida. But where is Ida?" '' She has gone out," I answered with a smile, and still following that unpardonable impulse to continue the conversation. •' How can you speak so carelessly ? She will be back directly, I hope. You must know as well as I do that your only chance is to get away immediately, and that every moment of delay adds to your danger." "I am afraid you will find, it hard fo pardon me, but I have taken advantage of a coincidence, and of your very natural mistake. My name is Harry — Harry Leigh. Tho gentleman whose costume duplicated mine, together with a lady whose costume duplicated yours, have left the hall. They appeared to take alarm at sight of tho lady whom you have called Hclga, Sisman. 5 ' "You are sure they have left the building." she asked. "How long since?" "Quite ten minutes before you came." "Oh, what shall I do?" she exclaim-

"If you will allow me to make a suggestion, since you have come dressed to take part in the ball, I propose that; you will remain. May I beg that srou5 r ou will favour me with the next dance'?' .

The first bars of a waltz came floating down from the galler yabovo as I iirged my request.

She scarcely appeared to listen. Her gaze wandered towards the- striking figure of the lady in Slavonian dress. The nsomething appeared to decide Iris, though even then I suspected it was something quite impersonal so far as I was concerned.

"I will dance with you, Mr Leigh," she said gravely.