the short sleeves. The hem of the skirt fell to the tips of her
white satin shoes.

As Olga entered she gave one glance at Karl and then moved away from
him, and stood beside the table at which she and Millar had been seated.
She saw the wild rage stamped on his face, and her woman's intuition
made her know that Millar had told him what she had divined he meant.
The situation frightened her, and she felt on the point of fleeing from
the room or casting aside the cloak; but she resolved to see the game
through.

Karl stared at her, rage giving place to amazement, then to despair. For
full a minute no one spoke. The music floated in softly from the
ballroom, mingled with the hum of voices and laughter. Olga was the
first to break the stillness, but she did not look at him as she spoke.

"Karl, this is the first time I have had a chance to talk with you
to-night," she said.

"What is that?" Karl absently asked.

He had not heard; his mind was confused, bewildered. Millar, cynically
misunderstanding his question, said quickly:

"Why, that is an opera cloak."

Olga turned quickly, fearful that the remark might cause an eruption
which she could not control. She cried impulsively, seeking to divert
the threatening train of conversation:

"The ball is a great success. Every one is merry; every one dances as if
it were the first affair of the season. The girls are all as happy as
young widows who have just taken off mourning."

"I have observed it," Millar agreed with enthusiasm. "It is splendid.
But why is Karl so sad amid all this merry-making?" he added.

"Why are you sad, Karl?" Olga asked, turning to him.

"I sad? You are silly," Karl cried with forced gayety. "I never felt
happier in all my life."

There was a touch of hysteria in his voice that made Olga's heart go out
to him.

"I am glad you are having such a good time," she said.

"Yes, yes; I feel like a schoolboy," Karl cried wildly; "like a young
tiger. I'm mad with joy. I will get drunk to-night. I will drink, drink
drink until the angels in heaven sing to me--as you said this
afternoon," he added, turning to Millar.

"No, no, Karl," Olga pleaded, thoroughly frightened. "Why, you never
drank. Why should you drink to-night?"

"Because I am doing things to-night I never did before," Karl replied
bitterly. "I have never been engaged before; to-night I shall be
engaged."

"Good! fine, Karl," Millar exclaimed. "She is a splendid girl."

"Splendid