The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-02-16

AN EPISODE IN A MAsaUERADE.
woman's wit and Mans FOlIy.!-The
g" Merry Wives OF Chicago.

Il
woman,s wit and Mans FolIy.-T The
% Merry Wives of ChIeago.
EEon, the chicago Republican Of Wednesday,
The jolly old masqueradeilast Mon
day night was the scene of a great
many funny incidents, which are grad
unlly manifesting themselves as the
sufferers forget their wrath in their
sense of humor, and tell the tale OF
their woes 10 an applauding circle OF
friends. AS one of these sweet stories,
which we heard from theElips OF the
martyr himself, we propose to relate,
not wisely, perhaps, but pretty well.
Before the ball, fessrs. a and y. let
us call them, gentlemen who have
mighty high seats in The synagogue of
blessed wives that it was their inten-
ton to visit Turner Hall and stay out
late o. nights. There was no necessity,
said they, for their spouses to sit up.
They would come home in good state,
and would not complain of the mislay-
ing of key-holes: This was all very
honest tand very pretty, but we all know
that not man in Chicago could have
told his madam that he was to be out
late on Monday night, ION business,
You know, my dear, but what she
would have understood where he was
actually going So after tender marital
kisses they parted, the husbands to jo-
SuAu sPSA e7S "AtS !" - " t'SSeASHs@A s w
tea. .ht;g tf - = u}.. -
Now Mr.. A was the most yictimized
one-in the transaction. and we shall
therefore speak of his history most full
ly.f He wandered about, the hall un-
mas ked save pasteboard dnose, and un-
accompanied, pinched by black yisaged
misses, struck on the back by clowns,
boisterouslyS accosted by men whose
rucdy hosessmacke ed of deep potations,
| offended by the garlicky breath of the
Lady of Shalott, hand-shaken by shep-
herdesSeS and counteSSeS, trnmpled on
by Indians, and apologized to by grim
Chinese, until he reached the north
side of the. room, where he reclined
self against pillar after the fashion of
Lord Lara, SO nice and gay, crossed his
arms, perked his chin, and felt sntis-
fed. But while in this beattitude a fe-
male passed beside him, slowly, with a
hesitant step. Her face was turned to-
upon him. PLEASED by this not uncom-
mon tribute to his charms, he winked
at her with his left eye, sir, and she
wnved her iewelled hand in responsive
soft confession. She fluttered her white
kerchief, bowed her head, and moved
slowly off Doubtful how far the Ii
cense of the occasion would bear him
out, he followed her at respectful dis
tance, and as nearly as we can make
out the meaning of that mysterious
phrase, in this instance it meant at
arms length. When the twain had
shouldered their way to the other side
of the room she renewed very coyly but
says he, nthis is love at first sight,
| first. born, and heir to- all.piI So he
walked up to her and spoke her fair.
Precisely what he said we have no
means of Judging, but from his busi-
ness we conclude it must have been
flowery. He did not misdoubt but that
she was as good as, wheat, and seduc-
tive as old rye. Mr.. A has an indis-
tinct recollection of drawing largely on
Tennyson and Tom Moore, and of hav-
ing been on the verge of comparing her
to the Yelled Prophet of Khorassan-
but didn't. Still every one knows what
it's customary to say on such occasions,
and he knows the mute replies, the tap
of fan, or light pressure of sandals
ed toe. He offered his arm, and they
promenaded. He pressed her hand,
and was triumphantly conscious that
the pressure was most uneauiyocally
returned. t'cSad,i = said ne 10 hitnSnif,
"this is getting interesting. Let's do
little LothRrio. 1 will not cease from
this my quest, but like the birds, gay
natures happy commoners, rifle these
sweets,n Heasked her would she gay
ly trip it, hut she declined to trip just
then. BE sought her address, but she,
IN HuOW1 SA1$AT
ture, p says he, "we must give her con-
fidence.T So he took her up to the sup
per room and stood Sam noblYl to the
extent of a bottleiof champagne. How
she drank it masked we don't know,
| but suppose there was some ar
rangementT-hke that the girls got
up for Don Quixote once, and as
| the juice of the grape went into her
blood, her eyes flashed at him most be-
witchingly, their feet strayed toward
one another; but we forbear,-suthce 1t
that the dog grew in1pudent, and she
quite tolerant. He requested that he
might take her home, and she consent
ed. He desired to make an appointment
to meet her at half past nine the next
night, en- tout 6ieIl, tout honneuT, he told
her, and the jade. nodded her will
lingness. He grew expansive;. he
contemplated this conquest of his bow
and spear with great pride; gave her his
address, and in a neat little speech of
fered her his heart, his hand Belonging
to somebody else, his wife in fact. as
| gooda woman as ever lived, but a stu
| bid, innocent creature-no romance in
| her-quite unworthy of such wayward
and Joyous child OF nature as himself.
The lady tacitly conceded. SO they
promenadediS iSomeaLnore, and his arm
stole occasionally around her waist,
and fingered there lovingly. Oh, he
was very happy. He would begin a
virgin page of his existence, he would
| indeed! Good bye dull sstoil, welcome
the infinity of bliss with this sweet Sad
ducee at his side. Ln
when the charm was to end and all the
motley throng-motley's the only wear,
YOU know-were to unmask, when the
spell was to be broken, and Indians
and Magi, and Gnomes and Afrites dire
| become ordinary Inortals. Then madam
became Just us anxious as a poor
| little Cinderella once upon a time
It's true, she could not have feared to
see her horses changeinto rats and mice
and such small deer, ,forthem she already
bad |; but for whatever cause, she want
ed to- GO home. OF they started over
on the East Side, and his attention was
ere long drawn to the fact that this lady
must live in his direction. The streets
\ she took were those he daily trod but
| his wonderment grew when she turned
| into his own street, sailed to his own
4 door, mounted the steps with all the
airs of mistress-ship, turned round, un,
yelled, and we. are sure Kehama would
not have shocked him more. TWAS MS
4 mink. He did not with all the self-pos-
| session of Sir Harry Wildair spring for
ward, clasp his Angelica inlhis arms,
| and rain frequent kisses on her pouted
| lips; but he drew a deep breath, and
4 with characteristic generosity remark
| ed, sAIy dear girl, do go down town
1 early tomorrow morning, buy any
thing you please, and send the bill TO
I me-" This modified the jovials dame,
humorsome in her fancies as Mistress
| Anne Page herself, and she not only
1 relented, but like an, honest woman
/ kept her appointment last night:
The other gentleman, Mr.. B, was ike