The Shasta courier., 1867-04-20
SHASTA COURIER.
From the Milwaukee Wisconsin.
A Tale of a Masquerade.

nlng that OF the Musical Society was no
exception to the general rule, and any num-
Der of funny incidents transpired.
No person failed to notice conspicuous
costume present, a gentleman dressed as a
Spanish cavalier-a very neat and tasty
dress, set off upon weli-built and athletic
frame. The gentleman, whom we shall call
x, paid particular-indeed, most devoted
attention to a pink domino. enshrouding a
sylph-like form, acting as her escort at all
times and paying no attention, worth no
ticing, to anybody else. In promenading
or in resting they were in earnest converse
ton, and the ladies. who could not fail to
notice them, thought he must be duck of
fellow to pay so much attention, while the
gentlemen thought she must be divine little
angel to listen so devotedly to all his soft
things, Perhaps both of them were Just
what they had the credit Of being.
The cavalier was a legal gentlemen of
our city, and the pink domino was-no
matter who just now.
The gentleman is married and has a small
family. He loves his wife, but people do
whisper that sometimes he loves other peo-
pies Just as much. The cavalier proposed
some time since to go to the ball, but his
wife insisted that her health was not very
crowd present she would not go-to her,
masquerades were very tedious affairs at
best. That X. was delighted with the de.
termination there is no doubt. He did not
say so, however, but the day his wife decided
not to 20 be met in company young and
pretty widow, and in the heat of the excite
ment he asked her to accompany him to the
masquerade. The widow was possessed of
bosom full of fun, and she consented to 90.
X. fitted her out with costume and pink
domino, and as every body saw, who noticed
it, very pretty and very expensive. Now.
in concluding to go, the widow had some
object in view, evidently, for yesterday, so
runs the story, she saw y. go away from
home, when she sought the presence of his
wife and told her the whole story, and in
conclusion she said:
Now you've heard the whole thing
That good for nothing husband of yours has
been paying too many attentions to me of
late, and | do not like it. If you are
woman of spirit you will play trick Oh him
for this, and if you are not why I'll-Tll-
Just 90 with him to the masquerade, and |
will firt with him all the evening Just as
hard as ever / know how" 1t is presumed
the wife was not woman of spirit, for last
evening about nine O'Clock carriage drove
up to the widows house, and Spanish
cavalier, very gentlemanly, very devotedly,
and very love like, assisted domino into it
and it drove to Music Hall. r.-
At the hall the couple paid little attention
to the funny scenes about them. If they
laughed at all it was at their own wit
Prying eyes tried hard to find out who they
were. They sauntered about until tired
They took refreshments and occasionally a
glass of wine. They made no attempts to
peep beneath each others masques, for it
was evident they knew each other well. At
all times the cavalier seemed whispering the
softest things to the domino, and a close
observer might have seen that occasionally
the words were very soft, for they made the
fair domino start and tremble Just a little, but
she seemed to have good control of herself
but there is no doubt that could her face have
been seen, there would have been traces of
bushes
1t was not a very late hour when the cav
alier and domino had disappeared from the
scene When the masques were removed at
II O'Clock anxious ones were looking to see
who the couple were, but they were gone,
and all were disappointed. Let US follow
them to the house of the widow, where they
drove in haste, the cavalier very happy, very
talkative, and almost beside himself with
joy-the domino very quiet and very re-
served. They were shown into the drawing
room. where the domino throws herself upon
q lounge. The cavalier steps forward to
turn up the gas little, but a pleasant voice
says, " l will do it for you, Mr.. H." and
the room is abiaze with the light. The
voice was that of the young widow, and the
blaze of the light showed the lawyer leaning
upon chair, perfectly aghast with astonish-
ment, looking from the widow to the domino.
yet unable to utter word.
why, what is the matter with Mr.. X ~
asked the widow, you look astonished. |
expected you, and have been waiting for you
some time. Your wife told me she would
come here.'
MY wife !" gasped the cavalier.
I" Yes, your wife. Why, what is the mat
ter with you? Are you unwell p
The cavalier scarce seemed to know wheth-
er he was unwell or not. lie turned to the
domino. She had removed her masque, and
he saw his wife sitting before him. His
astonishment was greater than before. Still
he could say nothing. The wife was toe
indignant to speak. The widow came to the
relief of both.
80 l tell you what it is, Mr.. X" she said
" Y ou We one of the best women in the world
for wife, and you abuse her worse than any
man | ever knew. | just wish was in heI
place for about five minutes"
The cavalier looked as if he wished moth
ing of the kind. The widow went on.
q You insulted me in asking me to 90 with
you. If had a big brother able to whiT
you he should have done it, and if it had
not been that o woman cannot do these
things, | would have done it myself. You
deserved it any way, you-you agly monster
As could not do it, l told your wife, and
We determined to punish you, and L CUES:
YOU have had pretty good lesson, and one
which will last you some time. know. by
the way your poor wife bushes, you have
said all sorts Of insulting things to her
thinking it was me !; but it wasn't. and
guess you have found it all out. You've
had your lesson now 90 home, and if | evel
hear of your negleeting your wife again OIL
running off after other women I'll tell the
whole story, and have it published in tht
papers, with your name in great big type
oh you big monster, you ~
Poor y. was suffering terribly. He had
never been caught so fairly before. The
perspiration was pouring down his forehead
and the air of the room seemed terribly con
fined. He mentally cursed masquerades
dominos, bewitehing widows and his OWE
>stupidity, and it was a relief when his wife
who evidently felt that he had been punish
ed sufficiently. intimated that they had better
go home, and the poor cavalier skunk away