The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-08-03
TALE OF A MASQUERADE.


uous costume present, a gentleman dress
ed as Spanish cavalier-a very neat
and athletic frame The gentleman,
whom we shall call X, paid particular
indeed must devoted attention to pink
domino enshrouding a sylph- like form,
acting as her escort at all times, and pay
ing no attention worth noticing to any
body else. In promenading or in resting
they were in earnest conversation, and
the ladies, who could not fail to notice
him, thought she must be divine little
angel to listen so devotely to all his soft
things. Perhaps both of them were just
what they had the credit
The cavalier was legal gentleman 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 the wives of other people just as
much. The cavalier proposed some time
since to 60 to the ball, but his wife in
sisted that her health was not very good,
and there was to be something Of crowd
present, she would not go-to her, mas
querades were tedious affairs at best
That X. was delighted with the determ-
Ifnation there is no doubt He did not
say so, however; but the day his wife
decided not to 60 he met in company a
young and pretty widow, and in the heat
of the excitement, asked her to accom-
pany him to the masquerade The wild
ow was possessed of a bosom full of fun
and she consented to 60. X. fitted her out
with costume and pink domino, and,
as everybody saw who noticed it very
pretty and expensive. Now, concluding
to go, she had some object in view evi
IDENTIFY, for yesterday, so runs the story,
she saw X. 60 away from home, when
she sought the presence of his wife and
told her the whole story, and in conclu-
sion 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 a
trick on him for this, and if you are not
why. I'll-rll 60 with him to the mas
querade and 1 will firt with him all
the evening just as hard as ever / know
how"
1t is presumed that the wife was not a
woman ofspirit, for last evening about
ten clock carriage drove up to the
widows house, and a Spanish cavalier
very devotedly and very lover like as
sisteda domino into it, and drove to
Music Hall.
At the hall the couple paid little stten-
tien to the funny scenes about them. If
they laughed at all, it was at their own
wit Prying eyes tried to find out who
they were. They sauntered about until
tired. They took refreshments ana octa-
sionally glass of wine They made no
attempt to peep beneath each others
masks, for it was evident they knew each
other well. At all times tie cavalier
seemed whispering the softest things to
the domino. and 4 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 over
herself; but there is no doubt that could
her FACE have been seen there would have
been traces of bushes.
1t was very late hour when the cava
lier and domino had disappeared from
the scene. When the masks were re-
moved at twelve O'Clock, anxious ones
were looking to see who the people were
but they had gone and all were disap-
pointed. Let us follow them to the house
of the widow, where they drove in haste
the cavalier very happy, very talkative.
and almost besides himself with joy
the domino very quiet and reserved.
They were shown into the drawing room,
the domino throws herself upon lounge
The cavalier steps forward to turn up
the gas a little. but pleasant voice, 81
will do it for you, Mr. " and the room
was ablaze with light. The voice was
that of the young widow, and the blaze Of
light showed the lawyer leaning upon a
chair perfectly aghast with astonishment
looking at the domino yet unable to ut
ter word.
"Why, what ls the matter with Mr. X !?
asked the widow "you look astonished
l expected you, and have been waiting
for you for some time. Your wife told
me she would come here"
"My wife, gasped the cavalier
Eyes your wife. Why, what is the
matter with you? Are you unwell?
The cavalier scarce seemed to know
whether he was unwell or not He turn
ed to the domino. She removed her
mask, and he saw his wife sitting before
him. Still he could say nothing. The
wife was too indignant to speak. The
widow came to the relief of both.
II tell you what it is, Mr.. X" she said
"you've one of the best women in the
world for a wife, and you abuse her
worse than, any man ever knew. just
wish was in her plate for about five
minutes"
The cavalier looked as if he wish
ed nothing of the kind. The widow
went on:
"You insulted ne in asking me to go
with you If l had a big brother able to
whip you, he should have done it, and
if it had not been that a woman cannot
do any of those things, ] would have
done it myself You deserve it any way
you ugly monster. As l could not
do it, I told your wife. and we determin.
ed to punish you, and | guess you had a
pretty good lesson, and one which will
last you some time l know by the way
your wife bushes you have said all sorts
of insulting things to her, thinking it was
but it wasn't, land guess you have found
it all out. You've had your lesson; now
90 home, and if ever l hear of you neg
lecting your wife again Or. running off
after other women, I'll tell the whole
story, aud have it published in the Advo
cate, with your name in great big type
o. you big monster.
Poor X. 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