The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-03-09
IDAHO WORLD.
vYha BLACK DOMINO
THE MASKED BALL.

overs Spain, neT Couit iui v
and her people only too glad to lml'
tate the aristocratic example. The gay.
est Of all the gay scenes was enacted
at the annual masked balls which the
oneen, gave in. her own palace. 1t was
at one of these that old Prince Grum.
boff. who had married a young and
beautiful princess of the royal family
illustrated the customs of the day by
coSf1ipIa aiding to- Don Julian, one of the
gallants of the time, of the jealousy Of
Count Horace Masserena, young and
handsome cavalier who had found sud
den favor at court ard had been rapid
~ promoted to a secretaryship. The
old prince was comparatively at his
ease on the particular evening, as nc
had left his wife at home in a sick bed
and he agreed to come to Don Jullans
bachelor apartments after the ball, and
at least secure the revenge OF beating
the young secretary at cards.
Don Julian, finding Horace, reproach'
ed him for intriguing with Princess
Grumbof when he was so soon to De
married,-for an excellent match had al
ready been planned for the rising
Young man. }fIffH 3-}Jli
aThat marriage will never take
place. said Horace; but you are wrong
in supposing that ! am in love with
Grumbofps wife. have never so much
as seen her." = IL
aThen why will the marriage never
take place?" asked Julian.
because / am infatuated with an
other. 49, I'll, tell you about it.. just
one year agoao-night, at this same ball,
a lady in a black domino dropped her
mask and I abeheld the most lovely face
in the world, She was accompanied by
a companion who remained masked. !
approached the lady, Of course, and
was-even more charmed with her con
versation and manners than with her
face. She was young and innocent,
and told me that it was her first ball
now don't laugh. We were deeply en-
gagged in talk when her companion
came along hurridfy and whispered IL
O'Clock, ,madame.' SO soonv exelaim-
edthelothef ,aAd they left me immediate
ly Invent down stairs and saw them get
into their carriage"
1.-The pumpkin coach with the mice
behind and the rats before ?" asked Ju
liam langhingly.. IL
mo, common hackney coach
And, now laugh again, for they had for
gotten their purses"
"Oh, of course, and you gave them
yours. How much was there in it,"
II don't know. ], only know that in
a'day or two, I received the money
back, but in another purse richly EN-.
broidered with pearls, and containing
this paper, You are the secretary Of
the.embassy which / think understood
you wished to be,a Sure enough, that
very day l received official notice Of
my appointment. ''a.z@sg-sss'
"a mere coincidence. And you have
never seenhef since?" F
mo- Ny only hope is that she will
reappear at the ball tonight"
Don Julian, whose ideas did not rise
above a street intrigue, continued tc
laugh and joke Horace until he left him
and the young man, inclined to regret
that be had told his story, threw him
self upon tie lounge in the ante-roon
to listen to the music and wait.
He had scarcely done SO, however
before he noticed a black domino come
in accompanied as the year before, anc
herecognized his unknown and mystic
riods acquaintance with whom he hac
fallen SO deeply in love. He feignec
sleep in order to satisfy himself; the
ruse. gWas successful. for the "blacE
domino" made an offering of flowers
unmasked herself a moment, and gave
evidences Of silent admiration (which
rewarded the young man. But, wher
his friend Julian passed through the
room, Horace woke up suddenly and
ran to him. The result of "a moments
conversation was that Julian asked the
companion goutgto dance, and Horace
and the tnblack domino" were left alone
The lady now made no effort to con
ceal her identity, unmasked, and gave
herself up moment to Horace's ardent
declaration of love. Then she, broke
away ffpm him and told him that be
must forget her, reminding him that ht