The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-03-02

lady is under my protection.
At the same time he pushed the har-
lequins aside. A loud murmur arose,
but the domino took no notice what
ever OF IT,
81 pray you take my arm, madam,
said he calmly.
"Take me out of the saloon, sir, /
conjure you," gasped the distressed
lady.
The domino quickly obeyed Five
minutes later they stood on the portal
of the opera house. Charlotte cluhg,
half dead. to the arm of her protector
She could scarcely stand. A fierce
snow storm had set in, the night was
cold and raw
ga carriage, sir" murmured She
81 am so exhausted that I cannot
walk
The domino called for hack As
bad luck would have it, there was, just
at this moment, not one to be had.
The icy wind threw clouds of snow ov-
er the thinly- clad lady.
"Here we cannot remain, y muttered
the domino, compassionately.
:" For mercy's sake do not carry rae
back into the saloon"
"But you are unwell madam.
Where shall we go? All just opposite
is cafe still open. Follow me; | will
procGre hack there"
The countess submitted Her little
feet, encased in white satin slippers
must wade through the snow Tremb
ling with cold and exhaustion, she en-
tered the cafe, there she sank down in
swoon. The domino was much con-
cerned for his companion.
Madame, you cannot go home in
this situation. You must take some
thing. You must refresh yourself. Al
low me to prescribe for you; pray sc
my guest Waiter, the bill of fare.
Two bottles of champagne
Charlotte tried to refuse, but her gen
erous protector would not fear word
owe will sup together madam then
L will order carriage, ana you can go
quickly home"
The behavior of the domino was so
amiable and gentlemanly that Charlotte
submitted to the gentle power of his
eloquence, and believed him to be a
true gentleman. They spoke of the up
roar at the theatre He was all indig-
nation. In his anger he consumed
traff1es, pastery, baked fowl, and veg
etableS; i'll short, the best the bill Of
fare afforded, and this he washed down
with a bottle of the champagne The
poor countess tasted the viands not to
seem ungratefuL He finished his re
past in half an hour.
'How do You feel, madam ~ inquir-
ed he.
$ | am better, thank YOU
very well, / will order a car
mage
How can I ever thank you, my
dear sir?'
" By refusing to believe that I have
placed you under the slightest obliga-
tlon; any gentleman would have done
the same IN like circumstances E"
"Oh, then, crown your magnanimous
conduct by getting me a carriage in
stantlyn
BY the time you take cup oftea
will be back. Waiter cup of tea,
with cake
The domino laid down his napkin
and hastily left the room. Charlotte
waited ten, twenty minutes half
hour-he did not return. Other masks
came In and called for refreshmept.
The fear that her husband might re-
turn home before her, decided the
countess to wait no longer
The stranger cannot find back. y
she thought; t'he will forgive me if we
never meet again. -
She wrapped herself in her domino,
preparatory to leaving. The waiter
came toward her.
" Ny friend" whispered she, q if
the gentleman in the domino returns.
please say to him that / beg his pardon
for my abrupt departure
Consider it done, madame: but
please settle with me before you leave. :"
The countess was shocked she re-
membered she had no money with her,
as Hermine had undertaken all of the
arrangements.
Here is the BILL continued the
waiter, g as the gentleman went ont he
referred me to you.
"To me p
my wife will attend to it." he said
| to me.
| Ii the lower part of the countess
face had not been hidden by her mask
the waiter would have seen how
the blush of shame mantled her cheeks.
as she found she had fallen into the
hands OF an adventure, who had gotten
a most elegant supper at her expense.
The bill was sixty five francs. The
room was rapidly filling with masks.
The waiter eyed her suspiciously.
"Take this, take this, y she said. as
with trembling finger she unclasped
one of her bracelets. "To-morrow
L will pay the bill aud get the trinket. 3"
Charlotte drew long breath as she
found herself in the open air. A large
group of hacks stood before the opera
house IN which gayety was at its height.
she entered carriage and was driven
to her door, where the porter paid the
driver. Scarcely had she entered her
own room when the count arrived: she
knew 1T was he, by the opening and
shutting of several doors. After all.
did she know whether or not he had
attended the mask ball or did she pass
miserable nights Early the next
morning Hermine came to see after her
friend. Charlotte told her adventure.
and begged her accompllce (as she did
not wish to trust a third person. to go
Tor her bracelet. Hermine took the ac-
count and left. In an hour she re-en.
tered the room of the expectant count
ess.
Where is my bracelet2n
The waiter said, wonderinglv. to
me that the gentleman who ordered the
supper there last night had about an
hour before redeemed his wife's brace
let with sixty five frances
The countess grew pale-she had
lost bracelet worth 800 francs: but