Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-02-27
THE BLACK DOMINO.
Mystery Under Pretty Mask De
reIops into a Tabieaa Tor ths Hem
INT of stranger IA memphis.


reign for time throughout the Bluh
City. During the day no joined a party
of friends in few bottles Of champagne,
and when night came he donned fancy
suit, representing cavalier Of olden
times, aud sailed forth in search Of the
bathrooms where King Menus held court.
He wandered 6rst into the Opera
House aud strolled among the mask
ers. Exchanging word here and
there, he made the acquaintance
of n mask and joined in the
dance. His vis.a.vis, an unknown gen
tleman and lady, he noticed, held many
whispered conversations, and in the
changes, when our friend clasped the
ieweled and gloved hand Of the lady,
gentle pressure Of the hand startled him.
Taking survey Of the mask, he could
discover nothing but that beneath a
plain black domino aud blue mask there
were hidden fairy form, small foot
and a pair of sparkling eyes, that played
the deuce with what little reserve had
heretofore controlled him. He returned
warmly the pressure Of the hand, and
whispered some nonsensical things IN
her ear, all of which was received with
musical laugh on her part. In few
Minutes the dance ended, and apologize
ing to his partner for being compelled
to leave her so soon, he sought the
black domino, but she was no where to
be seen. Now, our friend had ac'
uuired a taste for romance and mystery
in other climes, in countries bordering
on the Mediterranean, and this little ad-
venture had created in his bosom
strange desire to hold further converse
with his inamorata, as he called the
fair mask" He searched far and near,
and at last with sigh and laugh he
went out, and getting into hack drove
to the Exposition building. He had
never been in the building before, but
the immense throng of maskers struck
him somewhat as resembling other car
nivals he had seen. The black domino
was forgotten for time as he promen-
AIDED and danced for an hour or two.
Becoming weary of this he went up
stairs and took seat in retired spot,
and was contemplating the curious scene
before him when sigh echoed in
his ears, and delicate hand touched
his shoulder for an instant. In mo-
ment. ere he could turn round, his pro-
phetic soul told him that he was again
in the presence of the black domino,
and that soul was right. She had mys-
teriously seated herself by his side, and
those sparkling black eyes were again
fastened on him.
THE DENoUEMEET.
Mr.. - was a man Of gallantry, and
this invit alton to Irritation or what not,
was something he could ne er resist. He
felt piaued at not being able to keep on
the track of the unknown, and at having
in this respect been placed on the deien-
sive, she evidently having kept watch on
him. 1t was not long before they became
friends, mutual admissions being made
as to love at first sight, and all that. Her
little foot kept swinging in and out from
under the domino in a most provoking
manner; the black eyes seemed to ae-
quire CLEAN of light, whose fascination
was almost irresistible. He seized the
gloved hand and saw thereon a pair OF
cluster rings which he knew from expe-
Renee to be genuine. What be said our
friend laughs at now; suffice it to know
| that it was an avowal Of passionate
love that apparently was responded to
by the fair one. She peered into his
eyes and slowly said: / believe can
trust you; follow me-" Our enamored
friend had some suspicious that there
was something wrong in all this, but
fate impelled him to obey, and he ad-
mits that for an instant he did love the
unknown, and curiosity, more strong
than prudence, hurled him recklessly
into the consequences. He followed
the black domino out into the street.
She took his arm and turned up toward
Main. He proposed taking hack, but
this was refused. A street car. No;
and nothing would do but promenade
on the muddy sidewalks. He sought by
every means in his power to make som
discovery, but it aYailed not. The mys-
terious blue mask laughed and chatted
lin a disguised tone Of voice. She
talked of Paris and Vienna, the
gay capitals Of France and Austria,
and it was evident that she bad visited
these cities. This conversation made
him feel as if he had met an old friend,
and unconciously he told more OF
his personal history than he probably
ought to have done; however, they were
rapidly becoming old friends for new
acquaintance, and he took no note OF
the direction in which they were going
until be came to a halt in front Of a
sombre looking house, at which the "un-
known" stopped and pulled the door
bell. The door was opened by q servant,
aud, although the hall lamp was turned
Down, our friend saw that the house was
well furnished. BE was left in the par
lor for few moments when the mask re-
turned and took a seat by his side.
What followed Mr.. -- does not make