The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-03-28
Berkley's Masquerade.

Better 20, Dick" said Ned Hatton.
Lots Of fun. The grandest thing of
the season. Nuthin' yet like it. The
masks and git ups all Of the latest and
funniest Partisan styles"
Dick Berkley took the cigar from his
mouth, blew out spiral clo1d of
smoke, and reflected a moment. They
we're in Berkley's sitting room, and the
door which opened into the hall was
slightly ajar. Both men had their
backs to the door, and their faces to-
ward the blazing CRATE.
81 would 60 If | was sure could
keep my wife from knowing it," said
Berkeley.
"Why, to be sure you can," said his
friend, Hatton, gay bachelor of thirty
or more. "What is the use of being
bound in the iron bands of petticoat
government, tied to woman's apron
strings, and made both slave and
fool of yourself all of your life. / tell
you men like us who are kept in courts
and among legal papers and documents,
need a little recreation sometimes"
"My wife would raise thunder if she
knew of my going to a masquerade"
"The deuce-she need never know
it, "replied Hatton, vehemently.
At this moment Mrs. Berkeley was
passing through the hall, and paused at
the door, having heard her husbands
remark.
"Let's see, when is ?" asked Berk-
ley.
Next Tuesday night"
"I'll CO."
$50 will l." thought Mrs. Berkeley,
as she disappeared unobserved from the
doorway.
"In my carriage ?" asked Hatton
eyes; expect me in front of the Lin
dell, from there we can drive to Kruth's
OF Mrs. Purcell's for our costumes and
masks"
Tuesday night came, and our two
friends were at the masquerade. Berk-
ley was disguised as Turk, and his
friend in the hideous garb of an Indian.
There was one faultless form dressed
as page of the olden time, which
seemed to be the admiration of every
one. Our friends were not long in
finding this strangely disguised and
evidently fast young lady, and she
made herself especially pleasing to
Berkley. The latter promenaded aud
danced with her, and they then retired
to another room for refreshments. The
eyes which cleaned from the holes in
the mask, our hero declared to be the
most lovely be had ever beheld. While
chatting and drinking sparkling cham
pagne with the artful beauty, he
chuckled to himself to think what a
nice trick he had played on his wife.
"Now, my charmer," he said, pour
ing out glass of sparkling champagne.
81 drink to your health alone, and vow
love no other, after which l ask, as
we are by ourselves, that you unmask. p"
Bah, Sir Turk! you do not pretend
to say that you love mev'
"More than tongue can tell"
"And that you never loved anotherF"
"Never."
"Nonesense: I'll venture you have a
ho1 oh
81 swear by my beard l have not" :"
vowed the Turk.
"Pshaw we women know you men
too well to believe what you say. Men
must have some recreation, you know"
said the artful beauty.
"But know, dearest, adored un-
known" began our hero, pushing his
chair just as close to the page as he
could get it, and placing one arm af-
fectionately around her waist, "that
have found my 'finitein you, that l nev-
er loved till l saw you, and that adore
only you. Now / have made full con-
fession, and after requesting the pleas
ure OF seeing you nome. please allow
me to remove this mask that must cov-
er face of exquisite lovliness."
Berkley had evidently drank too
much champagne or he would not have
been so vehement in his remarks. He
threw one arm around the young lady
dressed in the fascinating costume of a
page, raised the mask, and beheld the
face of-his ,oVe.
CONSERVATION Sadie, let's "a
home," he cried; and in less than fif-
teen minutes they were in a cab going
toward their residence. Mr.. Berkley
was very quiet man for several days,
and Mrs. Berkley enjoyed her victory
in silence. A week or two after the af-
! fair, Hatton asked his friend what be.
came of the girl dressed as a page, he
was coming 1t over so sweetly at the
masquerade.
Don't mention it, Ned, for have
sworn that will never go to another
masquerade while | live ~
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