Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-12-20
A FAIR INCOGNITA
Engages the Attention of Two Young
Men at a den---She Proves
to be a Negress.
Louisville OOurier-JOurnal, lsth.l

Louisville Courier Journal, 1sth.l
The masquerade parties at Wood
land Garden on Monday nights are
famous affairs, and are made up of
gay people. The aristOcracy is leveled |
somewhat, and the dregs begin to cir
Gle upward, until all distinctions are
forgotten in the whirl of fun and frol- |
ic. Until II O'Clock the dancing is
very staid, and the crowd looks as pi- |
GUS as monastery, but later on
breath from the demi-monde begins to |
ripple. the demeanor of the dancers.
The bright costumes, instead of wav-
ing slowly and rhythmically, fash rest
lessly here and there. The feet cease
to tinkle musically, and the discordant
noises denote the influx of the infer
males.
The costumes are now brighter in
color, the evOlutions of the dancers
more abandonne and the fun ap-
proaches the fever heat.
But to the yarn. Last Monday night
there was the usual gathering at fair
Woodland. Between eleven and twelve
o'clock with the incoming crowd ap-
peared fair masquerader whose bril-
liant costume, fine form and graceful
movements attracted the notice of
every one. She was dressed as the
Goddess of Liberty, and, of course,
attracted that Difference and attention
which the Star Spangled Banner de-
serves to attract. Two young men
? whose disposition is to be fast per-
ceived the fascinating stranger, and
Immediately made advances to her.
Brown succeeded in ingratiating him
self first. He found her to be a grace
| full dancer, and signals were put out
by the fair incognita that she was not
walled about with brass impregna-
BILE. While Brown was keeping an
engagement with another fair, Smith
approached the unknown one and
asked if he might have the pleasure of
dancing the next set with her. She
gracefully acquiesced. As the mazes
OF the dance were entered the guileless
Smith fondly imagined that he was in
Elysieum. He poured all sorts of non
sense in the ear of his partner, and he
began to think he had made mash"
in earnest. He asked for the privi-
lege of dancing the next set with her,
and, after some hesitation, she agreed.
Brown now came up and said: Miss
, [ suppose you are ready to
dance with me?"
81 beg your pardon" interrupted
Smith; she has promised to waltz
with me.
SMITH"
y Brown? What'll you have?"
You're id liar, sir. The lady
! is my partner. | appeal to her if it is
! I not So
! The female stood by, evidently en-.
joying the confusion she had wrought
As Smith, however, is the handsomest
T. she decided to take him. Brown
9 walked off highly indignant, his minC
G red-hot with vengeful thoughts. H,
! left the garden and got his six -barreleC
9 conciliator Smith, in the meantime
g was passing the evening pleasantly
e and, in a delirium of joy, had forgot
! ten entirely the existence of his rival
q The witching hour of midnigh
i waned until it became early in tn
q morning. The time for the unmask
el ing approached. Smith had begged
u his partner to unmask herself, but sh
had refused. He was becoming NOR
, intent on seeing if the face was all hi
g, fancy painted Brown having secure,
D. his pistol came back to the garden re
le solved on something desperate. III
le arrived just when the parties wer
/ abont to unmask. He saw his hateC
! rival and the incognita talking loving
a ly together He resolved to postpon
N his vengeance until she had nnmasked
e Smith was eager to see her face sh
D. raised her hand, caught hold of tn,
+ + mask quickly, pulled it off, and
N negress was standing before the poo
S, fellow Brown laughed as if he woult
c. kill himself. Smith ragged around fo
re some time, tore his hair, and fnall,
.p l,co,,,,no,.al -, Al - 90 .. = -