West-Jersey pioneer., 1878-02-28
BERKLEY'S MASQUERADE,

BETTER go. Dick" said Ned Hatton.
Lots O. fun. Nuthin' like it. The masks
and git-ups all of the latest and Funniest
Partisan style"
DICK Berkley took the cigar from his
mouth, blew out a spiral cloud of smoke.
ana renected a moment. They were in
berkiey's sitting room, and the door which
opened into the hall was slightly ajar. Both
men had their back to the door, and faces
toward the blazing CRATE
81 would go if was sure l could keen
my wife from knowing it, said Berkley
why, to be sure you can," replied his
friend Hatton, gay bachelor of thirty or
more. "What is the use of being bound in
the iron bonds of petticoat government,
tied to woman's apron strings, and made
both slave and fool of yourself all of
your life. l tell you, men like us who are
Kept in courts and among legal papers and
documents, need little recreation some
times"
"My wife would raise thunder if she
knew of my going to masquerade"
"The deuce-she need never know it,
replied Hatton vehemently.
At this moment Mrs. Berkley was pass
ing through the hall, and paused at the
door, hearing her husbands remark.
Lets see, when is it ?"
Next Tuesday night
'Ill 60"
$50 will ," thought Mrs. Berkley, as she
disappeared unobserved from the doorway.
'ln my carriage ?' asked Hatton.
"Yes; expect me in front of the Lindel;
from there we can drive to Kruth's or Mrs.
Purcell's for our costumes and masks.
Tuesday night came, and our two friends
were at the masquerade. Berkeley was dis
guised as Turk, and his friend in the
hideous garb of and 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 dis
guised and evidently fast young lady, and
she made herself especially pleasing to
Berkley. The latter promenaded and 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 most lovely he had ever
beheld. While chatting and drinking
sparkling champagne with the artful beau.
ty, he chuckled to himself to think what
nice trick he had played on his wife.
"Now, my charming" he said, pouring
a n RI oh 81 H.,
to your health alone, and vow love no
other, after which l ask, as we are by our
selves that you unmask.
"Bah, Sir 1urk! you do not pretend to |
say you love me!''
''More than tongue can tell"
''And that you never lover another"
"Never''
Nonsense; I'll venture you have wife |
and half a dozen children"
81 swear by my beard 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.
began our hero, pushing his chair just as
close to the page as he could get it, and
placing one arm affectionately around her
waist, shat l have found my finite in you,
that | never loved till l saw you an that |
adore only you. Now l have made full
confession, and after requesting the pleas
ure of seeing you home, please allow me to
remove this mask that must cover face of
exquisitive 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 yonng lady dressed in the
fascinating costume of page, raised the
mask. and beheld the face of his wife.
CONSERVATION! sallie, let's go home,
he cried; and in less that fifteen minutes
they were in cab going toward their resi-
dence. Mr.. Berkley was very quiet man
Tor several days, and Mrs. Berkley enjoyed
her victory in silence. A week or two after
the affair, Hatton asked his friend what be-
came OF the girl dressed as page, lie was
coming it over SO sweetly at the masouer-
ade.
Don't mention it, Ned, for have sworn
will never 60 to another masquerade while
l liven'
Ned Hatton thinks his friend Berklnv
was bitten some