American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-09-04
| anu why SO.
"If you really feel what you saysyou
4 aGid6a4fonse3 Z E{pfdp not you are
deceHfuI. Y0dr craft needs no mask,

"And why SOP"
"If you really feel what you say you
deceH fnil Yodr ef4S needs no mask,
for your excessive fancies ever deceive
you and Others"
''If that is so. then am proud of a
quality that is characteristic of your
own SEX"
care women, then, so deceitfulp''
Yes, my pretty little mask! And
yet l cannot say that we men forgive
the fault as freely as we should, when
we consider how many we ourselves de-
ceive. But truce to talking. Time
flies, and each moment is pleasure
lost in not beholding your face. o let
me behold the precious flower. do not
hide its novelty of color and form be-
meath the leaves of lace that border
your mask. l entreat thee, remove thy
maskr'
al cannot. Should 1 do so. all
power to please you would be lost for
ever"
"Oh! it is your modesty that says
you cannot. You are not to be con-
founded with the rest of women by sup
posing that you strive to hide fault
beneath the folds of silks which too
often, like false coin cheats us. I'll
swear by all the saints that your face is
perfect. l see enough of your mouth to
know it. Enough of your eyes, that.
like exquisite gems, send their spark
lings through the peep holes of your
scarlet mask. and am sure your
nose"
Here she started, and betrayed great
confusion at the mention of "nOse."
For an instant her delicate hand went to
the lace fringe and strove to pull it
down as if more effectually to hide her
nose. For moment, too, the cavalier
showed some astonishment at her rather
strange conduct, and then in turn be-
came confused, fearing he had given
some offence by rudeness of language.
He craved her pardon, and while doing
SO the mountain maid gently took his
hand, and smilingly assured him that
there was no offence, yet added, '' But
on no account can l remove my mask"
. ''But why notp" he warmly inter-
rogated again and again.
{ because all the delicious intimacy
now permitted under the cover of the
mask would at once be at an end,
while now, my good cavalier, you can
speak to me in the language of an ad-
mirer, and, 1 might say, in the words
Of n lover, protest your alteration; but,
should take off the mask, you could
not stay long enough to say adieu."
''Ok, you madden me with perplexi-
ties! I'll swear the light of Heaven
cannot reveal another beauty half SO
fair as thou. OH thou enchantress of
my heart, let me
From the stillatory OF thy face exceiling,
Take thy breath perfumed, that breedeth
love by smelling
Let me add another exclamation to my
praise of thee. Surfeit mine eyes with
the mysterious beauty of thy face, as
the dream-like music of thy voice has
awakened in my soul new sense of
hearing Remove the maskr'
".And if do, will you promise me
to be more indulgent than tho rest of
men who never pardon ugliness in
womang' -ts-.
81 am different from others, if your
estimate of my sex is true. With me
you run no risk The beauty of your
form and the sweetness of your voice
will atone for other deficiency, and l
know the revelation of Your face will
be beyond the power of art to express,
Your delay is anguish to .me! L can
withhold no longerr' ~ -. lts.s
And here he move forward as if
about to remove her mask, but she pre-
vented him by raising her hand and
saying:
..Beware! You will be terror
struckr' 7a A
"Neverr'' he quickly responded. In
an instant more the mask was removed,
and az it swung by its slender silken
cord from her delicate kid-gloved hand,
she sent forth laugh of such marvel
Gus sweetness that those engaged in the
dance around her turned to see where
it came from. while simultaneous with
the look several exclaimed, Z" Great
heavens, what a noser' Tie cavalier
was speechless. He stood apparently
riveted to the spot with look of
amazement. At last he uttered, in
sort of sub-sOnOrOus voice.
Protect us heaven! Can it be posi-
BILE that nature would be guilty of such
an act as to link such hideousness to SO
much beauty Quededo's sonnet ex-
cclled!
There was a man attached to n nose
I've been a fool! Why did | tempt
her? Awayr Thus he spoke, as he
stood motionless, with his eyes taking
in the frightful appendage to her other
wise beautiful face. And then, with
out uttering another word, he turned
quick as flash and lett her. Disgust
ed. he made his way through the throng
of dancers, he knew not where. As he