Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-12-29

parties tor me, coming at ten, when hon
est country people are sound asleep in
their beds, and keeping one awake with
jovial din far into the small hours, when
my stiff joints are aching to get rest!
You like this time, don't you, puss ?"
And Squire Brent hustled across the
room, rubbing his hands in hearty,
gladstone, and withal such hospital,
fatherly way. New Years welcome in
his face! Alice laughed merry, rip
ping laugh, as she said, patting his
cheek:
eyes, you dear, good father, of course.
I like best what you do; and with you
here we can't have anything but just the
incest, old-fashioned party that ever was.
I'll go up stairs now and be ready in a
trice You know Sisters of Charity have
renowned the vanities of this world, so
my toilet will not take q great deal of
time. I am SO glad we are going to
dress alike, for we shall have to set our
sharpest wits to work to discover our
best friends under our masks. We won't
take them off till eleven, remember; but
I am afraid they will know you, Father
Abbot, because your portly appearance
cannot be hid"
"Run along with you, Miss Impertin-
ence, and we'll see who looks the best in
ten minutes time"
Sooner than that, Alice came down to
meet her father in her nun-like robe,
with such tired, sad expression on her
pale face, that had it not been for the
crown of golden hair when she threw her
veil back, you might have taken her for
La Seuer Seraphine herself.
81 hope the dress does not impart the
feeling, Alice" he said tenderly. "You
need not come in till late, you know; for
the hostess will not be known among her
guests. L am afraid you have worked
too hard to-day.
"Oh, no! There's the bell, 80 I must
runaway and mingle with the GROVE
when good chance comes"
Half an hour later q goodly assem-
blage of merry maskers were gathered
In Squire Brent's great parlors, made
festive with evergreen and bright berries,
and glowing with the cheerful blaze that
shone from the Yule-log in the fire.
place. which the Squire would have
kindled in honor of the old customs.
The sisters were all in the short black
gown, with the short little Grape folded
pinned in front to hide any beauty or
grace of form to which they might
aspire; about that, the white barbette,
with the sacred chaplet of beads, the
only relief to the general sombre array,
and the veil which concealed all Ma
dame Modiste's skill in hair1ressing,
completed the costume.
The monks appeared in great variety
of dress, but all with the cowl drawn
tightly over their heads; mendicants, in
sandalled feet. with wallet and tingling
bells; lordly abbots, with huge wooden
croslars; and others with bare head and
shutting gait, who plainly confessed they
belonged to the poorer brethren. But
they were far from being quiet, holy,
humble train, like some of ancient days;
the nineteenth century was here grated
on the middle ages, and made confused
grotesque picture, curious to the locker
on. 1t was very amusing to watch ami
mated Irritation IN one corner, between
meek, gentle sisters and grave, stately
friars; to see them glide gracefully round
and round through the merry, witching
waltz, lose all their cherished dignity in
some flying gallop, or go wrong in the
and noisy shouts, that would almost call
St. Francis and good Mother Hecla from
their graves.
'.None of your saints ooked pious and good,
None of your patriarchs old and shabby:
But jol y, fat friars,
Sitting round the great roaring fires,
Roaring louder than they
All. my friends! tits the creates folly
Not to be jolly. That's what think I"
There were most ingenious attempts
to catch O tone or movement, or some
peculiar glance of the eye, that should
make somebody known; here and there
we're decided mods and exultant express
sions, as if one unknown had fully es-
tablished in his own mind the identity
of his fair friend; the next moment would
lose sight of her in the crowd, and the
vain attempt would begin over again.
Alice was very quick in her conjectures,
and several times in a deep, low voice,
she had murmured a name in a listening
ear, and the conscious start and eager
denial told her she was right. She had
not danced much during the evening,
but Joined a group in the good old game
of rhyming, that brought out all the
poetlcal talent of the company in way
that piqued curiosity to the last degree.
"Who said that ? All tell me who
that is, came out again and again as
earnestly and unconsciously as if all but
the speaker knew every hidden face in
room.
Squire Brent had thrown off his mask
some time ago; and now announced to
the expectant people that they must do
their best to find out their neighbors,
for In less than an hour the signal would
be given, and all their skill would end.
Alice, rather weary of her good time,
had withdrawn to the deep embrasure of
the window to wait for it and listen to
music, when the curtain parted, and
tall, majestic monk bow1ng low" with
your permission, fair sister"-took his
seat beside her.
He had lowered near her much of the
evening, and she had exercised her mem
DRY In vain to think who he could be. tc
recognize his figure and manner among
any of the names on her card of invita-
TIOn9 Now she ulr o-,~o..o