American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-09-04
THE NOSE; OR, THE MASKED BALL.

Come, make haste-listen to the
music. We shall be too late for the
first dancer said a Spanish gentleman
to his companion. as they were APP
preaching the grand building containing
the ballroom.
but, my friend, there are other
things that attract my attention beside
dancing. Now look theret See how
grandiy the dome of the great cathe-
dral relieves itself against the beautiful
skyi- See where the moon peeps
through the windows of its cloud-built
palaces, as if watching us at our pranks
tonight. There's a Sky for you! By
heaven, how quickly it changes its formi
Look now a that tray of silver light
skipping from cloud to cloud, climbing
up with undiminishedl uster in the azure
deep of the heavens dome! Oh that il
would remain so until could fix it upon
the canvas"
..Oh, never mind your canvas and the
moon. Listen to the sweet strains of
Strauss that inspire the body to all the
graces of motion, and make poetry of
love and womenr'
While the last speaker was striving to
pull his artist friend after him, who still
stood gazing in rapture on the pictures
the moon and the clouds were making
upon the heavens, the broad heavy
wheels of clumsy Spanish coach, with
its flashy trimming of brass sparkling
in the silver light of the nights god
dess, drove up close to the doorway
of the grand hall. In moment more
two figures in masks alighted from the
coach. The female figure was covered
from head to foot with a rich scarlet
satin domino which trailed in heavy
folds upon the pavement. The effects
of the moonlight upon the scarlet satin
when, for a few seconds, she stood with
in its glow, was marvelously fine. The
bright cOlors seemed to lend a steel
blue effect to the surrounding objects
While the artist was struck with these
new revelations of color his music-mad
friend bent forward. grasped the man
tie of the artist, and in a sort of half
voice said, '.She's picture far excell-
ing your moon and cloud-built palaces.
Let see if we can get n glimpse of her
fair face" Then his eyes intently fol-
lowed the movement of the lady who
took the arm of an old man, bent with
years and apparently her father, and
when the couple landed upon the plat
form of the grand stairway to the ball
room, he exclaimed, what motion!
Did you ever see q more graceful
walk? The ightness of her step ap-
pears beyond reality-a thing of fancy.
Let us await her return from the toilet
room; she may forget her mask"
With these remarks he pulled his
friend after him and with a few steps
our two gay gentlemen were standing
upon the upper stairway opposite the
toilet chamber. As the fairy stepped
within the door the old gentleman es-
. cort walked up and down awaiting her
return. She soon appeared, and,
Invested of her scarlet mantle, present
ed . form Of exdIisite .symmetrv. Her
costume was of a mountain maid of the
Swiss character the colors Of gray,
blues and back wish the skirt I Just
short enough to expose the inspiring
outlines of her beautiful ankle and
charming little feet. These additional
charms still more engrossed our friend.
But Ter scarlet mask, with its fringe of
black lace, wis still upon her face and
he could see nothing more than her
chin and lovely THROAT The old man
who seemed to have no other disguise
than his black mask, extended his arm
to his lady companion, and entered the
ballroom, followed by our two friends,
who were handsomely attired in the
dresses of cavalier and peasant.
The room was n blaze of beauty. The
yarlegated lights, the gutter OF various
costumes, the rustling of rich silks and
satins, the perfumes exhaled from
abundant beautiful flowers that adorned
the crowd of lovely women, and the
gush of music, were almost bewilder-
ing. But. still, amid all this confusion,
the eyes of our cavalier were not for
one moment Withdrawn from the object
of his pursuit. 11ollowed her around
the room to where she seated herself in
q rustic chair. Another at her side
being vacant, our bold cavalier grace
fully flung himself into it, while his
peasant companion began CONVERSE
ton with the old man, and in few
moments adroitly led him away. The
cavalier used his opportunity, and.
with all the ease of IL well-educated
gentleman, he began the conversation
by saying: