The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-22

am 50 exhausted can not walk"
The domino called for hack. As bad
luck would have it, there was just at this
moment none to be had. The icy wind
threw clouds of snow over the thinly'
clad lady.
"Here we can not remain" muttered
the domino compassionately.
"For mercy's sake do not carry me
back in the salon."
"But you are unwell, madam. Where
shall we gos All, just opposite is a cafe
still open. Follow me; l will procure 6
hack there"
The countess submitted. Her little
feet, encased in white satin slippers, must
wade through the snow. Trembling
with cold and exhaustion she entered
the cafe where she sank down in q
swoon. The domino was much concerned
for his companion.
"Madam, you can not 60 home in this
situation. You must take something.
You must refresh yourself. Waiter, the
bill of fare. Two bottles of champagne v
Charlotte tried to refuse; her generous
protector would not hear a word.
ave will sup together, madame; then l
will order carriage and you can gc
quietly home"
The behavior of the domino was 80
amiable and gentlemanly that she sub.
mitted to the gentle power Of his elo.
quence, and believed him to be true
gentleman. They spoke of the uproar al
the theater. He was all indignation. In
his anger he consumed truffles, pastry
bake fowl and vegetables best the
bill of fare atforded-and this he washed
down with bottle Of champagne. The
poor countess tasted the viands not tc
seem unthankful. He finished his re
past in half an hour.
"How do you feel, madam inquired
he. .,. - ..... ..
"I am better, thank you"
every we'll, l will order carriage
"How can ever thank you, my deal
sirT'
"By refusing to believe that I have
placed you under any obligation; any
gentleman would have done the same in
like circumstances" st
'Oh, then, crown your magnanimous
conduct by getting me a carriage in
stantly." 49,
"By the time you take cup Of, tea ]
will be back. Waiter, q cup Of tea with
cake"
The domino laid down his napkin and
hastily left the room. Charlotte waited
ten, twenty minutes-a half-hour-he
did not return. Other masks came in
and called for refreshments. the fear
that her husband might return home be-
fore her, decided the countess to wait NO
longer.
"The stranger can not find a hack"
she thought; "he will forgive me if we
never meet again" .'.
She wrapped herself in her domino
preparatory to leaving. The waiter came
toward her.
"My friend" whispered she, eff the
gentleman in the domino returns, please
say to him that l beg his pardon for my
abrupt departure.
"Consider it done, madame; but please
settle with me before you leave"
The countess was shocked; she remem-
bered she had no money with her, a.
Hermine had undertaken the whole OF
the arrangements.
"Here is the bill," continued the wal
ter; "as the gentleman went out he re
ferred me to you."
"To mey'
"'My wife will attend TO it he said Il
me-"
If the lower part of the countess fact
had not been hidden by her mask, tn,
waiter would have seen how the blush O
shame mantled her cheeks, as she fount
she had fallen into the hands of an ad
venturer, who had had a most elegan
supper at her expense. The bill wa
sixty-fve francs. The room was rapidly
filling with masks. The waiter eyet
her suspiciously.
"Take this, take this,' said she, as
with trembling fingers, she unclaspet
one of her bracelets. Tomorrow morn
ing ! will pay the bill and get the trim
ket."
Charlotte drew long breath as sh
found herself in the open air. A larg
group of hacks stood before the oper
house in which the gayety was at it
hight. She entered carriage, and wa
driven to her door, where the porte
paid the driver. Scarcely had she en-
tered her own room when the coun
arrived; she knew it was he by the open
ing and shutting of certain doors. Afte
all, she did not know whether or not h
had attended the masked ball. Sht
passed miserable night. EARLY the mex
morning Hermine came to see after he
friend. Charlotte told her adventure
and begged her accomplice Gas she dit
not wish to trust third person) to e
for her bracelet. Hernftne took the ac
count, and left. Tn an hour she recent
cred the room of the expectant countess
"Where is my braceletw
"The waiter said, wonderingly, to me
that the gentleman who ordered the sup
per there last night had about an hou
before redeemed his wife's bracelet, will
sixty-five francs"
The countess grew pale--she had los
a bracelet worth 1,500 francs; but as sh
wished the adventures of the evening t
remain unknown, she had to bear he
| loss with silence.