The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-22
THE DAILY STAR
THE MASKED BALL.

Inc young OUuntcss Noh fioip,
beautiful and elegant Partisan, though
only welded two years, was conscious OF
a slight inattention on the part of her
handsome husband, which caused her
many sighs and tears.
While the husband visited the club,
as he said, the wife. who was formerly
never absent from his side remained
alone in her large hotel. -.
"Will you not attend the masked ball
at the opera next Thursday, dear Franzr
said she one day at the table to the
count.
"Next Thursday Ny dear child, the
ball clashes with the meeting of my club,
which l am compelled to attend, as be-
lole to the committee"
"Do you not love me sufficiently to
give it up for my sakef''
The count gave such urgent reasons
for his presence, that his wife, who was
of yielding disposition, ceased to urge
him further. Formerly she had sacri-
feed her own wishes to accompany him
to the fashionable balls of Paris, and now
he refuses to crafty her in 80 small q
matter. The poor lady was convinced
that he intended to visit the ball with
out her, for never before had he been
willing to miss one under any circum-
stances. What little was needed to COLI
firm her jealous suspicious, Hermine Won
Cum, her most intimate friend, supplied.
al will wager" said Hermine, "that
your husband will not fail to attend the
bali. The clubs never meet on such oc-
casions, for every one wishes to 60 to
the ball"
"That would be dreadful" answered
the poor Young wife sadly. ooh, it l
could only know the truth of it."
"That can easily be found out, my
poor Charlotte"
sBut how?"
"You know your husbands carriage,
his whole bearing, in fact, and how he
will probably dress. I will provide two
tickets, and we can attend as simple
dominoes. An hour is sufficient time to
search the salon through. If you can
not find him you can feel satisfied that
be has told you the truth"
"Provide costumes and tickets!"
The fatal Thursday arrived. After a
i've o'clock dinner the count kissed his
wife and went to his club. Charlotte
dried her tears when she found herself
alone in her boudoir. The dread of find
ing her husband at the ball wrung her
heart. At ten o'clock Hermine arrived;
at eleven both ladies'. provided with half
masks and dominoes, left the hotel. A
hack conveyed them to the opera. The
ball was unusually full. Elegant masks
fitted hither and thither through
the brilliantly lighted salon. Charlotte
hung with beating heart on the arm of
her friend; in every mask she imagined
she saw her unf,ithful husband. Two
female figures promenading the salon
soon attracted attention. A pasha, in
towing costume, soon followed them.
"Hermine," whispered the countess,
"that Turk who follows us so persisting-
ly is, I really believe, my husband! Look
it is just his figure and bearing! Per-
haps he has recognized u.s."
"Well, if it is so, it is just as it should
90. For he has now seen that you have
found out his duplieity. He goes to the
ball without YOU, therefore you have the
right to go without him. Hushl See!
He approaches group of females-he
speaks to the ohelisk-we will 60 nearer
and listen to what he is saying"
The Pasha seized the hand of the obe-
'iisk, beautiful, voluptuous figure, and
drew her into the dance. They disap-
peared in the mazourka, which was just
beginning. Charlotte would have sworn
that the. pasha was her husband, and
that he had donned his dress in honor to
his companion. Her sufferings were in
tense. The more she watched him the
more fully convinced she became that it
was indeed he. 1t was precisely his
manner in dancing; it was his brown
hair curling on the neck; it was, in a
word, his elegant tournure, which al
ways distinguished him in every crowd.
And how tenderly his arm embraced the
slight, elastic form of the Obelisk, who
Aoated light as sylph through the
dance. Suddenly both dancers disap.
peared.
"Come, come" whispered Hermine, as
she drew her friend after her.
"Where%
"Tnto that alcove into which the pashs
went" Charlotte allowed herself to be
drawn toward without resistance; before
the two ladies could reach the alcove sit.
uated in corner of the large salon they
were surrounded by party of punches
and harle4uins, who were fully availine
themselves of the unrestrained liberty Of
the scene. They struck at each other
with their Gathering sticks, they groaned,
yelled and bantered each other with the
coarsest jests. Another crowd of comic
masks soon joined them, and, in few
moments, the friends were separated
Poor Charlotte found herself alone in 8
crowd of harlequins, who, with jokes and
grimaces, danced around her. Peals Of
laughter from the spectators greeted
their maneuvers, which naturally in
duced them to double their insults.
Charlotte was ready to faint: she feared
some one would, or had already, perhaps
recognized her. To her pleading gest
ures they answered with laughter. Tht
tumult grew worse just as new masl
entered the salon. The harleduins must