Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-09-22
Bride of the Carnival.

"Does she really love me p said Cap.
tain Ernest Won Steinberg, aid-de-camp
to King Louis of Batavia, as he left the
presence Of the young and beautiful
Baroness Anna von Graffenberg, the
belle of Munich, "or is she the heart
less coquette which common rumor
makes her?"
As he passed down the staircase, he
encountered the baroness pretty French
chambermaid, Lisette.
'Lisette, you are looking charming
to-day-do you know it?"
"My mirror told me so this morn
ing," said the soubrette, looking mp
boldly into his face.
"What lips what eyesl and what
figure I" said the soldier. "But, do you
know, think you would look infinitely
prettier in lavender colored silk robe,
with cherry colored ribbons r.
every possible, monsieur" answered
the waiting maid; " but that will cost
money-and how is a poor girl like me
to dress like lady p
"I have thought Of that difficulty
said Ernest, "and so have provided
remedy. Will you allow me to present
you with a slight token of my gratitude
and admiration 2
As he spoke he drew forth little net
silk purse, through the interstices of
which some gold pieces showed their
pleasant, brilliant countenances. Lis
sette's eyes reflected their brightness.
Monsieur is altogether too gener-
ous," she said.
But the little white fingers clasped
the glittering offering, and conveyed it
to one of the pockets of the coquettish
silk apron that she wore.
"Now, tell me, Lisette, is your mis-
tress going to the masked ball at the
palace tomorrow night p
"Ah, but that is a great secret, mon
sieur, which promised madame not to
reveal" replied the Parisienne, archly,
laying her fingers on her lips.
=" She is going, then ?" said Ernest.
Monsieur says So" answered the
soubrette, smiling.
" And what else did your mistress
charge you to keep secret r. asked the
officer, smiling in his turn.
"That she was going to wear rose
colored domino, with bunch of sky
blue ribbons on the right shoulder
replied the waiting maid, hurriedly, and
she ran up stairs, as IL to avoid further
catechizing, fully satisfied that her in
discretion had been an ample offset to
the aide-de camps present.
Very good, Madame Anna" said
the young officer to himself. "I have
now accommodated the ground, and I
shall know where TO open my trenches.
Alls fair in love and war. And now to my
friend, the sculptoT's-if his ingenuity
aid me, my success will bo certain"
On the night of the masked ball the
royal palace of Munich was q blaze of
light. Every window glowed as If the
interior were q mass of fire, and the
brilliant rays, streaming forth upon the
night, fell on the glittering helmets,
breast-plates and sabers of the mounted
curaissiers, or we're reflected from the
bayonets OF a detachment Of the infantry
of the line drawn up as a guard
OF honor in the square without.
Chamberlains stood at the entrance
Of the palace, and files of lackeys, with
wax tapers Aaring in the eve ing air,
shed almost the light OF day ON the
grand staircase. Carriage after carriage
snlled MP in succession, with their liv-
ing freights Of beauty and youth, and as
light feet fell like snow-fakes on the
earpeted marble, a. graceful forms
vanished within the portals, the ears of
the bystanders we're lulled by the pleas
ant russling of silks, while the breeze
was perfuned By o thousand delicate
odors.
But IL such we're the external mani
festations Of the fete, how far more
brilliant and hawildering was the I'M
terror Of the palace of pleasure. How
those lofty hslls gIowed with the daz-
zaing efulgence Of thousands of wax
iapersi How softly beautiful were the
marble statues that graced The inches,