The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-09-08
TIE BRIDE OF THE CARNIVAL.

The BRIDE OF THE CARNIVAL.
Does she really love me?" said Captain
Ernst Won Steinberg, aid-de-camp to King
Louis Of Batavia, as he left the presence OF
the young and beautiful Baroness Anna
Won Graffenberg, the belle of Munich, 4ol
IS she the heartless cequette which COM
mon rumor makes her?"5 E&
As he passed down the staircase, he en- :
countered the baroness pretty French
chambermaid, Lisette.
"Lisette, you are looking charmingly to-
day-do you know it,"
"My mirror told me SO this morning
said the soubrette, looking up boldly into
his face. .s@f
What lips! what eyes!and what a fgure!''
said the soldier. But, do you know, ]
think you would look infinitely p~rettier in
a lavender silk robe, with cherry colored
ribbsns?"
4very possible, monsieur, Z answered the
waiting maid; abut that costs money-and
how is q poor girl like me to dress like a
LADY,"
Earnest, and have provided a rem edy.
Will you allow me to present you with q
SOAOA VI 10y u kIhVkVNA0W 0Au 6NUA Z
atom"
Al he spoke he drew forth q little net
silk purse, through the interstices of which
several newly-coined gold pieces showed
their pleasant, brilliant CONTINGENCIES.
Lisette's eyes reflected their Brightness"
Monsieur is altogether too generous
she said.
But the little white fingers clasped the
glittering offering, and conveyed it to one
Of the pockets Of the coquettish black silk
apron that she wore.
Snow, tell me, Lisette, is your mistress
going to the masked ball at the palace to-
morrow night?"
4gHAh, but that is a great secret, monsieur,
which I promised not to reveal" replied
the P%arisienne, archly, laying her fingers
on her lips.
aShe is going then?" said Ernst.
Monsieur says SO" answered the SOU.
brette, smiling. @ges - ~ .saft@ T
"And what else did your mistress charge
you to keep secret?" asked the officer,
smiling in his turn.
THAI she was going to wear a rose -colored
domino, with a bunch of sky-blue ribbons
on the right shoulder" replied the waiting
maid, h1rriedly, and she ran upstairs, as
it to avoid further catechizing, fully salts
fed that her indiscretion had been an ample
offset to the aid-de-camp's present.
Very good, Madame Anna" said the
young officer to himself. "I have now re-
coinnoitered to the ground, and I shall
know where to open my trenches. Ais
fair in love and war. And now to my friend,
the sculptor's-if his ingenuity aid me, my
success win be certain"
On the night Of the masked ball the royal
palace of Munich was a blaze of light.
Every window glowed as if the interior
were a mass of fire, and the brilliant rays.
streaming forth upon the night, fell on the
gllttering helmets, breast plates and sabers
of the mounted cuiraisiers, or were reflect.
ed 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 evening air, shed al.
most the light OF day on the grand stair
case. Carriage after carriage rolled up in
succession, with their living freights of
beauty and yoath,and as light feet fell like
snow.takes on the carpeted' marble, as
graceful forms vanished within the portals.
the ears of the %bystanders were luiled bv
the pleasant rustlng of silks, while the
breeze was perfumed by a thousand deli
cate odors. .s-gS. 4
But if such were the external manifesta-
tons Of the fete, how far more brilliant and
bewildering was the interior of the palace
OF pleasure! How those lofty halls glowed
with the dazzling ,e&ulgence Of thousands
OF WALLPAPERS! How softly beautiful were
the marble statues that graced the inches,
lined the corridors, and looked down from
their pedestals on the grand sball.room!
How Orientalin their magnifcence were the
gorgeous draperies of velvet and satin. with
fringes of gold bullion, but, above all, what
music streamed on the enchanted air from
an orchestra composed of q hundred of the
best ins~trumentalists in the city! And the
life, the animation of the throngs that filed
that brilliant saloon-who shall describe it,
Ernest Won Steinberg, who looked but
Tor n person in that brilliant multitude.
was so masked and mufaed that his disguise
was perfectly impenetrable. Therefore,
when he found the rose colored domino at
last, he hesitated not to address her.
Good evening, fair mask.
Good evening, gallant cavalier. But
how know you that I am fair?"
Were | to pronounce you the fairest
In Munich, none would dispute your title"
Do you know me?"
The belle Of Munich hides her face in
vain" answered Ernest. '"That inimita-
bic foot and hand are her betrayers."
You may be mistaken, after ALL"
81 cannot be, and I claim the hard,' said
Ernest; "and will find employment for that
dainty foot, The music sounds; let's away
to the dance"
II believe my hand is promised already"
the fair one, $50 take it quickly
before some n disputes the prize with
you"
The next minute they were whirlinp
round the vast saloon to music that might
keep dancers on their fest for life. Alma
leaned upon the shouldeiEf Of her partner.
he breathed in her cal words that she
ure.
At the conclusion Of the dance Ernest
led her into. q side room, in which thew
found themselves quite alone.
You persist, then, said the lady, "in call
ing me the Baroness Won. Graftenbere."
II ! had doubted before, your dancing
would have convinced me. The leader Of
the Sylphides is known BY her STEP
Well, you have guessed right. And now.
IN return for my confidence, may I request