The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-05-18
A MASQUERADE.

but the sun shone with spring like warmth
and brightness. and, therefore, the door
stood ope.'.
"Mamma!" said the girl. coaxingly, as
she lifted a sweet, fair face, won't you let
me so to the next masquerade party? You
know Mrs. Dabuey spoke of giving one in
case of this Of Mrs. Lees proving SUCCESS.
rs suppose it has"
Il don't know, Minna," answered the
mother, hestatingly. IF you go it must
be in some character requiring very sim
pie and inexpensive costume. Ada's dress
last night cost more than I had had an idea
Of"
.,Oh, anything will do for me, SO that
Only can so. I will be peasant girl, or
even a plain, black robed nun, Or"
You nun, you laughing spirit!" cried a
Washing and stylish looking girl, who at
that moment famillarly assembled the steps,
her face all ag!ow under her gypsy hat.
What has put that pious notion into your
venerable hend?"
I'VE We're talking Of the party last night.
How did YOU enjoy it.?
"Rully!" (Fanny Winston, it must be
confessed, was little given to slang.)
What an inspiration that was of Mrs. Lee
to have variety in our usual humdrum
parties! heally, the whole town owes her {.
vote of thanks. The novelty was delight"
full, whatsoever some OF the characters and
costumes may have beer. But then others
were splendid, and the whole was q decided
success"
who was the BELIEF" inquired Mrs Gray,
with pleased look, as though she antici.
patsd the answer.
Ada, of course! l doubt whether the
real Lady Of the Lake ever excited more
admiration than did her representative las,
night; ami as for her devoted knight, Sil
Walter r slegh. he 1as simply superb!
Sir Walter Raleigh! Who was hep"
ais it possible you don't know? Hasn't
Ada told you:'
1t was nearly when she came home.
and she was both too tired and too excited
to talk. Eu: suppose, Fanny, your Sir
Walter Vas Mr. Philip Aylestury?"
My Sir Walter? No, indeed: nobody
after last night. will presume to dispute his
possession with Ada. And what a con-
quest Young, rich, handsome and talent
ed, and with every mother and daughter in
Il mat covering to secure him. But,
looking around, where is Ada now?"
I'VE have not awakened her. I thought
best to let her sleep off her fatigue" Mrs.
Gray said.
Asleep until eleven And also went
through it all. have been up since eight"
said Minns laughing.
"Not the first, though tried for it. Ada
came in shoulder ale ID of me;.and as to
poor Laura Cheney and tie rest, they were
nowhere"
Don't be slangy, Fanny"
Cant help it Aunt Mary, it's my nature.
All, here comes my lady, at last, looking as
though the world held nothing worthy her
acceptance-ualess it may be the hand of a
c-rtain gallant night, who kshall be name
less"
The girl who now entered was tall, fair
blonde, with regular features and pro-
fusion Of golden hair hanging in loose dis
order abor. her face and neck.
She wore an untidy morning wrapper,
frayed about the edges, and her delicate
feet were thrust into pair Of old velvet
slippers. run down at toe heel.
Her face wore an expression Of cold in.
difference and discomfort
aWhat transformation" cried Fanny,
laushingly. Why, Ada, could Sir Walter
leigh see you now, he would scarcely
recognize his lovely Lady Jane"
"Iou did not expect to ind me at break
fast in ball costume?" said Ada, col6ly.
Not exactly; but Minna here looks as
sweet and pretty in her print dre-s and
white, flilled apron, as though she were
dressed for party; and You might look the
Same"
IF there was any one to dress for. Of
course don't mind mamma aud Minna. Is
my breakfast ready, mother?"
Mrs. Gray fastened to place before her
daughter the breakfast which had all the
morning occupied her attention. Their
servant had but the day previous left them,
snd at present everything devolved upon
herself and Minna.
Ada surveyed the vianis discontentedly.
These rolls are cold, and the toast
Drowned to crisp. Then the coffee is all
muddy. Can't you make me q cup of tea,
mamma, and let me have couple OF eggs
in place of this broiled ham,"
Make the tea yourself, Ada," said Min
ma, looking up from her work, "and I will
boil the eggs. Mamma has enough on her
hands already, With iSarab away. You ought
tone,
when I require your advice I will ask
it," replied the elder sister, sharply. How
oppressive the heat Of the fire is this warm
morning. she continued. as she moved
her seat close to the open door, looking up
on the side gard~n.
Ada, said Fanny, do tell mo how you
came to recognize Ar. Aylesbury, through
bis disguise, last night! Every one but
yourself was certain that Hamlet was he. :"
"Oh could not mistake the carriage of
his head And his feet-no one in town
has such slender, arcbing instep. Of
course, did not tell him SO, but we laid a
wager that would recognize him through
any Disguise, " said Ada, smilingly.
Then you must look sharp at Mrs. Dab
ney's, next week, as that will be the second
and last of this seasons masquerade parties.
Pity that winter couldn't last longer, though
it has really expanded into spring. And,
blythe. by, Aunt Mary, Minna is to 20 to
this party of Mrs. Dabney's. 1t was q
shame that she should not have gone last
night"
Ada is the elder" said Mrs. Gray, half
dep1ecatingly, and could not afford two
expensive costumes.
oh, yes, I know all about that! But
Minna is old enough to have rights of her
OVID" said the impetuous Fanny.
Perhaps we best understand our own
affairs. suggested Ada in her coolest tone.
"Oh, DEAR" she suddenly exclaimed, as the
harsh notes OF hand organ sounded i'm
mediately without the door. There is that
Italian nuisance again! Do, mamma, send
him away! What impudence to intrude
upon ones premises in this manner!".
Poor man! he is stranger in strange
'"ANS o"Ao AAAAAAo, oOAeiJS as BUG surveyed
the gray haired and stopping figure which
now stood humoly IN front of the door,
grinding harsh discord from his instr,1-
meDt
"He ought to have remained in his own
country. We have too many foreign vaga.
bonds here; and don't see what they come
for. except to make themselves nuisanc-
es."
DO hush. Ada He hears you, and his
feelings will be hurt, demonstrated Min
ma.
oh, he can't speak English we'll enough
to understand" Fanny said. "Ill try
him."
From his answers in very broken Eng
]ish, it appeared that his family were all
dead-says one little granddaughter
rsned Blanca. Poverty, and the hope of
getting enough to support himself IN his
old age, had brought him to this country.
So soon as he could make money enough,
he would send for his little Bianc..
Poor mani" said Fanny. II wish we
could do something ohelp him. But I
haven't a penny with me, searching her