Nebraska advertiser., 1882-04-27

champagne, and ordered plate after
plate with the wild eagerness of appe-
tite and rage
was at my fifth, when, triste dc mi!
there, just fronting me. stood the SER
ranita-I should rather say the nose,
more lurid, more gigantic than ever, now
that beheld it in the full glare of the
supper-room.
A masked gypsy was holding her
hand at. the moment, to read her for
tune, and heard him say, "Queen of
beauty to-day, Queen of an empire to-
morrow"
"Queen of beauty!' repeated scorn-
fully, and again meditated flight But
the nose petrified me by saving, with a
dolcezzd infcrndle, "Will not the gra-
cious senior conduct me to supperP l
have been lingering for your return.
Why did you leave mep"
trembled like an aspen, and the nose
laughed; but the grave and naughty
caballero, with the royal orders on his
breast, did not laugh This was doubly
irritating. would have given worlds
for a preteXt to run him through the
body.
| ptHoId! Sdsptu lOIbn.
80 Senorr' she exclaimed quickly,
"perhaps a particular engagement; or
has intellect lost its charm for youp But
pray do not take any trouble; merely q
glass of ponche a la Romano, nothing
more"
And the nose seemed TO twist and curl
with indignant contempt
This cool audacity piqued me; and,
with a malignant emphasis, l replied
"Senorita, / present you the bev-
erage with pleasure; but will not
your nose be rather in the way of
your enjoying the draughtp Un-
less you can abridge that very majestic
feature, do not see how -"
4" GracidS, senorr' she said, interrupt
ing me- "You are most consderate.
But do not drink with my nose. How
ever, it would be more convenient il
abridged. Shall / tryp"
"Howp WhatP Can it bep" stam-
mered
40, pray do not be alarmed. senor,"
she said, laughingly; "the process is
very simple;" and, raising a small white
hand to her face, she slowly and daint-
lily drew away the obnoxious, fiery bea-
con, and her own fair, delicate, Grecian
nose, perfect as the rest of her beauti-
full features, appeared beneath,
Cielo gittStO! it was of cardboard. A
mere carnival trick. And had been
deceived, maddened, done to death
nearly, by thing like that-a nose, a
painted nosel 40, if the earth could
only open and swallow me upr' in
wardly ejaculated; for had not insult
| a1 lx sno hn
beautiful woman at the Court of Mad
ridp
True, o true! For il was, indeed the
lovely, distinguished, and celebrated
Countess t that now stood before me,
with a mocking smile playing over hel
exquisite mouth.
could have thrown myself at hel
/ feet, could have killed myself for rag,
and despair and shameP but my remors'
and abject terror only seemed tC
heighten her amusement; and, taking the
arm of her naughty cavalier with the
royal orders, the superb beauty saluteC
me with profound reverence and s
smiling " BeSo q usted Ia mdn0,h anC
swept on in the glitter of her raiment
and her jewels and her loveliness to joir
the dancers.
Not hunger, but despair, now winged
my feet as fled along the corridor and
down the grand staircase, and nearly
overthrow Prince Carlos as | passed
him in the whirlwind of my flight.
whittier so fast, my friendP' he ex-
claimed. "Why, you are the envy OF
the whole room! You have been talk
ing to the loveliest woman in Spain for
the last half hour. And do you know
the newsp The Queen herself has just
told me. 1t is all settled; the lovely
Countess is to wear royal crown; and
right well she will grace a throne. But
do not speak of it. 1t is a State secret
as yet; though, of course, we al
guessed the truth. Heavens! is she not
beautiful l am to be the new ambas.
sador, and you shall have high post in
the embassy, | promise you. But
what is the matter? You are pale as
death" "
"Peacer' / exclaimed, in voice
stihed with rage, dashing away his
hand that rested on my arm. peace
must away-suicide-death oblivion
Farewell!'
And / sprang into my carriage, anC
reached home with set teeth ano
clenched hands, and fixed resolve tC
start the following morning for Cuba
or the interior of Africa, or the NORTH
Polar Expedition; anywhere that woulC
place whole continent between me
and the bitter memory of the Carnival
Ball, and the shadow of the Carniva
, Nose-that fatal promOntory on which