Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-05-18
MASQUERADE.

ed In doorway opening upon q garden at
the end of the house, was seeding raisins.
The season was not yet fairly past winter,
but the sun shone with spring-like warmth
and brightness. and, therefore. the door
stood oper.
"Mammai" said the girl, coaxingly, as
she lifted a sweet, fair face, won't you let
me go to the next masquerade party? You
know Mrs. Dabney spoke of giving one in
case of this of Mrs. Lees proving asuccess,
as suppose it has. "
Il don't know, Minna," answered the
mother, hesitatingly. IF you 60 it must
be in some character requiring a very SIM
pie and inexpensive costume. Ada's dress
last night cost more than had had an idea
Of"
"Oh, anything will do for me, so that
only can go. will be peasant girl, or
even plain, black robed nun, Or"
You nun. you laughing spirit!" cried a
dashing and stylish looking girl, who at
that moment Familiarity assembled the steps,
her face all aglow under her gypsy hat.
What has put that pious notion into your
venerable headp"
I'VE were talking Of the party last night
How did you enjoy it?'
"Bully!" Fanny Winston, it must be
confessed, was q little given to slang.)
What an inspiration that was of Mrs. Lee
to have variety in our usual humdrum
parties! Really, the whole town owes hers
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 a decided
success"
"Who was the BELIEF" inquired Mrs Gray,
with pleased look, as though she antici.
pated the answer.
Ada, of course! I doubt whether the
real Lady of the Lake ever excited more
admiration than did her representative last
night; and as for her devoted knight, Sll
Walter r lie gh. he Sas simply superbp'
Sir Walter Raleigh! Who Was he?"
ais it possible you don't know? Hasn't
Ada told your
1t was nearly 8 when she oame home.
and she was both too tired and too exc ted
to talk. But I suppose, Fanny, your Sir
Walter was Mr.. Philip Aylestury2"
MY Sir Walter2 No, indeed; nobody
after last night. will presume to dispute his
possession with Ada. And what o con.
quest! Young, rich, handsome and talent
ed, and with every mother and daughter in
l. ma nvering 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 elevenl And also went
through it all, have been up Since Ell sht.
"But then you wern'tthe belle you know, r
said Miuna la.gbing
Not the first, though tried for it. Ada
came in shoulder ateld OF me; and as to
poor Laura Cheney and the rest, they were
nowhere"
Don't be slangy, Fanny"
Can't help it Aunt Mary, it's my nature.
All, here comes my lady, at last, looking as
though the world held nothing worthy her
acceptapce-unless it may be the hand of a
certain gallant night, who kshall be name
less"
The girl who now entered was tall, fair
blonde, with regular te l;ures and a pro-
fusion of golden hair hanging in loose dis
order aboRl her face and neck.
She wore an untidy morning wrapper,
frayed about the edges, and her delicate
feet were thrust into a pair of old velvet
shippers. run down at toe heel.
Her face wore an expression of cold in
difference and discomfort.
"What transformation" cried Fanny,
lauehlngly. why, Ada, could Sir Walter
R leigh see you now, he would scarcely
recognize his lovely Lady Jane"
You did not expect to Ind me at break
fast in ball costume?" said Ada, coldly.
Not exactly; but Mlnna here looks as
sweet and pretty in her print DIRE s and
white, FILLED apron, as though she were
dressed for party; and you might look the
same"
If there was any one to dress for. OF
course 1 don't mind mamma and Minna. Is
my breakfast ready, mother?"
Mrs. Gray fastened to place before her
daughter tie breakfast which had all the
morning occupied her attention. Their
serv0nt had but the day previous left them,
and at present everything devolved upon
herself and Minna.
Ada surveyed the WAN s discontentedly
These rolls are cold, and the toast
Drowned to a crisp. Then the coffee is all
muddy. Can't you make me cup of tea,
mamma, and let me have a 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, withstand; away. You ought
to remember that, she added, in lower
tone.
When require your advice I will ask
It'll" 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 me how YOU
came to recognize Mr.. Aylesbury. through
his disguise, last night! Every one but
yourself VAS Ger ain that Hamlet was be- ="
"Oh, could not mistake the carriage of
his head! And his feet--no one in town
has such slender, archiug instep. Of
course, did not tell him so, but We laid
wager that would recognize him through
any disguise, " said Ada, smilinely,
Than Won mn ar lnoE churo NJ Mro DoL
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 90 to
this party Of Mrs. D 4bney's. It was a
shame that she should not have gone last
night"
ada is the elder" said Mrs. Gray, half
deprecatiugly, "and could not afford two
expensive costumes"
"Ot, yes, I know all about that! But
Minna il Old enough to have rights of her
own" 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 sgainl Do, mamma, send
him away! What impudence to intrude
upon ones premises in this manner"
Poor mani he is q stranger in strange
land" said Minns, softly, as che surveyed
the gray-haired and STOPPING figure which
now stood humnly IN front of the door,
grinding harsh discord from his instru
meut.
aHe ought to have remained In his owr
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. Adal He hears you. and hi
feelings ill he hurt, demonstrated Min
ma.
'Oh, he can't speak English well enough
to understand" Fanny said. "IIl try
him"
From his answers in very broken Eng
lisa, it appeared that his family were al
desd-savs one little grand daughter
ran 20 Blanca. Poverty, and the hope oil
getting enough to support himself IN hi!