Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-08-22
BRIDE OF THE CARNIVAL,


BRIDE OF THE CARNIVAL.
"Does she really love me?" said Cap
tain Ernest Won Steinburg. aid-de-camp
to King Louis of Bavaria. as he left the
presence of the young and beautiful
Baroness Anna Won Grafenberg, the
belle of Munich. Tor is she the heartless
coquette which rumOI makes her ?"
AS he passed down the staircase, he
encountered the baroness pretty French
chambermsid, Lisette
"Lisette, you are looking charming
to- day do you know it?"
my mirror told me SO this morning" +"
said the soubrette, looking up boldly into
his face.
"What lips! what eyes! and what a
| figure ~ said the soldier. "But do you
know, think you would look infinitely
prettier in a lavender colored silk robe,
with cherry colOred ribbons?"
Every possible, monsieur, answered
the waiting maid; but that will cost me
money; and how is poor girl like me
to dress like lady?'
1 II have thought of thai difficulty" "
| said Ernest. land so have provided a
remedy. Will you allow me to present
you with slight token of my gratitude
and admiration?
As he spoke he drew forth a little net
silk purse, through the interstices of
| which some gold pieces showed their
pleasant brilliant cGuntenances. Lii
sette's eyes reflected their brightness.
"Monsieur is alto. ether too generous" f"
said she
But the little white fingers clasped the
giittering offering. and conveyed it to
one of the pockets of the coquettish silk
! apron she wore
"Now, tell me. Lisette, Ia your mis-
tress going to .he masked hall at the
palace to morrow night?"
"Ah, but that is a great secret, mon
sieur, which I promised madame not to
reveal" replied the Parisienne, arcinly.
laying her fingers upon her lips.
"She is going, then ?" said Ernest.
Monsieur says So" answered the SOU
brette, smiling.
"And what else did your mistress tell
you to keep secret? ?" asked the officer,
smiling in his turn.
"That she would wear a rose -cOlored
domino, with bunch of skyblue rib
bons on the right SHOULDER, replied the
| waiting maid, hurriedly, and che ran
up oIoliS, NS II " dVOlu lUItbCI CdtcCAlA
ing, fully satisfied that her indiscrelion
| camps present.
every good, Madame Anna, said the
young officer to himself. II have now
reconnoitered the ground, and shall
know where to open my trenches. ALPS
fair in love and war. And now to my
friend, the sculptOr's-if his ingenuity
aid me, my success will be certain"
x X
On the night of the masked ball, the
royal palace of Munich was blaze of
light. Every window glowed as if the
interior were mass of fire, and the
brilliant rays, streaming forth upon the
night, fell on the glittering breast-plates,
helmets and sabers of the mounted cura
issers, or were reflected from the bayo-
nets of a detachment of infantry of the
line drawn up as guard of honor in the
square without.
Chamberlains stood at the entrance of
the palace, and files of lackeys, with wax
tapers faring in the evening air, shed
almost the light of dag Oh the grand
staircase. Carriage after carriage rolled
up in succession, with their living
freights of youth and beauty, and, as
light feet fell like snowflake es on the car
peted marble, as graceful forms vanished
within the portals, the ears of the by
ISLANDERS were lulled by the pleasant
rustling OF silks, while the breeze was
perfumed by thousand delicate odors.
But If such were the external NANTES.
tations 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 efulgence
of thousands of wax tapers How softly
beautiful were the marble statues that
graced the inches. lined the corridors,
and looked down from their pedestals on
the grand ball room! How Oriental in
their magnificence were the gorgeous
draperies ofvelvet and satin, with fringes
OF gold bullion! But, above all, what
music streamed on the enchanted air
from an orchestra composed of 81 hundred
of the best instrumentalists in the city
And the life, the animation of the
throngs that filled the brilliant saloon
who shall describe it?
Ernest Won Steinberg, who looked tor
but one person in that brilliant multi
tude, was so masked and muffied that
his disguise was impenetrabIe. There
fore, when he found the rose.colored
domino, at last, he hesitated not to aG-
dress her.
"Good evening, fair mask"
"Good evening; gallant cavalier. But
how know you that am fair ?'
"Were | to pronounce you the fairest
in Munich, none would dare dispute
your titlen
do you know me?"
1.-The belle of Munich hides her face
in vain" answered Ernest. "That ini-
mitaole foot and hand are her betrav-
ers."
"You may be mistaken, after ALL"
II cannot be, and claim the hand. ~
said Ernest; and will find employmen1
for that dainty foot. The music sounds /:
let's away to the dance"
Il believe my hand is promised al
ready" answered the fair one, $50 take
1t quickly before some one disputes the
prize with you."
The next minute they were whirlipk
around the vast saloon to music tbkt
might keep dancers on their feet br
lie. Anna leaned upon the shoulder of
her partner, and he bre,,thed into her
ear words that she could not listen to
without thrill OF pleasure.
Az the conclusion of the dance, Ernest
ied her into side room, in which thev
iou9d themselves quite alone.
You persist, then," said the lady, sin