Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-10-12

S'"' i'' '' tii'idid d laI'StlS llIlpll;p.
But one thing would grieve me-
| continued. if you should unmask.
What -
That it would not be lawful t,
speak To yOu as the mountain girl
a. to masquerader. Would it no
be a pity to rcnounce the Celightfu
familiarity which the carnival ball.
perm'ti Now l speak to you as al
intimate friend or lover would do
well. then, when commit the in
discretion of taking off my mask. yor
would hardly be able to articulate an
indifferent and irritable Farewell
lady"
What enjoyment you have in NOR
tifying me. Do you think me capa
BILE of snch lack of politeness
will suppose for a moment that you
are ugly, hideous, should you remove
with that mask the spell that allures
me? II the attractions of your con
versation, Of this voice that bewitches
mo. Of this grace that charms me-
can be removed with the mask; how
can a woman appear i'll with such
gifts? If your face is ugly l pardon
you for it,"
But you ar" more indulgent than
other men! Are You governed less
by self conceit than they? In your
eyes. ugliness is a woman's greatest
crime"
"Oh, | ain of another species, OF
else You caIumniate the man, little
mountain girl; il not, undo this mask
that torments me, and you will see
how, far from being cooled, my affec-
ton will augment. And You do not
believe my proposition is SO venture
some; where can this ugliness reside
with which you pretend to frighten
me? Do not behold the elegance
of your shape? Do not clasp your
beautiful hand? Am | not fascinated
with your beautiful foot? Do not
the beams of light from those charm
ing brown eyes pierce us? Those
ebony tresses that form such lovely
contrast with the dazzling whiteness
OF your throat, whose are they but
yours? If there were anything so ill,
l should knew it. Does it lie in the
movement of your head-which
have not yet seen a--or in the delight
full smile of your divine mouth ?"
Then. with all this exquisiteness,
which you so greatly exaggerate,
assure You that l am frightful!
should horrify you if l uncovered my
face"
"Oh, no; it is impossible; your
form, your features"
"Haye you seen them all?"
II may say yes. The nose is the
only"
Here she interrupted me with a
burst of laughter.
"You laugh; does it chance to be
Romani
"Or Carthaginian? 1 don't know,
l will not engage to say"
mo, it is not possible that an
anomalous nose furnishes the luster
of so many attractions, and moreover,
l accept the consequences of the ia
vor / entreat. With that mouth,
with these eyes, that Incompatible
form, permit you'to be fat nosed or
long nosed."
"You are imprudent."
"No, l am not. Reveal yourself
Rash mani"
"Will you oblige ME to 60 upon my
knees? Will you expose me as the
laughing stock Of the company?' -.
Enough. As you will. You are
about to see me with the mask off.
Why must we women be SO weak.
But let it not he my hand that shall
open Pandora's box. Receive through
your own the punishment for your
foolish impatience."
II can unmask you with this hand!
Envy me, mortals! Give me the
Tyre, q muses.! l am thrice blessed"
"No-you are rash and i'll advised"
"Perdition take the knot! Ican't
unite it. All, my knife, that is it.
Beauti-"
could not finish tie word, such
was my surprise, amazement. terror
What a nose! What nose! Oh,
what a nose! I would not have be-
lieved that nature was capable of
arriving at such degree of pie
onasm, hyperbole, amplification. The
sonnet of Walter Quevedo,
There Was man attached to a ose,
would be poor and colorless to paint
it. This was no human nose, it was
beet root, a corner stone, an Egyp-
tian pyramid.
Fortunately for me the mountain
girl-who doubtless had learned to
resign herself to her deformity,
likewise to all its effects-laughed
quite good-humoredly, whether at
my conflict or at herself l di l not
know. This gave me courage to
rise, under the pretext of going to
greet a friend. And, without daring
to look at her again, I took my
leave with u formal Farewell, Sen
orita."
flew, then, to the refreshment
room, took possession. of a table,
sDatched up a bill of fare, asked
what they could give me the quick
est. l ate now-nOt with appetite,
but furiously-from four different
plates, and they were about to bring
me the fifth, when l beheld seated
in front Of me-divine justice!-the
same mountain girl, or rather, l
should say, the same nose which had
Mortified me shortly before. My first
impulse WAS to rise and run, but the
merry girl petrited me by saying
with Internal sweetness:
What. Are you not going to in
vite me to supper"
/ felt troubled and looked shecpish.
"Senorita-"
Il shall not cost you much-a
glass Ct Roman punch: nothing
| more"
Snch impudence stnng me keenly.
IL shall have the greatest pleasure
III complying with your demand,
Senorita, though l fear that your
nose will prevent you from putting
a glass to your lips"
"lou are rude. sir, but shall re-
move it,
How! What do you say? Then
AT this instant her hand darted