Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-12-06


Mr.. BashI0Id was he'd -.
Could It Be that lis wife snturs-
some enough 10 disobeF lin "a had
hired q c0stuma with % az
tending the masquerads m idea
was atrocious. hnmiiiatine. ssp8rat-
ing. Yet the evidence aad to
point indubitablY 10 zneE late Of
things and - accepted 4 eluaion
at once.
He did not Iingsr long 4 .aadiik-
ton. His wifes audacIlss nat. Is.
ceive q severe rebnke. Ae de-
cided upon without slaT With
that propnan ness end snkz Lich
he boasted never desoffsd hin, he
entered the store before which he was
standing.
The proprietor was flabby woman
with greedy looking eyes. He ac-
costed her thus
Madam, would you object to max
ing five dollars in as many minutes2
The psrson addressed intimatihg
that she would have no objection TO
that sort Of thing. he continued:
Then describe 10 me accurately the
costume delivered by the young vo-
mon who entered this store moment
ago, or else show me one Just ike
Well, said the woman, hesitating,
that wouldn't be exactly regular. you
know.
i understand that, but can prove
to you if necessary, that / have a
right to know, and that no harm can
possibly come to you by your telling
me.
Here Mr. Bashford temptingIy
twirled q fve-dollar greenback.
%. well, said the woman, I pre-
sumo it will be all right. The cos
tune was that of a Turkish lady.
Here is one just like it, except that
the hood is blue instead of scarlet.
'Yes-just so, said Mr.. Bashford.
The one that the young woman left
at No. 81 -- street has a scarlet
hood, has ii
Yes, sir.
Very well; here are your Eve dol
lars, and besides, / am very much
obliged to you. Good-day.'
Mr.. Bashford left the store in high
glee. His wife would find that Ee
was not to be outwitted. He would
make her regret her presumptuous-
ness.
With such thoughts he hurried to
make good the appointment he had
so suddenly broken.
lie made no allCsion, when he went
home to his FIVE o'clock dinner, to
the circumstances just related. He
simply said to his wife before leay
ing. wondering the while at her in
nocent and unconstrained demean-
or:
AS | told you would probably be the
case, Louise, / shall be detained down
town by business tonight until quite
late. Do not look for me much before
midnight
% dear, / am so sorry, Dio. It is
so lonesome these long evenings when
you are obliged to be away
1 gness you will manage to console
yourself during my ABSENCE was his
reply delivered in a slightly sarcastic
tone, as he departed.
TIE business which was to detain
him was of somewhat startling char
acter. After spending a short time
at his Office, he proceeded to costum-
ers establishment, and placed him
self in the hands of an artist. who,
after long and tedious process, trans
formed him into a hideous looking
Indian chief.
This done, he ordered carriage,
and gave directions to be driven to
Banquet Hall, tea place where the
masquerade of the A. z. A. Society
was to be held. On arriving at his
destination. he held long consulta-
tion with the driver, giving him some
minute directions and greenback.
Then. with chuckle, he entered
the gay and brilliant ballroom, where
the festivities had already commenced.
The music was pealing forth from the
orchestra, and hundreds of grotesque-
ly attired figures were mingling in
the dance.
Mr.. Bashford seemed to create quite
sensation in his character of Indian
chief. Many stared at him, and some
of the women shuddered.
He did not dance at FIRST, but walk
ed with stately tread around the hall
gazing disdainfGlly on the giddy
throng. His motive for this line Of
conduct may be easily OWNED. He
was looking for his wife. He was
searching for a Turkish lady with a
scarlet hood. 1t was some time be-
fore he found what he sought for.
But at last he stopped suddenly,
and his gaze fingered in . particular
quarter. His heart beat high with
exultation. There was the Turkish
lady with the scarlet hood, and her
size and general contour were exactly
those of his wife. There could be no
mistake about it. It was the only
costume OF the kind in the room. He
approached her boldly, with no fear
Of being recognized. he halted in
front Of her.
'POOty squaw. hsaaid, in . guttu-
raj tone.
She looked at him. and her eyes
flashed marrily out from the smallor
i6ces Of her mask.
Noble Iniin Z she replied.
'Gquaw come from the far eastern
land /? he said, taking seat beside