Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-02-21
A Masquerade.


party and we spoke to the general about
it. He was fine, black-eyed, white
haired, red-cheeked old gentleman,
courteous in the extreme, and always
amiable; but when we said to him
won't you join us and take a charac-
teri" he frowned down upon us from his
six foot of height and said without any
attempt at civility whatever:
"NO, / won't. I'll have nothing to do
with masquerade" and marched away.
In few moments, however, he repented
him, and marched back.
"I'll tell you why" he said, eff you
care to listen. was born in Georgia,
you know, and there I lived while I was
young. We were very sociable set Of
people and enjoyed ourselves in every
way. One winter we took to having
masquerades, and [ made a great success
in my characters. Other people were
found out but never I. I had fresh dis
guise and good one every time. took
pains about it, and altered my voice and
my walk, as an actor should, to suit the
role. In no case has any one found out
who was until l unmasked. And now
the last masquerade Of the season was to
be given by Mr.. and Mrs. Peyton-under
their auspices, rather, for it was really
Miss Sally Peyton's party.
Il
my reputation as an actor, and I racked
my brains to think of a new character
At last determined to go as a negro,
and having seen a cOmical rascal on the
road, made myself up as much like him
as possible, in a green baize jacket and
white apron, with big standing collar
of striped pink and white, and Woolly
wig of immense proportions. Instead OF
wearing mask, BACKED my face with
a preparation which was an excellent
imitation of the genuine black skin, and
wore COmiCal mustache and side whisk-
ers, which l gummed on. My sisters
were going to the party. but would not
ride with them, for believed that a Sc
cret was never safe after it was divided,
and dressed after the others had gone,
and rode over to the Peytons' on horse
back.
cit was a long way and the night was
cold and though l had my cloak about
me, certainly would have been more
comfortable in the close carriage. The
houses that l passed stood back from the
road. Though it was winter, the pines
were still green, but the other trees were
bare. The ground was frosty, and echoed
under my horses tread, and as 1 ap-
preached the tavern the lights looked
bright and cheerful.
81 think / should have stopped to
warm my toes at the fire and my inner
man with something of which you ladies
disapprOve, but that my disguise forbade
it, and after staring in at the door a mo-
ment l rode on, not without a sigh. AS
1 did so / saw man at the door make a
signal to another who made haste to join
him. Perhaps they recognized my horse,
and it provoked me to think [ might be
betrayed. l put spurs to my horse, and
when I heard the sound of hOofs behind
/ romede faster. 1t was at a point where
three roads met at a bridge over a rapid
stream that my pursuers gained upon me,
and two armed men arrested my pro-
gress.
''Halt, or we firep cried rough voice
at my ear, and my bride was seized, as
supposed, by highwayman
Generally l carried pistol with me
but in the excitement of making up for
my character had left it behind me.
was unarmed; but, after all, l reflected il
/ could pass for negro might ride on
at will, my handsome cloak perhaps the
only forfeit. / threw it of, and in my
best imitation of the negro style, eX-
claimed:
"' What massa want of poor ole brack
Benz Ole niger goin' oman errand. Ole
niger got no money, got no watch, got
no muffin Ole Ben ant done muffin
wrong, sartin sure, massa-'
"'HOld your tongue, you rascal l'
cried one of the men. This is our man,
eh, Smith, You're Mr.. Whitney,s Jim
You robbed him of fifty dollars yester-
day and ran away. knew you at sight
you black thief you. But whose horse
you've got passes me. Ride back be-
tween us orit will be the worse for you.
Gentlemen replied, In my most
civil manner, you have made very ex
cusable mistake, but I can explain who
am. am not a negro; am no more
black than you are"
"At this the men burst into a roar O.
laughter, bade me hold my tongue, anC
ride on. 1 saw that they were both very