Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-07-02
THE RIVALS.

II was Young Count Linden's twenty
first birthday. and a grand fancy-ball
Was being given in his honor at his IA
theirs cOuntry-house in SchlOSs Mar
burr. in Westphalia. The fine old man.
sion was blaze of light, the scent of
flowers hung heavy in the air though it
was mid-winter, the music would have
inspired a hermit to dance. and the por-
traits of dead and gone Lindens looked
down from their frames upon as motley
a throng of fairies, demons, knights and
ladies' as had ever assembled In the
loftvrOomS. Among the cavaliers, every
one noticed Conrad Won Rosenhain, a
handsome young fellow of two-and
twenty. straight and 1.-THE. who, in his
costume borrowed from the Court of
Louis Nv. attracted the brightest eyes
in tie room. He wore a dOublet of
purple velvet, lilac silk stockings, shoes
of white kid. velvet cloak lined with
white satin. a plumed hat, and jeweled
sword: and, though he seemed uncOn-
scious enough. the vain young fellow
was enjoying immensely the sensation
be made.
The fourth quadrille was under way,
and Conrad, with a pretty little Asa
tian peasant as partner, was trying his
wit against hers, to the amusement of
all who overheard. But TO the young
knights flow of repartee there came
presently a sudden chilling shock; mid
way in the dance some one tapped him
on the shoulder and said, in Sepulchral
whisper
make yourself scarce as soon as
possible you have long rip in the
back of your stocking ~
The horror OF that moment was over
whelming for Conrad Won RoSenhaln-
be, the hero of the ball, changed to an
object Of Tidicule. if any one were rude
enough to laugh If he had only an
OyercOat or a shawl to hide himself un-
der-anything rather than that foolish
little cloak hanging 10 one shoulder and
the slaShed unmentiOnables stopping far
above lns knees. His mirth vanished,
and the little AlSatlan girl looked piqued,
and shrugged her pretty shoulders be-
cause her last sally of wit fell upon I'M
needing ears. Her cavalier sneaked
through the remainder of the quadrille
more Ike a whipped hound being put
through a trick than CAV cOUrtier, and
at its conclusion he vanished with the
briefeSt possible apology.
Raging at the flimsy products of all
modern looms, Won ROSenhain dashed
through the heavy silk pOrtiereS in search
Of some one to restore order to his toi-
let. 1t was big rent, and he wondered
that the people in the ballroom re-
strained their merriment as well as
they did. They were probably laugh
Ing at him now. cOnfOund them a
man in livery told him that by going to
the end Of a long corridor and pushing
open a certain door he would find one
Of the lady'S-maidS, who would take
the necessary stitches in the mlucky
stocking.
Following the mans directions, Won
ROSenhain found himself at length in
large dimly-lighted apartment, hung
at one end with half-drawn curtains,
through which a light cleaned. He
advanced quietly, and was about to
speak, when surprise at the tableau be-
fore him Silenced him. The lovely girl
sitting with the light glinting on her
far lar was no lady'S-maid; ir her
light blue velvet dress, with soft old
iace about the neck and sleeves, she
seemed more like young princess.
Nor were her surroundings out of keep
lng with her appearance. The walls of
the little bOudOir were hung with pink
lsh lowered silk, rare Turkish mats
covered the polished floor, there were
luXuiOuSly-cuShiOned dIvans, and the
low chair in which the girl sat was a
quaint fancy in leopard skin, with silver
claws for feet. She looked not more
than sixteen, or perhaps younger, and
The face bending over a mass of embroi-
uery-sllks on the table at her side was
lie lOveheSt Conrad had ever seen.
Il have mistaken the roOm,n he said
10 himself, land had better take my
sell of as quietly as possible"
byt, as he turned, he slipped and
nearly fell, and the girl startled looked
up frightened.
Pray do not be alarmed, - said Con =
rad, advancing. 81 was sent in search
OF maid who would mend a rent in
my dress but | must have mistaken
The mans directions.
No, there is no mistake-I sent my
Ilald la led half an hour ago, as she
mad bad headache. Perhaps | could
Iemeiy the defect in your Dress" the
Sltl returned, with a charming smile.
>, Oh, no; not for worlds would trou-
Ole you! will 90 in search of some
one else" said Conrad, with something
Ike blush.
But the pretty little fairy would not
near Of his going, and, almost before he
realized what she was doing, she had
threaded a needle with a bit of lilac
sAk and had dropped upon her knees
otlo-e him on the VOLTS skin upon
which he stood. Deity and quickly
sic lnended the rent in the much-reviled
sucking, and rose lightly to her feet,
scarcely touching Conrad's arm offered
In assistance.
aln very much Obliged to you,"
to-aD lhe young man, IN ernest tones,
ana -,
~, never mind thanks for such a
% m.le Any one would have done as
T,.1I |.eh. Now you may 90 back to the
Lo, LIE AiSaiian peasant with whom you
o,t 'een flirting all the evening""
iOg0. ''''' 'i-e ~ "
90 YOU have seen me before II. aD-