The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-05-15
THE MASQUERADE.

wis, VIC 10 Sb4AS W Ao'N 'HNh
funr' said Ida Cotton. "Nell Evans
has invited us all to Evansdale, to
masquerade party, and you're to select
YOUR costumes at once!"
There was universal outcry of Joy at
this pronunciamento, which was shout
ed in the sweetest of silyery sopranos
from the top of desk.
Madame Morini's young ladies were
enioying their noon recess on this
bright glittering February day, and
everybody knows what noise twenty
school girls can make, if they choose.
"a masqueradeYn said Marian Hamp-
shire. How delightfully."-
"Can we select any dress we pleaseP"
said beautiful Miriam Holley.
Would it be scion les regleS to 90
without any especial dress, if one has
a fresh white muslin?n timidly asked
Alice Appleton, whose mother was poor
and who earned her own board and
tuition by giving lessons to the smaller
girls.
"Will madame consent?" breathless-
" questioned Louise Hayward.
MADAME will consent to anything
that Nell Evans chooses to ask" tri-
umphantly announced Ida Cotton.
Nell was one of madame's graduates.
you know, and pattern damsel in all
respects And if Nell were to request
that we should all attend her masquer-
ade costumed in pink tinsel, and walk
ing on our heads, madame would say,
Quite right, my dear, very sensible
idea of yours. | shall be delighted to
have my young ladies 60.
There was gentle laugh at this, and
then commenced the joyful task of Sc
lecting personalities, studying up the
costumes in old engravings and antique
fashion plates, and turning over the
combined stores of the whole school,
in sash-ribbons, artificial flowers, jew
els, and plumes.
For although the graduating class,
which alone was invited, consisted of
only eight young ladies, the interest
concerning Miss Evans masquerade
party was disseminated through the
whole school in no measured degree.
Aud Alice Appleton's gentle heart in
particular beat with innocent anticipa-
ton, for she had sometimes fancied
that Captain Hugo Evans, the brother
of the pretty hostess, had looked upon
her with a tenderer glance than he
vouchsafed to the other young ladies
of his acquaintance.
To be sure she had no party-dress,
but the individuality suggested by Mi
riam Holley, "a Snowflake" would be
sufficiently interpreted by her simple
muslin gown, with few of the starry
white flowers of the Catalonian jas
mine in her hair.
But you re not going to let those
girls 90 alone?" said Miss Polly Prout,
who was Madame Morini's cousin,
houSekeeper, and chief counselor.
Certainly ami" said Madame Mo-
rini why should / not? 1t is only
to dear Nelps house.
at wouldn't be at all propesn said
Miss Polly, pursuing up her thin lips,
and the hearts of the eight young girls
sank simultaneously into their boots.
Such party of giddy girls with no
responsible companion! Madame Mo-
RIM, | wonder at you! 1t would not be
allowable unless indeed"
"Unless what?' said Madame Morini,
and the eight lasses listened breath
lessly for Miss Polly Prouts reply.
"Unless | am to go, too, as their
chaperon," said Miss Polly.
ooh that wouldn't be according to
etiquette, cried the girls in chorus;
'Nell didn't invite Miss Polly Prout."
"Will You be silent, young ladies!'
said Miss Polly, rapping on the desk
with wooden ruler, in a sort of auto
cratic way OF hers, which the girls es-
pecially disliked. MADAME MOrini
certainly cannot have given the matter
due consideration, or she would at
once perceive the improperly of the
original plan"
And Madame Morini, who was an
amiable easy-going lady, governed in
most matters by her cousins energetic
will, finally gave way, and announced
her conviction that Miss Polly Prout
was right
u can put on my green gown and
tin-foil-covered helmet, and 90 as Mi
nerva, said Miss Polly Prout; land
then | can keep my eyes on the young
ladies all the evening
"What have we done that spy
should be set upon our actionsp' said
Ida Cotton Indignantly, when they
were by themselves.
Minerva, indeed! cried Marian
Hampshire, with proh usiou of her
plump chin and screwing of her cher
ry mouth so exactly in imitation of
Miss Polly Prout that all the girls burst
at once into spasmodic giggle.
Hateful, forward thingn sputtered
Louise Hayward. why, she'll spoil
every bit of our fun!n
"How dare she obtrude herself. I'M
invited, upon Nell Eyans?n said Miri-
am Holley.
She sha'n't come" said lauohino
Kate Kelsey; ''she shall never cross
Nell's Threshold
But how will you help it?" said
Alice Appleton
''We'n see, was Hates enigmatic
answer
The next week was one of glad pre-.
paration for the forthcoming event
and no one was more difficult to pleas,
or more exacting in her selection OF
materials, and her ceaseess calls upor
the aid of the young ladies, than Mis-.
Polly Prout who ordered new "bang'
~ vtnoQu chestnut h air for IA A nncoC in ,