Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-12-15
A GHOSTLY REVEL.

Nv husband and ! arrived at Rome
one sunny October day, and found that
ancient mistress of the world In her most !
festive array, and the people, equally fes-
tive, attired in quaint, fantastic costumes,
gliding through the streets, doing the
most audacious things under their masks
In short, il was one of those gala days at
Rome, when even the gloomiest and
most persistent dyspeptics there are some
Of that class even in sunny Rome) give
themselves up with charming abandon
to the most hilarious joy, and pelt each
other with bon bons flowers and other
sweet things. being young and Siddy.
was much enchanted by the gay fun, but
my grave, dignified husband looked on
the proceedings with an unfavOrable eye.
Roger" ! murmured, as we stood
watching the brilliant scene from our
balcony window, wouldn't it be fun TO
don masks and mantle and join the mas
oueraders, Oh, do, Roger, pleased" l
begged, laying my hand implOringly on
his arm and looking beseechingly up into
his grave face.
Join the maskers, my darling' Just
fancy how your aged husband would ap,
pear in q bandits outfit" he answered
with an indulgent smile and pat on my
head
"Oh! you needn't wear bandit suit"
| protested eagerly; "yOu know when
one is in Rome one must do as the Ro-
mans do, and the
Enough, enough yield, he replied,
laughing; your arguments are sweep
ing, my darling. II you attempted TO
prove by logic that the bost thing for me
TO do would be to cut my throat should
be convinced and do it at once"
Nonsense" l answered with dignity,
"I shouldn't ask you to do anything so
highly improper as that"
The moon had just risen and was
mingling her pale light with the burning
brands of the gay maskers when my hus
band and joined the throng, he attired
in the costume of a troubadour, over
which elderly reserve prompted him to
throw a picturesque, dark mantle, his
face covered by short, black mask; and
in a short crimson skirt pointed black bod
ice, high heeled slippers and flashing en-
broidered stockings. Over my head, in
true Spanish style, was thrown a large
lace veil, through which my arms and
neck cleaned $50 Roger saidD like rose
tipped snow.
''Isn't this deliciousy' ! murmured,
pinching the arm of the tall muffied in
diyidual beside me with somewhat of
a feeling OF awe.
"I'm glad you like it, my sweetheart"
answered my less enthusiastic husband,
dodging flying bouquet and catching
q sticky bon bon under his chin. MY
love-" exclaimed Roger, casting about in
| his mind for some excuse to leave the
surging crowds and thus escape the fly
ing missiles wouldn't this be good
time to visit Trajsn's palsce' You know
we've always wanted to see il"
Delightful! come on" l answered
laconically.
"Well, wait here a moment until find
out where it is" he said, leaving me in a
secluded spot and departing in search of
that most elusive phantom, information.
l waited until a unified figure glided
back to my side and slipping his arm
through mine drew me back to the
crowds again. We walked swiftly past
lighted booths and stately palaces, and
soon, leaving the giddy throngs behind
us, turned into narrow streets that be-
came more dark and tor:uous as we pro
ceeded.
Where on earth is the place, Rogers
| exclaimed at last, ready to sink with
fatigue and bresthlessness. But instead
of answering me, he laid his finger on
his lip, as il enjoining Inc TO silence.
And thinking that he meant to carry
out the joke dnto which he had plunged
for my sake) TO its fullest extent, said
no more and we continued our walk IN
silence It grew darker and darker until
we turned aside into a narrow lane Dor
dered by heavy clustering trees that ex-
cluded the very moonbeams. | would
gladly have turned back. for the place
struck damp chill 10 my heart, but not
wishing TO upset Rogers cherished plan
Of seeing Trajan's palace by moonlight
for little freak Of mine, merely drew
my lace closer about me and hurried on.
Suddenly / was startled by the sight of
a huge irregular building looming up be-
fore us, almost as though it had sprung
ont of the ground-so suddenly did ii
appear with its may arches and majes-
tic pillars, on which the moonlight
played, Transforming il into q most
weird, unearthly looking pile. stopped
invOluntarily, overcome by an undesira-
bic chilly feeling that made me draw
closer TO my muffiet husband; but being
gently impelled forward, we passed
through a heavy arched doorway into a
low, dark corridor, the end of which
could not see. Everything was dark,
unearthly, still, not q sound was heard
save the ghostly echo of our very foot
steps.
"Roger, Roger! can go no further"
/ hoarse)y whispered in unfeigned terror,
and would have fallen to the ground
with horror and fatigue, but felt cold
strong clasp on my wrist, and an arm
about my waist that drew me on in spite
of myself Numb with cold IA deathly
cold the like of which had never felt be
fore) and partially unconscious from
fright, I was borne along from one
damp corridor to another, now down a
few stone steps, now up a few, round
corners and angles and through endless
labyrinths until my brain reeled.
At last we turned aside into a bril-
liantly lighted room, still and silent es
the tomb, that dazzled my eyes like h
flashing gem set in a heavy, darksome
jet. That it was very old was evident
both TO the eyes and To the nostrils; the
tapestried walls We're furrOwed by the
claws Of fierce old time, and the once
rich furniture was Crumbling away as
though the years had sat too heavily
upon it, and from everything rose
damp, decayed chill that turned me
deadly cold.
Come, Roger" prayed; "have done
with your joke and let US leave this place
or shall die"
Withdrawing his arm from about my
waist, but still retaining his horrid,
cold clasp upon my arm, the muffied
dgure raised his hand, and drawing aside
his mask revealed to me the features of
my strange escort. My God! shall ever
fotget that face, those burning, hellish
eyes that looked at me with fiendish tri-
umph, or that cold, clammy grasp on my
wrist that sent shuddering chill through
my blood?
LET Iue go; let me 60" painted with
parched lips, sinking at his feet and striv-
ing to shut out the glare of his horrid
eyes. But the phantom, devil, fiend or
whatever he was, raised ME up with
mock tenderness.
Nay, my pretty one, you would not
fly from me who loves you so well'