Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-11-18
AGHOSTLY ROMAN EVRL..

ons sunny October day, and found that
ancient mistress of the world in her
most festive array, and the people.
equally festive, attired in quaint, fan,
tastic costumes, gliding through the
streets doing the most audacious things
under the masks. In short it was M
Of THOSE gala days at Rome when even
the glcomiest and most persistent
dyspeptics there are some of that class
even in sunny Rome) give themselves
up with charming abandon to the
most hilarions JOY, and pelt each other
with b%on-bons, flowers and other sweet
things. l being young and giddy, was
enchanted by the gay fun. but my
grave dignified husband looked on the
proceedings with an u~nfavorables eye.
Roger / murmured, as we stood
watching the brilliant scene from our
balachy window, "would't it be fun to
don masks and mantle and join the
masq''eraders? Oh, do, Roger pleasew
begged, laying my hands imploringly
on his arm and looking beseechingly
up into his grave face.
"Join the maskers, my darlingpp
Just fancy how your aged husband
would appear in a bandits outfit" he
answered with an irdulgent smile and
pat on my head.
"Ohl you needn't wear a bandits
suit" / protested eagerly; ayou know
when n is in Rome one must do "a
the Romans do, and. the"
Enough, enough, / yield, "he replied,
laughing, "your arguments are sweep
ing, my darling. If you attempted to
prove by logic that the best thing for
me to do would be to cut my throat
should be convinced and do it at once"
"Nocsensei' Is houldn't ask you to
do anything so highly improper as
The moon had just risen and was
minging her pale light with the bnrn.
ing brands of the gay maskers when
my husband and Joined the throng, he
attired in the costume of a trouba-
dour, over which elderly reserve
prompted him to throw a picturesque,
dark mantle, his face covered by a
short, black mask; and / in q short
crimson skirt, pointed black bodice,
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 said) like rose
tipped snow.
Isn't this de-licious?" I murmured,
pinching the arm of the tall mufled
: individual beside me with somewhat
Of a feeling OF awe.
"Im glad you like it, my sweetheart"
answered my less enthusiastic husband
todgirg a flying bouquet and catching
II sticky bon-bOn under the chin. "My
iove," exclaimed Roger, casting about
IN his mind for some excuse to leave
the surging crowds and thus escape
the flying missiles, "wouldn't this be
n good time to visit Trajan's Palace?
You know we've always wanted to see
it,"
Delightful come on" I answered
laconically.
swell, wait here a moment until l
find out where 1t is" he said, leaving
,nr I'M secluded spot and departing in
ecWch of that most elusive phantom,
itiormation. / waited until a muAlel
IRE glided back to my side, and
.iping his hand through mine drew
;ae back to the crowds again. We
walked swiftly, passed lighted booths
aWI stately palaces, and soon, leaving
t,iie giddy throngs behind us, turned
ilto narrow streets that became more
dark aud tortuous as we proceeded.
"Where on earth is the place, Roger?'
exclaimed at last. ready to sink with
fatigue and breathlessness. But in
stead Of answering me, he laid his lin
ger on his lip, as if enjoining Inc
"a silence. And thinking that he
meant to carry out the joke Unto which
he had plunged for my sake) to its full
est extent, | said no more, and we con-
iipued walk In silence. II grew
darker and darker until we turned
aside into a narrow lane bordered by
heavy clustering trees that excluded
the very moonbeams. / would gladly
have turned back, for the place struck
a damp chill to my heart, but not
wishing to upset Rogers cherished
nlAn of seeing Trajin's palace by moon.
hsht for a little freak of mine, !
merely drew my lace closer about me
and hurried on. Suddenly / was
startled by the sight Of a huge irregu-
lar building looming up before us,
almost as though 1t had sprung out of
the grourd--so suddenly did it APP
pear with its may arches and majestic
pillars, ON which the moonlight played,
transforming it into a most wierd, un-
earthly looking pile. stopped in
voluntarily, overcome byan undesirable
chilly feeling that made me draw closer
to my Ipufled husband; but being
gently impelled forward, we passed
through q heavy srched doorway into
a low, dark corridor, the end of which
/ could not see. Everything was dark,
J unearthly, still not q sound was heard
save the ghostly echo of our very
footsteps.
Roger, Rogerl l can go no further"
I hoarsely whispered In unfeigned
terror, ana would have fallen to the
ground with horror and fatigue, but I
felt a cold, strong clasp On my wrist,
and nm arm about nv waist that drew