The Wilmingtonian., 1886-07-03
The Masked Ball.

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Mexico stood, many years ago, fine, large
old house. Over the portal was the coat-of
arms, of the noble family of Verano. Through
the delicate iron scroll-work of the gates
might be seen large "patio," or courtyard
with fountain playing in the middle, and
beautiful flowers growing all around. Fol
many years but few visitors were allowed to
enter, for the master of the house was old
and feeble, and saw hardly any one but the
priest and the doctor.
There was one bright thing in that dreary
house and that was the old Counts grand
daughter. She was 16 years old, and as
pretty and sweet little tairy as ever was
seen in the City of Mexico. She was the life
of the house, and there was not a creature in
it from the solemn old major-domo to the
groom in the stable, but would willingly
have died for the little Countess Teresta de
Verano. She was small, slight, and agile,
with tiny hands and feet. Her head was
beautifully set upon her shoulders, and her
great black eyes made curious contrast to
the masses of rich brown hair coiled round
and round the small head. Her mother had
been beauty, and had died when she was
born. Her father lived with the old Count
in the dreary old palace. But nothing could
sadden Teresita's spirits. Her laugh was
like peal of bells, and she had sweet, coax
ing ways. Her father was man of refine
ment and taste, and adored his little
daughter, all the more that she resembled in
many ways the mother whom he had loved
so dearly.
At last the old Count de Verano died, and
his son lived quietly with his daughter III the
1reary old palace. The term of mourning
having expired, the whole city was excited
by the news that the Count de Yerano was
going to give masked ball to introduce
Teresita into society.
Many years had passed since his old friends
had crossed tine threshold, and great was the
curiosity of those who were fortunate to be
invited. The house was said to be haunted,
and all were anxious to see what the old pal
ace looked like inside. The evening came,
and the old palace was brilliant with thou
sand lights. The rooms were hung with
choice old tapestries and the silver and the
gold chandeliers sparkled with lights and re-
flected thousand different coors. The
walls were hung with old armor, and the
broad marble stair-cases were thronged with
people dressed in dominos and masks. The
guests were more or less startled, therefore
at meeting man dressed entirely in armor
with visor down, who wore neither domino
or mask. He seemed to know no one, and
was always alone. The clanking of his ar
NOR and sword could be heard long way
off 4; and as he came near, people stepped
aside SO chilly did the air become as he
strobe past.
1t had heen so arranged between the Count
and his daughter that they themselves
should not wear dominoes and masks. Ter
esita looked very lovely in her white gauzy
draperies, and had no lack ofpartners for the
dances. Her simplicity and gaiety charmed
all hearts, and her fathers heart sweled
when he heard his darling praised
The only thing that marred the genera
enjoyment was the entrance from time to
time of the man in armor He walked
Straight through the rooms, and the conver-
sation and merriment died away as he pas.
sed. People wondered in whispers who the
strange knight might be. Some suggested
that the house was haunted, and that per-
haps this was the ghost. In short, all sorts
of suggestions were made Teresta was at
first too full of pleasure to be disturbed by
the Knight, but she could not help noticing
the disturbed looks of the people as the
knight passed through the rooms, and the
dead silence which fell upon them ALL
''NEi padre" she said, ''who is the strange
caDallero dressed in armor who walks about
alone?"
"What caballero ?'' asked Don Jayne,
turning pale. 81 have seen no one in ar
NOR"
'Where are your eyes, papa?" cried Ter
esita. 1--WE have all seen him, and you could
hear his sword and armor clatter mile
away. Why, there he comes now Don't
you see him? Can't you hear him ~
Don Jayne turned white to the lips. He
saw Id heard nothing himself, but he knew
that the appearance of the ghost of the house
portended disaster.
At last the time came to unmask. 1t wa
like a transformation scene; every one
bloomed out in gay costume, and lent addi-
tional brilliance to the already beautiful
rooms. The servants handed round wine
and cake, chocolate aud ices, and the air
was filled with the hum of voices. But
after the first taste first one guest and then
another set down his glass with a look of
disgust. The wine looked like rich heavy
Burgundy, but it tasted like blood. At that
moment the Knight in armor entered the
room. The voices were hushed, and all gaz-
ed at the figure which strobe hurIiedly
across the floor. But Teresita quietly left
her seat, aud, approaching the figure said
'Sir Knight will you not join us now at
supper?"
There was no answer,and the guests shud-
dered and covered their eyes. When they
looked again the Knight had gone, and Ter
esita lay on the floor in dead faint. She
soon recovered her senses, made light of the
matter, and was among the gayest of the
company for the rest of of the evening.
$50 much for trying to be polite to straug-
ers' she said, laughing. perhaps he is
mad, poor thing"
Don Jayne could neither see nor hear the
knight in armor, but he bad heard enough