The examiner., 1886-07-17
THE MASKED BALL.
by Maria Howard.

by Maria Howard.
In one of the broadcast streets of the City
of Mexico stood, many years ago, fine,
large old house. Over the portal was the
coat-of- arms, of the noble family of Yer
ano 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. For 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
granddaughter She was 16 years old
and as pretty and sweet a little fairy 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-domos to the groom in the stable,
but would willingly have died for the
little Countess Teresita de Verano. She
was small, slight, and agile, with tiny
hands and feet. Her head was beaut1-
fully set upon her shoulders, and her
great black eyes made curious contrast
to the masses of rich brown hair coiled
mother had been a beauty, and had died
when she was born. Her father lived
with the old Count in the dreary old
palace. But nothing could sadden Ter
esita's spirits Her laugh was like peal
Of bells, and she had sweet. coaxing ways.
Her father was man of refinement and
taste, and adored his little daughter, all
the more that she resembled in many
WAYS the mother whom he had loved SO
dearly. A.# +-5- s# ts
At last the old Count de Verano died,
and his son lived quietly with his daugh-
ter in the dreary old palace. The term OF
mourning having expired, the whole city
was excited by the news that the Count
de verano was going to give masked
ball, to introduce Teresita into society.
Many years had passed since his old
friends had crossed the 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 palace looked like in
side. The evening came, and the old
palace was brilliant with thousand
lights. The rooms were hung with choice
old tapestries, and the silver and gold
chandeliers sparkled with lights and re-
fiected a thousand different colors. The
walls We're 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 al
ways alone. The clanking OF his arn1or and
sword could be heard long way off; and
l.
chilly did the air become as he strobe
past.
1t had been arranged between the
Count and his daughter that they them
selves should not wear dominoes and
masks. Teresita looked very lovely In
her white gauzy draperies. and had no
lack of partners for tie dances. Her sim
plicity and gaiety charmed all hearts, and
her fathers heart swelled when he heard
his darling praised.
The only thing that marred the general
enjoyment was the entrance from time to
time of the man in armor. He walked
straight through the rooms, and the con-
versation and merriment died away as he
passed. People wondered in whispers who
the strange knight might be. Some sug-
gested that the house was haunted, and
that perhaps this was the ghost. In short
all sorts of suggestions were made,
Teresita 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.
stMi padre" she said. sswho is the
strange caballero dressed in armor who
walks about alone?"
sWhat caballero?" asked Don Jayne,
turning pale. ''I have seen no one Ia
arruor"
''Where are your eyes, papas" cried
Teresita. 1--WE have all seen him. and
you could hear his sword and armor
chatter mile away. Why, there he
comes nowl Don't you see him? Can't
you hear him"
Don Jayma turned white to the lips.
He saw and heard nothing himself, but
he knew that the appearance of the ghost
Of the house portended disaster.
At last the time came to unmask. II
was like transformation scene; every
one bloomed out in gay costume, and lent
additional brillianceto the already beauti-
full rooms. The servants handed round
wine and cake, chocolate and 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 look of disgust. The wine looked
like rich, heavy Burgundy, but 1t tasted
like blood. At that moment the Knight
in armor entered the room. The voices
were hushed, and all gazed at the figure
which strobe hurriedly across the floor.
But Teresita quietly left her seat, and ap-
preaching the figure, said:
Sir Knight, will you not join us now
at supper?" -...,-... ......
There was no answer, and the guests
shuddcred and covered their eyes. when
they looked again the Knight had gone,
and Teresita lay on the floor in dead
faint. She soon recovered her senses,
however, made light of the matter, and
was among the gayest Of the company for
the rest of the evening.
So much for trying to be polite to stran-