The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-03-16

" Az NOhiN hdhG iCAuSCu SUCH n request,
t and from such lips? Not gay, light hearted
young fellow, who, though sincerely grieved
l and, as he thought at the time, we'll nigh
heartbroken, at the loss of an affectionate and
indulgent father, yet found the year of mourn
ing uncommonly long and wearisome, and
longed to throw off at least some of the out
ward trappings of his woe.
II know who will look like Jay in pea
cocks plumes, he answered with LAUGH;
''but you, Anthony laying his arm affec
tionately on his brothers shoulder, 'syou.
with your black eyes and hair, will make a
noble Sir Wilfred or Sir Marmaduke or who.
ever you undertake to personate for the time
being"
Lady Halliwell drew her breath hard. as
she knew that her end was gained; then.
looking at the two, as they stood together in
amity and good fellowship, spasm passed
over her features, and pressing one hand to
her side, she murmured to herself:
4 Il must not repent-not now, it is too late.
| must needs go on for his sake-for Antho
nyi''
If on this day the unseen watcher could
again have followed Lady Isabella to the door
of the ''Closed Room when she was sup.
posed to be telling her beads and uttering
fervent ''Ave Mariasn and ''Pater Nostersn
before the carved ivory crucifix in her pri
yate oratory, what would he have beheld on
this occasion? The same noble lady again
kneeling in the dust of the past, and this time
before an open chestl But it would have
been necessary to have drawn nearer and
looked over her shoulder as she, with bated
breath and trembling hand drew forth its
hidden contents to the light. No ghastly
human remains, no moldering bones or blood
stained clothes were they; but ray of sun
light shining through the small, dusty, and
eobweb draped window panes showed the
rich bloom of carnation eolored velvet and
the simmer of white satin!
And so the invitations for the masked ball
at the Court were sent out far and wide,
causing infinite surprise and almost more
gossip than Sir Hugh second hasty marriage,
twenty years ago, had done. A fancy dress
ball, and masked, forsooth! Here was a
pretty state of affairs in a respectable country
house, and only year since the death of good
Sir Hugh; twas enough to make him turn in
his grave Be sure that foreign madame was
at the bottom of it. Notwithstanding which,
those who were loadest in their excIamations
OF outraged decorum we're the quickest to
procure themselves some fanciful attire in
which they might betake them to the scene of
revelry, and there disport themselves among
the motley throng.
1t was New Years Eve, the young Sir
Reignald's birthday.
Strange" he said to himself, as he rose
that morning, ''that should have dreamed
Of old Deb last night. How plainly | saw
her, with what looked ike big key in one
hand, and she seemed in terrible trouble,
too, and kept glancing over her shoulder at
something that looked like one of the old
family portraits in the background. Good
old SOUL | believe she would not be able to
rest in her grave if she thought i'll were
about TO befal me in any way. Though
what connection can there be between my
self and an old picture and rasty.loOkiug
key?'
At nine Of the clock on the evening Of
that day, both brothers, in their differert
costumes, descended the grand staircase
arm in arm and laughing loudly as at some
excellent jest. Both were nearly Of the same
height, in their broad toed shoes with large
roses on the instep; both wore flowing wigs
and both were eloSeiv maSkad
Faith, Anthony, that was capital ,iokeof
yours, that of deeeiving our lady iaosher
herself; but we must not let her discover the
trick VIC have played her until supper and the
hour for unmasking comes.''
They passed on and gained the great hall
where they were to receive their guests, who
soon began TO arrive-and wondered much
which of the twain who bade them welcome
was Sir Reginald and which Mr.. Anthony, so
well disguised were they = excusing the
absence Ofthe lady of the house, who would,
however, watch the dancers from the old
musicians gallery at the back, unsetn bat
seeing.
Then the music struck up and the dancing
began, though there was no ceremonial or
observance of precedent-all was freedom and
jollity.
"Good heavonslN said one of the elder
guests, attired as a Venetian Senator of the
sixteenth century, to another in the guise of
a Capuchin Friar, "do you see him in the
velvet and satin, and hat looped with an
emerald? Gadi tbs the very moral of the
portrait of the bad Sir Jonas himself, silver
hilted sword, gold laced cloak, and all.
THAT, replied the other, ''is either Sir
Reginald or Mr.. Anthony Halliwell--I know
not which, as he is masked-but tbs one or
the other; and, as you say, the likeness in
every detail is remarkable, and almost makes
one shudder, as though the dead man were
himself present among us; for it might be his
very portrait without the frame, and with the
addition of mask to hide the featuresl''
They passed on aud were lost in the crowd
but the remarks thus made were taken up by
others, and repeated from one to another,
until all were made acquainted with the fact
Of the remarkable resemblance borne by one
Of the two young men to that least worthy
member of the house of Halliwell, who had
died more than one hundred and 6fty years
before,
1t was within a few minutes of midnight,
when the unmasking was to take place, that
the lonely watcher in the minstrels' gallery
noticed slight disturbance in the hall below
The dance which was in progress gradually
came to stop, and the dancers begsn to con-
gregate round little knot of figures in gay
attire, near the lofty, old fashioned fireplace
''It works-surely it works!n she Kissed
between her teeth in fierce excitement; then
leaving her post in the gallery, she quickly,
but with tremulous step she in vain tried to
make firm, descended the narrow stairs and
found herself in the ball room Suddenly
from the midst of the group by the hearth
there came an awful cry of agony. "Antho-
ny's voice!' size whispered to herself, and
thrusting aside all who obstructed her way,
and who instantly gave place on recognizing
the tall, stately figure in black she reached
what appeared to be the centre of attraction,
and where gentleman in an Elizabethan
costumeiof blue and silver was supporting the
PROSTATE figure of another in rich, earnation