Catoctin clarion., 1890-03-27

under the windows, and between them
was q fanciful figure in ballet costume
holding little lace mask before her
face -columbine of the pantomlmes
perhaps.
| discovered the house again after
some little losing Of myself in cross
streets, and, climbing .he steps, entered
Il square room, where a man was stitch
ing on sewing machine and four girls
were working away on masses of gauze
and silk as though they had no intention
Of stopping that night.
A fat lady. who seemed to be the
owner of the place, advanced tc meet
me, and listened, to me with u solemn
countenance.
"A masquerade ball." said she. AT
an elegant house Oh, to be sure. You
must gct yourself up we'll for that, a
young gentleman like you. ~oudn t
advise you to hire domino. l wouldn't.
It's very common, Is a domino. A King
Charles would be elegant, but we have
not one to night. There is Harry
VIII, but, bless you, it is too big-far
too Big
There's the red devil, ma am. said
the man at the machine.
There is, and handomc devil, too,
if say it that designed it'd handsome
devil. A club Of four gents ordered
them, but only three came for them.
They said the other one was obliged to
leave the city, and the fourth is on my
hands. You can look at it Looking
costs nothing. and it's very handsome
devil indeed. Get it out, Mat, get it
out, and let the young gent look at it.
A red cloth costume, with \ cloth tail,
horns and mask was produced. On its
bosom was embroidered an ace of spades.
A black cloak belonged to it, and was
! fastened over the breast with cord. II
struck me fayorably.
Cost price you shall haye it at, to get
your CUSTOM said the lady, "and
cheaper than hiring it, for you'll be
asked to great many masqnerades, no
doubt, and what would be more
elegantY
She seemed to know all about it ; |
knew nothing. ! paid her what PIE
sumo was fne price for the red devil
and carried it away with me. Shortly
I attlred myself in the costume aGd sent
for cab. | was an obi sct Of interest in
the small boarding house where |
dwelt, and was admired aud wondered
at IN the front parlor to my heart s
content.
"You've got stylish friends" said
young Spruce, who was in dry goods
store, ''if you know the Matbys. |
should 90 in for one Of the girls if |
were you They're pretty and will
have lots Of money. | wish | had the
chance you have.
All this was fatterlng; but time was
flying and the cab at the door. | en-
tered it. and soon found myself IN the
Maltby parlors.
Mr. Maltby and wife were receiving
everybody.
"lIcw do you do, Mephistopheles -
Mr.. Maltby said. You'll find some
more of the family in there. He ; ha
ha! III lay wager you are Captain
Jones
Evidently he did not krow me for
young Tom Parsons.
strutted in in az military fashion
rs possible, and made my way through
the crowd, admirlng the kings and
queens, contadinas and court ladies,
Martha Washlngtons and Spanish seno-
raa, until at last esped a figure which
I at first fancied must be my own
reflection in locking glass. 1t was
another red devil, IN no particular diff
ferent FROM myself, except that an ace
I of clubs was embroidered upon his
bosom where the spade appeared on
mine. As he car1e near enough fcr me
to notice this slight difference the demon
paused.
"How did you get here ~ he said ,
with an oath that | had always been
taught to consider as vulgar as it was
proiane. 1 thought it was all up with
YOU He evidently took me tor Il
friend. knew enough of masquerade
balls from literary point of view to
feel that it wss n.y duty to carry cn the
justification.
ASK no questions said, solemnly.
He nodded and walked away. Shortly
two other demons approached, exactly
like myself agAia, and Ike the other
friend also, save that one had a heart,
the other diamond embroidered on
| III, bo,on,