The Washington critic., 1890-03-24
THE MASQUERADE BALL.
Some Startling Developm ments of a Re-
cent Unmasking.
From Grin.

From Grip.
A masked ball was to be given in the
Hotel de-ville for the benefit of the en-
fans trouves and two handsome young
men Of the petite noblesse named AL.
phonse Hypolite de Dudemont and
Victor d Emousse were holding COM
mittce of ways and means.
II yesterday made one hundred
francs on a rise in Panama Canal,
said one. And / a like sum at bill
liards," said the other. "a masque-
rade at the Hotel de-ville." said both.
'Let us 60"
Arrived at the hotel, what a dazzling
scene was there Two thousand tongues
clacked in the sweet language Of France.
Four thousand feet, equivalent to 10000
toes, secreted in twice two thousand slip
pers with high heels, slid along The
chalked floor. Two thousand eyes
looked love TO (2,000 olher) eyes that
spoke again" White, orange, blue,
canary, carmine magenta, Nile mud,
ducks back, crushed tomato, pumpkin
green and all the colors Of the most
vivid fancy, intermingling with Pulais
Royal gems, made a rain of rainbovs.
All the old clo' shops of fair Paris had
turned out their contents for the occa-
sion. 1t was scintillating sheen 1t
was heaven.
Victor d'Emousse early paired off
with a lively debG1deur and was seen no
more. (Tbe author here pauses to
explain that a debGrdeur means q she
stevedorc.)
There were three individuals in that
gay assemblage that Immediately at
tracted the attention of Alphonse
Hypolite de Dudemont The first was
a richly y-dressed lady, apparently in her
first youth, representing Diane de
Poictiers, favorite of Henry IL; the
second was a slim, active figure, carry
ing the powdered hair and rich apparel
of Ninon d Enclos, the favorite for half
century or more of a great many peo-
pie The third was punchy crusader
in his house costume, with a clam shell
in his cap TO show he had been to
Palestine.
Our Hypolite first made the acquaint-
ance of Diane, but was much ANNOYED
to find the crusader making ardent at
tempts to attract the elady's good graces.
Next our hero took up with Ninon, but
was still more disguised with the ro-
tund figure continuing to dog his heels
and trying to cut him out. Deuce take
the crusader.
Grown desperate Hypolite took lady
on each arm and treated them to cham.
payne at the buffet. II is impossible
for any man, even Frenchman, to
make love satisfactorily to two ladies at
once, one on each arm. He therefore
skillfully dropped Ninon and retired
with Diane to recess, where he made
the running very fast indeed.
1t happened just at this time that
pickpockets had been operating and
some jewelry was missing, whereupon
the. authorities of the ball quietly cir
culated that the company should uu-
! mask.
To the great wrath of NJ dc Dude
mont he found that the fat man of the
cTusades had followed him to the cur.
tained recess and was again making
play to attract the attention of the fair
Diane.
Monsieur, said Hypolite, ''your at
tentions are obtrusive. ! won't have il.
demand satisfaction and require you
tO llnulask.
The crusader contcmptuously tore
off his mask and dashed it at the feet
of Alpbonse Hypolite de Dudemont.
Oh, horror! it was his father
On seeking the stern and bellicose
visage of the unmasked crusader, the
lady so fondly leaning on the arm oi
M. Alphouse, gave little screetch and
would have fallen. With a tender
hand he removed her mask and gaZed
on the features beneath.
Ciell it was his motherl
AT this moment the fair creature will
the crutched stick joined the group
and, not perceiying anything wa,
amiss, gaily tapped him on the arm and
said in mincing voice; "Recrean
knight, l have been seeking you. Is il
thus that you keep faith with your font
nymph?'
Even as she spoke an usher ap
preached the Ninon and, with many
apologies, informed her that the Pre-
feet peremptorily required all TO un
mask. Reluctantly the iair being un
loOsed the strings and stood disclosed tC
the eyes of Alphonse Hypolite.
| Dieu ii was his grandmother
Next day the body of AlphonsC
Hypolite de Dudemont was found float
ing in the dark gray waters of the
| Seine.