Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-04-15
THE MASQUERADE BALL
Some Startling Developments Of o
Recent Unmasking.
,Alphonss Hypolite de Dudcmont Meets
Pleasant Little Family Party ut tho
Hotel de Vile and Forthwith
Commits Suicide.

A masked ball was to be given in tho
Hotcl-de-Villo for the benefit of the en-
fans trouvcs, says Grip, and two hand
some young men of the petite noblcsso
named Alphonse Hypolite do Dudemont
and Victor d'Emousso were holding q
committee Of ways and means.
81 yesterday made ono hundred francs
on q rise in Panama canal" said one.
"And a like sum Mt billiards" said the
other. "a masquerade at tho Iiotcl-dc-
WIFE," said both. "Lct us go"
Arrived at the hotel, what n 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
slippers with high heels, slid along tho
chalked floor. Two thousand "eyes
looked love to $1,000 other) eyes that
spoke again" White, orange, blue,
canary, carmine, magenta, Nile mud,
ducks back, crushed tomato, pumpkin
greenland all tho colors OF the most
vivid fancy, intormingling with Palais
Royal gems, made rain of rainbows.
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'Emoussc carly paired of with
lively de6ardeur and was seen no more.
(The author hero pausos to explain that
q de6drdeur means n shc stevcdore.)
There were thrco individ uals in that
gay asscmblage that immediately at
tracted tho attention Of Alphonso Typo
lite do Dudcmont. Tho first was
richly-dressed lady, apparently in hcr
first youth, representing Diane de
Poictiers, favorite Of Henry H.; tho
second was slim, active figure, carry
ing an ebony crutched stick and wear
ing the powdered hair and rich apparel
OF Ninon d'Enclos, tho favorito for half
n century or moro OF great many peo-
pie. Tho third was n punchy crusader
in his house costume, with n clam she'll
in his cap to show he had boon TO Palcs-
tine.
Our Hypolite first made the acquaint-
anco Of Diane, but was much annoyed to
find tho crusader making ardent at
tempts to attract the lady's good graccs.
Next our horo took up with Ninon, but
was still moro disgustcd with tho ro-
tund figure continuing to dog his heels
and trying to cut him out. Deuce take
tho crusader.
Grown desperate Hypolite took lady
on each arm and treated them to cham
pagno at tho buffet. 1t is impossible
for any man, even Frenchman, to
mako lovo satisfactorily to two ladies at
once, ono on each arm. He therefore
skillfully dropped Ninon and retired
with Diane to recess, whore he made
the running very fast indeed.
1t happened just at this timc that
pickpockets had been operating and
some jewelry was missing, whcrcupon
the authorities Of the ball quietly cir
culated that the company should un-
mask.
To tho great wrath OF NJ. de Dudcmont
no found that tho fat man of the cru
sades had followed him to the cur
tanned recess and was again making
play to attract tho attention of the fair
Diane.
"Monsieur," said Uypolitc, your, at
tcntions arc obtrusivc. | won't have it.
demand satisfaction and require you
to unmask."
Tho crusader contcmptuously tore OF
his mask and dashed it at tho feet of
Alphonsc Hypolito dc Dudcmont
Oh, horrorl it was his father.
On seeking tho stern and bcllicose
visage Of tho unmaskcd crusader, the
lady so fondly leaning on the arm Of NJ.
Alphonse, gave little screcch and
would have fallen. With n tender hand
no removed her mask and gazcd on the
features beneath.
Cicll it was his mother.
At this moment the fair creature with
tho crutched stick joined tho grouI
and, not perceiving anything was
amiss, gayly tapped him on tho arm an1
said in mincing voice: "Rccrcan
knight, have been seeking you. Is i
thus that you keep faith with your font
nymph?"
Even as she spoke an usher ap
preached tho Ninon and, with man.
apologies, informed her that tho pre-
feet pcromptorily required all to un
mask. Reluctantly the fair being un
loosened tho strings and stood disclose'
to the eyes Of Alphonse Hypolitc.
Dteui it was his grandmother.
Noxt day tho body OF Alphons
Hypolite do Dudemont was found float
ing in the dark, gray waters OF tn
Seine.
Divorced from u Dead Husband.
Tho rare ceremony Of divorcing