Nevada County picayune., 1890-11-06
And now you can go to the ball,

Ana now Notl can go to the ball, said the mother.
 Shall 1 dare? Will not find my costume vanishing, like poor Cinder- elias, Tn the midst of my dance with whatever stands for the young prince at the officers bail of the regiment l doubt if it will be here in the morn ing; besides l ought to advertise it.. If the iiend who presented a young lady with a black lace ball dress on the night of the -th, will kindly call, or something of that sort.''
 "Oh, we will look into the papers, of course, said tue mother, "but don't believe we will find anything. Fate intends you to go to the ball. !"
 So it seemed indeed.
 Fife went to the ball and her dress was pronounced charming. In pass ing I will mention to the reader that it was there she met the gentleman who afterward became her husband, and that much happened and all good fortune came to her through the demons gift of the ball dress.
 No one ever advertised fer the dress, and it hung in Bffie's ward robe until her wedding day. She never wore it again and never ex- pected to solve the mystery that sur rounded it.
 Fife had married a rich maa aad lived in very elegant style, and a man servant w.s one of thc nssessa- ries of the household. Mrs. Aek- land, who lived with her daughter, suggested Frenchman, and having advertised for such a persen can didate presented himself He had but one reference, but tiat was good one.
 II will tell you the reason l have no more, madam,' said he. Il have had my ambitions s-aesifed to go upon the stage. 1 even obtained a position-I played q demon in the last act of great spectacle at the
 theater. Eere wore seven ty-live demons--it was glorious. But alas, got into difficulties there through my good nat,He. The re- nowed Sonora N-- had heen play ing at the theater, and left behind her lace dress. She telegraphed that she would send her maid for it, for she was to wear it that night. Every moment was precious, and the old lady who had charge of me had sprained her ankle. My friend, she said to me, if you would but go down the long stairs and to the end of the passage, and wait with this parcel until Mile. Fanchon, the seno- ra's maid, comes for the dress, you will save Us all much trouble-you will not be wanted for an hour"
 II obliged her, of course. l even went into the damp alley of the back entrance anl waited there. was kept q tremendous time, and when at last young women rushed in l gave her the parcel like an idiot-without asking who she was. 1 gave it to the wrong woman. Fifteen minutes after the real maid arrived. Oh, there was a row! All l was worth would not have paid for the dress. But l was dismissed at once. l de- served it. It was the act of an idiot How well do l remember what l said to her-'you'll get a roasting, mamselle. Well, it was l who got the roasting. At first they accused me of stealing the dress, but"
 II am sure you tell the truth, said Fife, and engaged the man at once.
 That day Sonora V--- was as- tonished by receiving box which contained the long lost dress unin- jured.
 A letter which was nclosed told the story In full, but without giving any names, and Camile-the new water-never guessed that the lib- eral gift he received at Christmas time was offered, not to the accom- plished waiter, but to the demon who had brought about so much hap piness by his gift of ball dress TMary Kyle Dallas, in Preside Con- panion.
 Mistress What is little Johnny crying and yelling for! Give him what he wants. must write let ter, and l want everything quiet. Nursa---ss splpaSe ma'am he's yellinp