The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-06-05

trance of King Carnival, but plenty OF
gaudily dressed men of extremely Teu-
tonic countenance helped to give somewhat
of the appearance OF full masked ball.
1t was curious to notice how differently
different people regarded the affair. The
honest German burghers came with their
families, seeming to find nothing improper
in bringing them. saw several small
girls with fair hair and tinseled dresses
moving about in the crowd apparently per-
fectly at home. Up in the second gallery
sat quite a number of folk who looked
as sober as if they were at a lecture;
in the prosoenium boxes were knots of
women draped as blackly as possible, who
talked together mysteriously and made
little sallies on to the floor guarded by
pickets and vedettes of anxious cavaliers;
unattached maskers ran about here and
there, teasing one man, flying from an
other, bravely dressed women, scarcely
masked at all, sat about in the parquet cir
Gle; and the men were everywhere.
Oh the menl had heard tales, and had
general idea that they went on the sly;
but to see the literary young men, and the
sober middle aged married men, and the
grave lawyers, and the stiff necked physi-
clans actually there in the flesh was too
arm, and telling him to keep general
eye on my movements but not to appear
to belong to me, started off on a career of
amusement. caught old Mr.. Pelican
waddling about in huge delight, laughing
and gobbling. tapped him on the shoul-
der and whispered to him. that his grand
daughter was following him in blue
mask, and that she was going to bring his
wife after half-past ten.
made out Lefty Risquict through her
Disguise and nearly scared her to death by
telling her that Johnny Woodcock Che was
crazy about her at that time) had found
out that she had come, and was in an
awful state, swearing vengeance on the
man who had brought her. left Mr.. Lat
itude in speechless astonishment, having
asked him with tender solicitude if he had
been careful about his fannels, and had
put his pills and his powders in his pocket;
and oh, how enjoyed myself with Pennyl
! came upon him quite suddenly in the
middle of the room. He was surveying the
scene with look of thorough enjoyment
on his face and a flower in his buttonhole.
tapped him ON the shoulder.
swell, my DEAR" said he, ''and what do
you want?"
81 know you," said in squeaky tones.
"Do your Well. I'll warrant I know
you"
"You are Mrs. Charters husband" said
|, and turned as if to run away. AS I ex-
pected, he was after me in moment,
laughing and a little red in the face, not
knowing whether to be displeased or
amused.
"You certainly are not Mr.. Charters
wife," he said. '"rake my arm and see if
don't know who you are"
We slipped out together into the cor
ridor
"Now take care what you say to me-"
said |. "IIow do you know that am not
in Mrs. Charters confidence2"
81 know you would be too honorable to
repeat to her what am going to say to
you," he replied. 81 know you pretty
WELL"
"Yes?"
"And am very glad to have chance to
speak to you in this way, for now 1 can
tell you what the cold atmosphere of So
ciety in which we have formerly met has
always frozen on my lips"
"Ah" said l.
''Yes-often have seen you in the-er--
the giddy whirl, looking like Aurora"--
"Goodnessr' said |. "You know am
blonde"
81 told you knew you," said he "Can
not see your eyes? Don't know your
voice2 Yes, often have seen you, beauti
full as the Gay, and-and the sight of you
has almost foored me-" This last was
rather unpoetical.
"Ah, Mr.. Charter" said l, pressing his
arm, "tEis is very dangerous. Alasi ought
not to have come with you"
fl,a for, ,foft co ho
squeezing my arm in return till it was
almcs. Hack and blue and gazing at me
with the most egregious pair of sleeps
eyes. cniy sighed.
Don't fol remember what said to you
the last time we met-ati"- This was
rather c.eo for Penny
'Aj Ginnrrf" said l. "When you gave
me sorie almonds and asked me if knew
what The gilt OF an almond meant in
Arabia"
("Good Lordl" could almost hear him
saying 70 himself, ito whom did say thati
| must have been coming it rather strongly
IT told you that did not know" said l.
II said it coldly, but | do know. l was
afraid to say I did, for | feared that my
feelings would overpower me-" And
sighed again.
This last touch entirely overcame him,
and for half an hour amused myself by
making him commit every description Of
folly Though could not make him tell
me who he thought | was, still guessed
his suspicious, and that was something
He begged me for rose till began to
think he was crazy, and, in short, he ''gave
himself away" as completely as the faith
full heart of wife could possibly have
wished. finally tore myself away from
him, having secured his boutonniere, which
proposed to display to him the next time
I caught him spooning on bud.
Not all my adventures, however, were of
a pleasing description. Twas rather taken
aback by the very rude manner in which
was accosted in the corridor by perfectly
strange man, and suppose l must have
showed some agitation, for he asked me in
a discontented tone whether I had any bus
mess there. and told me it served me right
for being in such a place. There, too, l
met Johnny Woodcock, who really had
harbored some vague suspicious of Letty's |
was in an awful temper, at any
rate-and he marched up to me and gave
me a positive lecture on my injudicious |
behavior.
came very near losing my temper when |
he told me that he considered it his duty to |
with a woman whom he plain |
ly saw was very much out of place at the |
for his remonstrances were
by no means mild; but remembered his |
jealousy and the excellent cause that the |
poor boy had to lose his head, and, instead |
Of begging Bran to come to my assistance, |
only told Mr.. Woodcock, in tone of mock
cry, that he need not disquiet himself, for
was not Lefty, and did not think she |
ha