Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-01-21
MY MASKED HERO.


degradation known as ''shabby gen.
ieel" - that Is, being too shabby to
walk in fashionable thoroughfares and
mingle with wealthier people, and too
genteel to partake of the public gener-
osity-I betook myself few weeks
ago to the east side of the city, and
permitted a quaint, comfortable look
ing little landlady to install me in
room ten feet long and five feet eight
and One-half inches wide. L knew that
the room was five feet eight and one,
half inches wide, because that measure
ment is my height; and when, in a fit
of sybaritic Incidence, l lay down
crosswise on the bed the top of my
head touched one wall and my feet the
other, a discovery which, in my super
stitious mood, l regarded as an omen
that had al last found that place il
'ociety was best fitted to ill.
In such miniature dormitory there
could be but little furniture, and there
was but little. Here is the inventory:
A bed, compound article of toilet
table and chest of drawers, a chair,
looking-glass and towe[horse.
In the first drawer of my toilet table
lay an exploded pistol cartridge and
quantity of tobacco, from which dis
coveries deduced that my predecessor
must have been an excellent judge of
the weed, and INDUCED his taste ex-
travagantly for one in his position.
As l lay back in my chair, in the full
enjoyment of reflective mood, SUPER
induced and harmonized by the good
tobacco of my unknown friend, es-
pied in the corner near the toilet-table
a little piece of black cloth and prying
further into the nook l found its fel-
low The piece would just have filed
the eye-holes of a mask. Quoth 1,
soto voce: "The previous occupant
VI tLiS iCOih hoS gay anu CSOhOiiiiSdi
withal, for here is evidence that he
has been masquerading, and that, too,
in mask of his own manufacture.
Having been educated TO a profess
sion in which the necessity for putting
''this and that together frequently
arises q mean the barr, wrapped my
discoveries in paper, subscribed the en-
yelOpe with my name, and deposited
them in my private pocket; "For,"
thought l, ''many tragedy has been
traced with slenderer clue, and many
a thrilling romance has had a f1imsier
foundation. Who knows but that this
smoker of tobacco had as critical a
taste for beauty as for the weed?
May it not be that his heart is given
to some high-born beauty, and he
waits for wealth to offer her hiS
hand?"
Doing dreamily under the narcotic
influence, l settled it all to my own
satisfaction, as thus: This gentleman's
name is Ralph de Mortimer-with the
possibility of a title-and he is Of
ancient and noble family. He is tall,
stalwart, handsome, has mutton-chop
whiskers, and teeth of exquisite white
ness and regularity. He has been en-
gagged to be married to the surprising
" lovely and accomplished Miss Ada
We're de Vere-in a low-necked dress
the flashing eyes, raven hair, Juno
nian bearing, and no end of jewels
being inseparable and understood con-
rOsity and became answerable for q
friend. The great financial crash
ruined his friend, but left him just as
be was before, minus a colossal fortune
gone to the dogs.
She loved him still, and would have
married instantaneously had not
sordId papa, of pompous corpulency,
forbidden the banns. De Mortimer
had then betaken himself to this little
room, and, with noble regard for his
feelings, had emerged from it only at
night, and then only to walk the street
opposite the great mansion at the
West End and watch the light in his
Dulclnea's chamber until its exceeding
dimness proclaimed that his mistress
was taking her repOse after having
urea her symmetrical little jaws in a
Napld' moony conversation with young
fltz-Plantagenet, his ancient rival.
linen he wended his way by devious
paths and tOrtuous windings to this
room and tried to comfort his yearn-
'nS heart with hope. His great black
eyes grew moist as he experienced the
aillctoh which lay heavy upon him,
and like David of old, he wetted his
pillow with tears.
Dul when the sun-Homer's ..Isand-
maiden of the morn',-arose and
secured the inurky sky into brilliant
nue, ne got out of bed-right foot first,
lOr iuck-Washed his face, smiled
s,; sa. GENIAL smile of intelligence, and
,, Og'u himself with an alacrity that be-
"Aenea new idea and determination
put II into immediate erecut;on
mOn nmsn ne went on and with his last
sYnss .sastI.s 'qsh I ,gYs ,PgYstaphysicsl beings are