Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-09-02


where, through the open door, 1 catch,
sight of long rows of tables, on which
sparkling glass and shining silver fairly
dazzle ones eyes, while they liter
ally Groan under their burden of
rich viands. fruit and flowers, and
every necessary attribute of the table.
Surely" I said to myself, '-some great
feast is about to be celebrated. wonder
what Is the OCCASION" and while l stand
irrssolute a sound breaks sin above the
other noises which introduces to me q new
idea.
It is the sound OF music, not such as /
love best to hear, but the gay strains
which 1t makes one merry to hear-the
strains coming from band, and that In
some distant part of the house.
''Ah! see 1t all now" say to myself.
'Frhis is not only feast but a bali My
arrival has been we'll timed"
And then call to mind how in the west
wing of the house there was what Lady Iso-
bel spoke of as the ballroom, a spacious
hall which was of too great dimensions,
to be used for any purpose but that
described by its name.
No doubt Miss Madcap had prevailed
upon Sir Philip to indulge her in her pas
sion for dancing. And who could refuse
q request when Madeline chose to ask itf
am just about to call one of the SER
wants and bid him seek Madeline and
bring her to me, lest should startle her
too much by my sudden arrival would
send by him the never-fading rose, which
in its case, has never left my heart since
had received 1t as token from her hands
when hear some one coming quickly down
the stairs, and fearing it might be some
stranger to me- dart down one of the cor
r!dors near at hand. Here the music
strikes quite plainly on my ear, and de-
termined to see if l was right in my SUE
picions go quickly in the direction of the
sound until find myself in one of the
ante-rooms which 1 know open directly
on to the ballroom.
Peeping cautiously in find the gas Is
low, the room empty, while the curtains
which separate it from the hall beyond
are drawn.
With soft tread, for do not wish yet 60
attract attention, cross the velvet-car-
peted floor, and drawing aside these cur
tains little, look beyond.
And what sight again 1t is which
meets my gaze! Do my eyes deceive me
or am in fairylandF Truly 1t seems so.
The hall Is like the rest of the house,
brilliantly lighted flags, and flowers In
profusion adorn its walls in all festive ar
ray, and while in the gallery at the
farthest end the musicians are resting for
little, round and up and down, in
group of twos and threes in knots In
groups La1hIuS, 1huBulnS III highest
mirth, In the strangest comp had ever
seen.
No trailing ball dress and uniform black
evening suits were here, but Enthusiastically
dressed beings the like of which had
rarely looked upon. In one brief glance
I see nearly every nationality under the
sun represented, while for the rest here
and there it seems as though numberiess
ancient person ges in history, recogniz-
able by some unmistakable marks OF
identity, numberless characters from
plays or weu-known books, numberless
neurological beings have suddenly awoke
to life and chosen Blackwater Towers a.
their rendezvous.
Surely never before had such gay and
dazzling assembly been gathered within
those rather sombre walls. Kings, queens
soldiers, warriors, sailors, officers, shep.
herdesses flower girls, monks, clowns
pantaloons, gods and goddesses, gallants
and ladies of every period-in fact every
being whose appearance had about 1t some
picturesque charm. Nor was this all.
What struck me most was that each per
son in the gay throng wore a\mask over
the top part of his face.
'Why." say as 1 gazed in admiration
at the gay scene 'thts must have been
some idea of Miss Madcap. None but she
would have contrived a bal masQue In
b48CKWaCRT lowers. never before 0&Q
l seen a gathering which SO charmed me
there was a fascination in watching the
company, and knowing that more than
half were in the dark as &c each others
identity; friends mistook each other,
enemies unknow;ngly admire each others
costumes, and Chat away in happy ignor-
ance of whom 1t is they address. Here a
shepherdess walked sedately arm-in-arm
with a very nineteenth century officer.
hn1Ma ToY11-{ foV Toni1 av1 tn hn
garb played the most lively pranks upon
herce-looking Mephistopheles; here a
French clown Is eating Ices In q corner
with a charming young nun There two
kings forgetting the period of few hundred
years which should divide their tastes,
discussed in loud tones the politics of the
day in a way which, In spite of cava-
lier hat and wig of one, the unusually
portly person and six rather large gold
loekets, each containing fair portrait,
which were fastened to the wRtch-chain of
| the other, strangely belle their identity;
here gay sailor lad made violent love to
the stately Marie Stuart There a naughty
Queen Bess lowered her crowned head ITO
| listen to some tale demon was pouring
into her pretty ear; and here twoaferoci-
GUS African warriors lay at the feet of the
| god of peace, AND plenty. There Mercury
was using all hts proHerbial eloquenee to
| gain some favor Of pretty Italian fruit
seller. Hero Hamlet foE once fonnd an
Ophelia, a fact which told otis own tale,
| while here. there. and everywhere, some
| new character met ones views novelty
| was the rule of the day. or rather night.
The ante room In which stood was sit
uated at the extreme end of the hall,
| above which it was raised several feet, be-
ing reached by three or four broadJsteps
from the hall below. I had thus an ex-
oellent view of what passed.
And what dazzling picture it was
| cleaning jewels, rustling satinS softer
silks, floating gauzes, splendid rooms,
handsome men, beautiful women. Ali
but had not yet seen all Even tony
| mind 1 wondered whers in all this huge
throng should and those for whom
sought. heard a sudden louder hum of
voices above the already great din. saw
many heads turn in she direction Of the
| upper part of the hail. and as q few Of
| the crowd fell back saw one who Of all
the manhood there-and there were some
among the crowd than whom 1t would
l EA1~~ ~ 90 a. &c.