St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-05-14

streams up and dow
this thoroughfare. 1t was motle
crowd, consisting OF masquers, peanu
vendors, street singers, gan grinders
nuns, priests and ordinary individuals .
every class and variety
| turned into Dauphin street, AM
came face to face with my old classmat,
and crony, Ferdinand Duval.
"Why, Philip Blackburn" he ex
claimed, grasping my hand. "Wha
good luck brought you to Mobile at the
gay and festive season of mardi gras2''
"Mardi gras!" calculated. $50 tina
accounts for the galvanic thrill that ha!
passed over the town"
'Don't abuse Mobile; there isn't a
place in the Union that can compare with
it. But she is at her best now-you
know Mobile has been dubbed the
Mother of Mystics.' The Knights of
Reveiry have just finished their process
sion. Tonight the Infant Mystics and
| The Order of Myths have theirs, and then
unite in grand carnival at the Opera
House. You must surely go. There'll
be no trouble about costume, I'll fix
you up easily"
While Ferdinand ratified on we had
been making our way up Dauphin street
to the ALEXANDRA CLUB, where he insisted
upon my taking lunch.
| land you must be sure," he added,
"to come out home to seven o clock DIN
ner-southwest corner of Conception and
st. Anthony streets; you'll find no
trouble in finding the place. I am sorry
to say that Helene cannot go to the
carnival tonight. She has not been
we'll for some time. say, Phil; if you
come to Mobile next winter I'll intro
duee you to the prettiest little sister-in.
law in the country. Marguerite Pancita
is her name-Helene's sister, you under
| stand" may as well announce here,
by way of parenthesis, that Ferdinand
pronounced his sister-in- laws surname as
though it were spelled Poncheeter.
"Why can't I meet her nova" l de-
tnanded.
"Well, for the present she is in
private boarding school, and the teachers
have such poor taste as not to include
young gentlemen OF your fascinating ap-
pearance among their list of callers But
Margherita graduates in May. In the
meantime you will have to content your
self with Helene and myself"
Duval was the most hospital fellow in
the world, and it was certainly God |
send to have met him. After delicious
dinner we joined the Order of Myths, of
which Ferdinand was a member, and |
after making triumphal tour of the
city, we wound up at the opera house
about eleven o'clock. He was gay and
brilliant Mephistopheles, while l was
the Yelled Prophet of Khorassan.
When was masqued ball otherwise
than enjoyable2 True, knew no one,
but that was a matter of small conse-
of the gathering
were in the same fix.
But from the first was attracted to
black lace domino that filtered through
the throng like swallow, so small, so
light of foot was the Wearer. From the
black silk, lace-edged masque two large
dark eyes cleaned like twin stars, the
soft waves of blue black hair were piled
on the little head in distractingly pretty
fashion, while beneath cleaned the soft
est, creamiest throat imaginable.
For some time 1 suspected that this ,
fascinating little figure was, as 1t were, /
skirting on my borders, and this caused
ne to keep my eye on her; but I was {
totally unprepared when she finally r
walked up to me, as I stood
llone after dance. and deliberately
tucked her hand under my arm.
"Ferdy," she said softly, "I've gotten
myself into scrape, and you must get t
ne out" +
"Hello" 1 mentally calculated. 3
fAm | happening on family skeletong" h
But only stared at my companion in
tupid silence. L
Don't you know me2" she demanded, J
living my arm gentle shake. "Iknew f
gu at once from your costume. By the I
7ay, haven't you got any better sense b
ban to wear the same costume two sea- t,
ons in succession land such an unusual q
haracter as the Yelled Prophet, too? h
1eleue ueTe Go-nlSntf n
''No. She wasn't we'll enough" A
At the sound of my voice she looked n
me curiously. f,
''Ferdy, " she Intercepted, sit is you,
mt ita" W
"Of course it is-if you mean Ferdi- al
sud Duval." n
well, your voice sounded strange,
ut l suppose that is the effect OF the /"
asque. You are certainly stupid to- &C
4ht. Why don't you ask me how as
caped from the school2 Positively, F
on't believe you know me-" tn
But at the word ''convent" the truth R
me upon me like flash of light. | OF
as on solid ground at last.
"Margherita!" I exclaimed, as famil- sa
rly as though I had raised her, sis it tt,
'ssible that this is youa" al
'Now, Ferd5," said my lovely com
lnion, giving my arm gentle squeeze, lit
ID looking into my face with two large,
it, beseechlng eyes, eff you are going an
call this poor little girl Margherita, ha
e will certainly run away. You fright be
her to death"
Well. here was at sea again! What "a
IS to call here tn
'1'm not too bad for Rita, indeed I'm tn
I'll" she exclaimed earnestly. nj
CAN right, Rita, my DEAR" replied ca
voice I was fatuous enough to hope tn