The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-17
WE'LL HELMETED.

With what impotence Gervasio
awaited the coming Saturday. For OIL
Saturday there was to be ball at the
ALEXANDRIA under the auspices of the So
ciety Ell Mochuelo. 1t was to be mas
uuerade, and it would be his first time
to appear in Disguise. He had made the
engagement with several friends, and
besides intended to make formal decla-
ration of his love, long and silently cher
ished, to Pepita, very clever girl, the
daughter of prominent merchant who
lived in the Oalle del Ave Maria Tho
occasion would be propitious because
Pepita would attend the ball masked,
and Gervasio knew exactly what her
costume was going to be. He had al
ready bargained with friend to intro
duce him to her father in order that he
might obtain permission to dance with
the young girl, for whom he had al
ready destined fine box Of sweets,
bought for this express purpose at the
shop Of La Pajarita in the Puerta del
Sol
Gerwasio was good fellow. He had
obtained government position, mod
est one, 10 be sure, but his income suf-
feed to cover all his expenses. and as
he had no family and lived alone in a
small apartment and had good relations
he could call himself happy man.
That ball aggravated him. He lived
upon his illusion of appearing in the
costume Of troubadonr, which he had
adjusted to his form, and as climax
to his good fortune Baron de las Rosas,
who had many fine armors at his house,
had promised him helmet, an ancient
breastplate and a sword.
How many nights the good Gervasio
dreamed ebout that beautiful costume,
the compliments from his friends and
the covetous chances Of some pretty girlsl
Surely Pepita would not be able to
resist him and would at least on that
night write chapter on hope in the
history of her love affairs.
At last came the nights so long looked
forward to- Gervasio arrived at the
house of the baron when the latter re-
turned from the theater at about 1880
O'Clock. He was already dressed for the
ball and lacked nothing except the he'll
met and breastplate OF course he did
not wear mask.
''Who would think of mask, said
he, when one can pull down the visor?
One can see and breathe much better,
and, above all, the beard and neck will
not show"
"But, my friend" said the baron
while his valet was putting the helmet
on Gervasio, ''you are going to be very
tired indeed This weighs too much to
be worn all night long
mo, sir. 1t is all right
every well, do as you wish"
And Gervasio was an armed knight.
He returned to his cab and drove to the
Alhambra
Gervasio entered the ballroom, carry
ing himself like veritable troubadour.
What a martial and elegant aspect
he imagined himself presentingl In his
imagination he saw himself, as in
mirror, walking about among similar
costumes, and red, blue and yellow
dominos of percaline He elbowed his
way among the testers. who gracefully
donned the embroideed MANILA man.
ties, and passed haughtily by the girls
disguised as babies or virgins whose COS
tunes looked as if they were home
made" He thought himself the object
of the admiration of all and was him
self dazzled by the reflection Of helmet
and breastplate in the rays of electric
light He sought Pepita, and finally,
after great trouble, succeeded in meeting
her. The friend who was to introduce
him to the girls father kept his word.
They began waltz, and the troubadour,
Offering his arm to Pepita, promenaded
in the salon.
But there he soon found out that the
baron had spoken as by the mouth OF
prophet. He could scarcely hear wha
he was saying under his helmet. Hi
voice sounded like hollow echo. Th'
heat was something uncomfortable. Shu
in. as he was, with the visor Tight.
fastened, in an atmosphere impover
ished by the heat and the presence OF s,
many people, he could scarcely catcl
his breath.
Pepita did not hear word he said
He wanted to make a final effort AM
began to waltz, but that, too, becam
impossible. He saw nothing The bel
met jogging about on all sides bumpe
his Uranium at every turn, and he nal
rowly escaped falling down in the mid
die Of the room.
Finally he was forced TO abandon PEI
ita and to discard his incogn1to.
was necessary for him to get some all
30 wipe off the perspiration which BATH
ed his oountenance and to see where
was going. But he found no relief l
spite of his lifting the visor, for h
could neither put in the handkerchlt
with his hand, nor did the weight b
carried on his head cease paining hin
Then raging and desperate, having lot
his fond illusions, without being adj
80 propose to Pepita and what We
worse without any one having taken M
tice of him, he determined to retur
home. and like one contemplating su
eide he left the theater, after havin
spent one hour there exhausted III bod
as we'll as in spirit. Neither mind IL
matter had been able to support he
met of the tournament on the night
the bali.
He arrived at his home, but speaking
as it were, into large earthen dish al
being unable TO uncover his head, I'll
watchnlen refused to let him IN, al
ertreaties, arguments and signs we
necessary to convince the dubious m;