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

haste a, 20 to the ball had not been
careful to find out how it should DO
taken or.
He walked to and fro, inchosed thus.
tried everything that looked hike but
ton, buckle or spring, but to no avail
The helmet seemed to cleawe to him.
Then il occurred to him TO ca1 in aid.
But whom? All the neighbDrs were
sleeping, and it would have been the
erre;tsest Intrusion to knock at one of the
roo1cS-
E,e stopped near the door to consider.
He thought he heard steps. Some one
was coming up stairs
1t wus Indeed Pace, the mason, an old
neighbtr OF the house, noS overindustri-
Gus, but great night reveier. That
night, doubtless, because it Wac Satur-
day. the measures of rod wine had been
passed ar ound all too freely, and conse-
ouently tie man seemed now and then
to lose his balance.
"Paco," called Gervasio. And Paco
suddenly hslted, much frightened, upon
hearing that cavernBs voico and catch
ing sight of a>specter which ne could not
Qulb5 lildfAO 'ptnt.
cit is l, Oervasio."
81 am afraid" said Paco
'No, man, don't be frightened. Come,
help me take this off, for can't do it
alone.
''Well, all right
And, staggering, he entered the room
after Gervasio Int as Paco understood
last as little about ar1noIs, and, on the
other hand, was rot very steady, he did
not improve the 1enewed efforts other
wise than by two or three little scratches
which the mason inflicted on the trou-
badour's neck with the edges of the he'll
met
s'But how did you ever get yourself
inside of this?"
81 did not get into it. This opens.
sit may open, but l do not see the
trick Of it. Now I'm sleapy. I'm going
to bed now, and tomoE row I'll see if
Mrs. Nicassa, the port,a:'s wife, can't
take this off of you, for .iae understands
those things, since her husband was
matchmaker in Jetafe before it became
a municipality
Gervasio had to resign himself to his
fate.
''I'll have to go to bed with this he'll
met. suppose. And he stretched him
self out on the bed. That, too, was
torture, as he turned and twisted. But
for great evils there are great remedies.
He sat down in an armchair and sadly
waited the dawn of day. What a long
night it Rasl
Since ordy the punishmellts in the in
fernal regions are eternal he slept at
odd moments under the helmet. Then
again he thought Of how costly were
the glories of man and suffered still
more from the trials of a pianist who
lived in the third story, who never took
any rest herself nor allowed her neigh
bors to rest Finally he heard the door
open and saw Mrs Nicasia enter with
the breakfast.
The good porter's wife nearly dropped
the cupof chocolate at the strange sight.
But she had been informed of it all and
began to try her luck.
At about 1 O'Clock the next morning,
when the baron arose, his valet brought
him letter bearing the word ''impor-
tant." -------, -,
ssWhe1 was tits letter brought?" the
baron asked, opening the envelope.
''This morning at about 8"
every well. F"
And in that letter it said:
Pardon my boldness. but beg of you to do
me the favor of sending over your valet TO take
off the helmet, as have not been able to do So
I am almost mad. l pft sed the night IN an
srmcbair. 1t is very neces AIRY for me to go to
INV office. write under grsat difficulties and
was hardly able to take my breakfast. "Beso
su mano." yours in despair, GERvAs1o.
"By Jovel'' cried the baron, "what
time is it?"
The valet looked at the clock on the
small table. sit is 1880, sir. +"
"Then go quickly to Gervaslo's
house. He needs you. But hurryV'
At IL O'Clock sharp the troubadour
was relieved of the helmet and was Oh
the point Of fainting for joy.-Chicago
News. --